The Yaksha Prashna (IAST: yakṣa praśna), also known as the Dharma Baka Upakhyana (the Legend of the Virtuous Crane) or the Akshardhama, is the story of a question-and-answer dialogue between Yudhishthira and a yaksha in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. It appears in the Vana Parva, and the story is set as the Pandavas end their twelve years of exile in the forest.
Vana Parva At the end of their 12 years of exile in the forests, the time had come for the Pandavas to live incognito in Agyatavasa (exile). As they were discussing their course of action, the princes met a Brahmana who complained that a deer has taken on its antlers his arani— a pair of wooden blocks used to start fire by friction— so he couldn't light the fire for Vedic rituals. So, the Pandavas set out to retrieve the Brahmin's arani and followed the hoofprints of the deer. While following the mysterious deer, Yudhishthira became exhausted and thirsty. So, his brother Nakula set out to fetch water and found a beautiful lake. The lake was devoid of any living creature, except for a crane. When he attempted to take water from the lake, the crane spoke, "O Nakula! The water of this lake will turn into poison if you take it without satisfactorily answering my questions." Nakula ignored the crane, hastily drank the poisonous water, and died. Nakula's twin, Sahadeva, came in search of his brother and found the same lake, saw Nakula dead, and was warned by the crane. But, Sahadeva too ignored the crane and died after drinking the water. One after the other, Arjuna and Bhima met the same fate.
When none of his brothers returned with water, Yudhishthira followed the trail to the lake and found them all lying dead. Before searching for his brothers' killer, he decided to drink some water from the lake. But when the crane warned him, he realised that the crane held the answer to the turn of events, and agreed to answer its questions. The crane then revealed itself as a Yaksha. The Yaksha asked Yudhishthira approximately 125 questions on gods, metaphysics, philosophy, and similar topics: Yaksha’s Prashna (questions) Yudhisthra Uttara (answers)Sun GodWho makes the sun rise?Brahma (the Supreme) Who keeps the sun company?Gods Who causes the sun to set?DharmaAnd in whom is the sun established?TruthLearning, intelligenceBy what does one become learned?By Srutis (that scriptures which are heard) How one acquires something very great?By ascetics austerities (tapas)How can one acquire intelligence?By serving the oldBrahmins (learned/saints)What constituents the divinity of Brahmanas?Study of Vedas (scriptures)What is pious practice in them? Their asceticism (penance) constituents' behavior that is like that of the pious. What is human attributes of Brahmanas?DeathWhat is impious practice in them?Insulting anyone is their impiety.Kshatriyas (kings/warriors)What constituents the divinity of Kshatriyas?Arrows and their weaponsWhat is pious practice in them? Celebration of sacrifices What is human attributes of Kshatriyas?FearWhat is impious practice in them?Refusal of protection Dharma Cultivate, sow, prosperityWhat is value to those who cultivate?RainWhat is value to those who sow?SeedWhat is value to those who wish the prosperity in this world?PreacherWhat is value to those who that bring forth?OffspringLiving deadWhat person who enjoying all the objects of sensing, breathing but yet is not alive?The person who do not offer anything to gods, guests, servant, pitris etc. Heavier, higher, fleeter, numerousWhat is heavier than earth?MotherWhat is higher than heaven?FatherWhat is fleeter (running fast) than wind?MindWhat is more numerous than grass?ThoughtsGeneric – miscellaneousWhat sleeps but does not close its eyes?FishWhat does not move after birth?EggWhat which is without a heart?StoneWhat swells in its own impetus?RiverFriendWho is friend of the exile?CompanionWho is friend of the householder?WifeWho is friend of the sick?PhysicianWho is friend of one who is about to die? CharityDuty, guest, amrita, universeWho is guest of all creatures?Agni (fire)What is eternal duty?Homa (Yajna sacrifice), following regulations of Sanatan DharamWhat is Amrita?Milk of cow is Amrita What is in the universe?Universe consists of air alone.Mortal/immortal/rebirthWhat is that which stays alone?The sun What is reborn after its birth?The moon What is remedy against cold?FireWhat is the largest field?EarthVirtue/fame/heaver/happinessWhat is highest shelter of virtue?Liberty is the highest guard of virtueWhat is highest shelter of fame?Gift is the highest guard of fameWhat is highest shelter of heaven?Truth is highest guard of heavenWhat is highest shelter of happiness?Good behavior is the highest guard of happinessMan's (soul, friend, support)What is soul of man?SonWho is that friend bestowed on man by the gods?WifeWhat is man’s chief support?CloudsWhat is man’s chief refuge?CharityPossessions/gains/happinessWhat is best of all laudable things?SkillsWhat is most valuable possession?KnowledgeWhat is best of all gains?HealthWhat is best of all kind of happiness?ContentmentDuty, regret, allianceWhat is the highest duty in the world?Refrain from injury is the highest dutyWhat is that virtue which always bears fruits?Rites ordained in Vedas always bear fruitsWhat is that if controlled, leads to no regret?Mind if controlled, leads no regretsWith whom alliance cannot break?Alliance with good never breaksWhat if renouncedWhat if renounced, make one agreeable?PrideWhat if renounced, leads no regret?AngerWhat if renounced, makes one wealthy? DesireWhat if renounced, makes one happy?GreedWhy givingWhy one give to Brahmanas?For religious meritWhy one give to actors/dancers?For fameWhy one give to servants?For supporting themWhy one give to king?For obtaining relief from fearDiscoveringWith what is world enveloped?DarknessWhat is that owing to which a thing cannot discover itself?Darkness not permit a thing to show itselfWhy one fail to go to heaven?Connection with world make one fail to go to heavenWhy friends are forsaken?Greed and lust DeadWhich one is considered as dead?One having want of wealthWhich sacrifice is considered as dead?One having no gifts for BrahmanasWhich Shardha (Puja) is considered as dead?Shardha performed by aid of Guru, who having no real knowledge Which kingdom is considered as dead?Kingdom of want of a kingRestrain, forgiveness, shameWhat is sign of asceticism?Staying in one’s own religionWhat is true restraint?Restrain of mindWhat is forgiveness?Stable enmityWhat is shame?Withdrawing from all unworthy actsKnowledge, peace, mercy, simplicityWhat is true knowledge?True knowledge of the Lord (Krishna)What is tranquility (peace)?True tranquility of heartWhat is mercy?Wishing happiness for all living creaturesWhat is simplicity?Calmness of heartEnemy, disease, honest/dishonestWhich enemy is invincible?AngerWhat is incurable disease?GreedinessWho is honest?Wishes well for all creatures Who is dishonest?Un-mercifulIgnorance, pride, idleness, griefWhat is ignorance?Not knowing one’s dutyWhat is pride?Consciousness of one’s being himself sufferer in life (ignorance)What is idleness?Not discharging one’s prescribed dutiesWhat is grief?IgnorancePatience, real bath, charityWhat is steadiness?Staying in one’s own religionWhat is patience?Overpowering of sensesWhat is real ablution (bath)?Washing the mind, clean of all impuritiesWhat is charity?Protecting all creaturesLearned, atheist, desire, envyWho is learned?Who knows his dutiesWho is atheist?Who is ignorantWhat is desire?Desire is due to object of possessionWhat is envy?Grief of heartHypocrisy, wickednessWhat is hypocrisy?Setting up of religious standardsWhat is wickedness?Speaking bad of othersWhat is grace of gods?Fruits of our gifts (charity)What one gains, on….. What one gains on speaking agreeable words?One becomes agreeable to allWhat one gains on acting with judgment?One obtains whatever one seeksWhat one gains having many friends?One lives happilyWhat one gain if devoted to virtue?One obtains a happy state in next worldTrue happiness, most wonderfulWho is truly happy?One who can cook in own home
One who refrain from tamas food
One who has no debt
One who does not come out of home for his livelihood
One who does not over striving for material thingsWhat is most wonderful?Every day numerous living entities are dying and going to the abode of Yama. Yet one think/believe one will live remain forever (immortal). What can be more wonderful than this?What is the path?The best path is to follow in the footsteps of the pure devotees (mahajanas) whose hearts are full of real truth regarding Dharma.What is the news? (What is the real situation in the material world)?This world full of ignorance is like a pan. The sun is fire, the days and nights are fuel. The months and the seasons constitute the wooden ladle. Time is the cook that is cooking all creatures in that pan (with such aids); This is the real news of what is happening in the material world, which is a miserable place full of ignoranceDharma, Artha, KamaDharma (virtue), Artha (profit) and Kama (desire) are opposed to each other, how they can co-exist harmoniously?They can co-exists only if, one having a virtuous Wife.Condemned to everlasting hellWho is condemned on what acts, to everlasting hell?If one promise a poor Brahmin, a charity; but upon his arrival refuse to give him.
Who speak falsehood of Vedas, scriptures,
Who despite possessing, does not give because of greediness. About real BrahminWhat constituents the real Brahmana?
Birth, study, family, learning or behaviour?Behaviour
Note: A Shudra is better; if his behavior is better than a so-called learned Brahmana (having wicked behavior, not matter how much he has learned)True manWho is true man, possessing all kinds of wealth?One who has overcome the dualities of material life, i.e. happiness/sadness, friend/enemy, love/hate, heat/cold, etc. possesses all kinds of wealth.Generic ~ miscellaneousWhat is poison?Requesting someoneWhat is proper time for Puja (Shraddha)?There is no proper time for Shraddha (puja), when one want one can, (if possible find a Guru). One can do puja to Lord Hari any time; one can take his name any time.What is food?Cow is the root of all foods,
Cow gives milk, which produce butter ghee, which is used in Yajna, sacrifices. The sacrifices are causes of clouds, which bring rain. Rain is essential for producing food from seeds, (corps). Yudhishthira had answered all questions in a satisfactory manner, but the Yaksha only allowed him to choose one of his brothers to be restored to life. Yudhishthira chose his younger half-brother, Nakula, the son of his stepmother Madri, reasoning that his own mother, Kunti, had a living son regardless, but his stepmother Madri did not.
The Yaksha was impressed by how Yudhishthira followed dharma in every little thing he did. Yaksha revealed himself to be Yama-Dharma, the god of death, who was also Yudhishthira's father. He revealed to that it was he who had disguised himself as a deer and stolen the arani. He blessed Yudishthira, telling him that since he had adhered to dharma (righteousness), that dharma would protect the Pandavas and no one would recognise them during their exile. All of the Pandavas were restored to life.
See also Devkhal Jheel Yudhishthira Yaksha kingdom
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