Have you ever heard of Yaksha Prashnam? It is a series of questions and answers finding place in the Mahabharata as a discussion between a Yaksha, a celestial being and Dharmaputra - the eldest of the Pandavas.
The questions in this discussion may appear to be simple but there is deeper philosophical significance beneath them.The answers that reveal the truths in a subtle manner have a deep undercurrent of practical wisdom. For example, the Yaksha asks Dharmaputra `Which is the right Path?' meaning `When unable to decide between the courses of action available, which path should a man follow.' Dharmaputra's reply is: `The path that great men had traversed in the past is the Path we should follow.' Is it not true that on many occasions, managers face the same dilemma in taking decisions when there are many options. The lesson is to learn from the past deeds of great men who had faced similar situations.
For your interest, here are more questions and answers from the Yaksha Prashnam. You are free to interpret them in ways that are relevant to you.
Q. Which is the greatest endurance?
A. The capacity to be patient and be balanced in situation of both pain and pleasure.
Q. What is swifter than the wind? What is more numerous than grass?
A. The mind is swifter than the wind. Thoughts that arise in the mind are more numerous than grass.
Q. Who is the friend granted by Gods to man?
A. The wife is the friend granted by Gods to man. (I fully agree!)
Q. What is the most valuable of all possessions?
A. Knowledge is the most valuable of all possessions.
Q. Which is the best of all gains?
A. Health is the best of all gains.
Q. Which is the best of all kinds of happiness?
A. Contentment is the best of all kinds of happiness.
Q. What is the best of all things that are praised?
A. The most praiseworthy thing is skill(meaning judgment, reasoning and discrimination).
Q. What is it, controlling which, will lead to no regret?
A. The mind, if controlled, will never lead to regret.
Q. What is that, when renounced, makes one agreeable?
A. Pride, when renounced, makes one agreeable.
There are over one hundred such interesting questions. Dharmaputra answered all of them to the satisfaction of the Yaksha, thus reviving his brothers to life.
No comments:
Post a Comment