Yudhisthira's Wisdom

ANCIENT TALES

Yudhisthira's Wisdom (Source: The Mahabharata)

The story is about the importance of patience, obedience to god's wisdom and right conduct without which Pandava brothers would have been lost. Furthermore, righteousness makes us feel good even after our death.

b. Apply the four levels of reading of text Yudhisthira’s Wisdom’

Literal Comprehension:Once in the exiled period five Pandav brothers grew thirty while running after a deer in the forest of Yaksha. In the hot weather they were tired and thirsty Yudisthira sent his youngest brother Sahadeva in search of water. He came across a beautiful pond and ready to drink water hurriedly. Some voice stopped him from drinking until he could have given his questions’ answers. Thinking it might be fancy he drank water. He sooner got fainted. Similarly, Nakula, Bhima and Arjuna got the same fate lastly Yudhisthira himself went and found such condition of brothers. He waited admonition form drinking water after listening similar. He gave the answers of all questions asked by Yaksha until Yaksha became pleased. He promised to restore one of the brothers. For that Yudhisthira preferred Nakala with much pleasing reason. So Yaksha being happy restore all his brothers and gave blessing for easy and comfortable life of remaining exiled period.

Interpretation: This mythological story is taken from Mahabharata. The righteousness of Yudhisthira is the central point of this story. It focuses on wisdom; patience and loyalty to God are great human qualities. If we conduct any work rightly that has creative result. The story seems to tall that we must be faithful and honest on our work. If we have selfish and careless attitude, that ruins our personality in particular and humanity in general. Again, the reasonable and philosophical answers of the questions given by Yudhisthira can be knowledgeable. The due respect and love to the brother becomes another important meaning of this story.

Critical Thinking: The charming table of Mahabharata seems to be philosophical and knowledge to any reader. Despite of its morality and simplicity of language there are some contradictory points in this story. At present, there  is a question over the existence of God. Some disagreeing points can be given asking question like:(a) can we see Yaksha in our life? (b)can sun shine with God’s power? (c) Do god exist really? (d) Is it true having less anger means being happy? Etc. Still we can learn many more philosophy from this story.

Assimilation: Reading this text gave me new awareness. To be true human, we must have wisdom and righteousness. We learn that we should forsake pride, anger, desires, etc.to be happy and satisfied in our life. I have learnt to change myself changing my thinking as well.

c) Write the story Yudhisthira’a wisdom from Yaksha’s point of view.

Once I (Yaksha) was taking rest sitting near the pool of my place. Suddenly, a man came near the pool and became ready to drink water. I ordered him not to drink until he had given the answers of my questions. He was Sahadeva who disobeyed me and started to drink water. Soon he became unconscious. Similarly, Nakula, Bhima, Arjuna came and tried to drink water without giving answers of my questions. So all of them lay unconscious near pool. After that Yudhisthira came but became sad seeing the condition of his brothers. When he was about drink water I warned him not to drink to until he could have given the answers of my questions. I asked him: “what makes the sunshine?” he answered the ‘power of god’. “What is the surest weapon against danger?”  was second question. He answered that was ‘courage’. Again, I asked: “what gives more to man than earth?” He answered the ‘mother’. “What makes man happy when he gives up?” was the next question. He said ‘anger’. Similarly, desire was his answer for my fifth question. I was happy by his answers so I liked to relive one of the brothers. Then Yudhisthira proposed to Nakula not Bhima and Arjuna. That made me more pleased. Then I relived all of the brothers. I blessed them for comfortable rest of the exiled period. I was actually Yama who got real exam of Yudhisthira.