The Yaksha continued with his questioning. Some of the questions were symbolic in nature and the others were more direct. But they all brought out how a human being should conduct himself. One can look at this incident from the Mahabharata as just another event in the narrative. But if one takes a broader view one will realize that the objective of the incident was not to test Yudhishthir. Veda Vyasa wanted to pass on the basics of good conduct in an interesting and a non-pedagogic manner.
Learning from Nature
The Yaksha asked
What is that which travels alone?
What is that which is reborn after its birth?
What is the remedy against cold?
And what is the largest field?
To the first question Yudhishthir answered that the sun travels alone. The meaning underlying this question and answer was that each of us is essentially alone in our journey through life. Each of us is singly accountable for our deeds and cannot blame others for the choices we make. Like the sun we have to move eternally and steadfastly towards our goal. The next question is actually a follow up on this. Like the moon, which wanes to nothingness and is born anew, humans too die and are reborn. In a year itself the moon is born 12 times and the sun has been traveling for countless years. Similarly our journey is not the journey of a single life but we will be reborn countless times before we achieve our goal.
Yudhishthir’s reply to Yaksha’s third question was that the fire is the remedy against cold. This is obvious in physical terms but the import here is that the fire is also the remedy against the ‘spiritual cold’ because it is through sacrifices that the soul is purified. And finally Yudhishthir replied that the Earth was the largest field. This illustrates the virtue of humility, which one should experience when compare our domains with the size of the earth.
Some Direct Questions
The Yaksha asked
What is the highest refuge of virtue?
What of fame?
What of heaven?
And what, of happiness?
Yudhishthir’s reply to the first question was liberality is the highest refuge of virtue. This reflects one of the most important facets of Hinduism, which is acceptance of and tolerance towards other viewpoints. Yudhishthir said that charity is the highest refuge of fame. Yaksha had asked this question earlier in a different form and would continue to do so thereby stressing its importance. The highest refuge of heaven is truth. This is another important facet of Hinduism, which sees God as the Absolute Truth. There is an often-quoted statement from the Vedas that puts together the concept of liberality and truth: ‘The Truth is one but the wise perceive it differently’. Yudhishthir said that the highest refuge of happiness was good behavior. Good behavior towards others begets goods behavior from others and creates an atmosphere of congeniality in which happiness thrives.
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