Friday, 1 January 2016

Yaksha

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaksha_Prashna
http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Yaksha_Prasnam

Tube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Yaksha+Prashna



Ratna
http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/pm4.htm

Book
https://ia801500.us.archive.org/35/items/Sanskrit_EBooks_Assorted_Titles/Yakshaprasna%20Sanskrit%20English.pdf
http://www.periplusbooks.com/india_texts/yaksha/yp10.html

Father and Son
http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapters/Yaksha-Prashna~-An-Encounter-between-Dharma,-the-father-and-Yudhishthira,-the-son-1.aspx
http://archives.mirroroftomorrow.org/blog/_archives/2010/10/17/4651588.html

Blog
http://muneshkumarkella.blogspot.in/2014/07/yaksha-prashna-lord-dharma-questions.html


Yaksha asks Questions and Yudhisthira Answers Questions.

1) What is that which does not close its eyes while asleep?

A fish does not close its eyes while asleep.

2) What is that which does not move after birth?

An egg does not move after birth.

3) What is that which is without heart?

A stone is without heart.

4) What is that which swells with its own impetus?

A river swells with its own impetus.

5) Who is the friend of the exile?

The friend of the exile in a distant land is his companion,

6) Who is the friend of the householder?

The friend of the householder is the wife.

7) Who is the friend of him that ails?

The friend of him that ails is the physician.

8) And who is the friend of one about to die?

The friend of him about to die is charity.

9) Who is the guest of all creatures?

Agni is the guest of all creatures.

10) What is the eternal duty?

Homa is the eternal duty.

11) What, O foremost of kings, is Amrita?

The milk of cows is amrita.

12) What is this entire Universe?

This Universe consists of space alone.

13) What is that which sojourns alone?

The sun sojourns alone.

14) What is that which is re-born after its birth?

The moon takes birth anew.

15) What is the remedy against cold?

Fire is the remedy against cold.

16) And what is the largest field?

The Earth is the largest field.

17) What is the highest refuge of virtue?

Liberality is the highest refuge of virtue.

18) What of fame?

Gift, of fame.

19) What of heaven?

Truth, of heaven.

20) What of happiness?

Good behaviour, of happiness.

21) What is the soul of man?

The son is a man's soul.

22) Who is that friend bestowed on man by the gods?

The wife is the friend bestowed on man by the gods.

23) What is man's chief support?

The clouds are his chief support.

24) What also is his chief refuge?

Gift is his chief refuge.

25) What is that which constitutes the Sama of the sacrifice?

Life is the Sama of the sacrifice.

26) What the Yajus of the sacrifice?

The mind is the Yajus of the sacrifice.

27) What is that which is the refuge of a sacrifice?

The Rik is that which is the refuge of the sacrifice.

28) And what is that which sacrifice cannot do without?

It is Rik alone which sacrifice cannot do without.

29) What is of the foremost value to those that cultivate?

That which is of the foremost value to those that cultivate is rain.

30) What is of the foremost value to those that sow?

That of the foremost value to those that sow is seed:

31) What is of the foremost value to those that wish for prosperity in this world?

32) And what is of the foremost value to those that bring forth?

That of the foremost value to those that bring forth is offspring

33) What person, enjoying all the objects of the senses, endued with intelligence, regarded by the world and liked by all beings, though breathing, is not yet alive?

The person, who does not offer anything to these five, viz., gods, guests, servants, Pitris, and himself, though endued with breath, is not yet alive.

34) What is weightier than the earth itself?

The mother is weightier than the earth.

35) What is higher than the heavens?

The father is higher than the heaven.

36) What is fleeter than the wind?

The mind is fleeter than the wind.

37) And what is more numerous than grass?

Our thoughts are more numerous than grass.

38) What is it that makes the Sun (Soul) rise?

Brahma makes the Sun (Soul) rise.

39) Who keeps him company?

the gods keep him company:

40) Who causes him to set?

Dharma (If not done properly or held high) causes him to set.

41) And in whom is he established?

He is established in truth.

42) By what does one become learned?

It is by the Srutis that a person becomes learned.

43) By what does he attain what is very great?

It is by ascetic austerities that one acquires what is very great.

44) How can one have a second?

It is by intelligence that a person acquires a second.

45) And, O king,how can one acquire intelligence?

It is by serving the old that one becomes wise.

46) What constitutes the divinity of the Brahmanas?

The study of the Vedas constitutes their divinity.

47) What even is their practice that is like that of the pious?

Their asceticism constitutes behaviour that is like that of the pious.

48) What also is the human attribute of the Brahmanas?

Their liability to death is their human attribute.

49) And what practice of theirs is like that of the impious?

Slander is their impiety.

50) What institutes the divinity of the Kshatriyas?

Arrows and weapons are their divinity.

51) What even is their practice that is like that of the pious?

Celebration of sacrifices is that act which is like that of the pious.

52) What is their human attribute?

Liability to fear is their human attribute.

53) And what practice of theirs is like that of the impious?

And refusal of protection is that act of theirs which is like that of the impious.

54) By what, O king, birth, behaviour, study, or learning does a person become a Brahmana? Tell us with certitude!

Listen, O Yaksha! It is neither birth, nor study, nor learning, that is the cause of Brahmanahood, without doubt, it is behaviour that constitutes it. One's behaviour should always be well-guarded, especially by a Brahmana. He who maintains his conduct unimpaired, is never impaired himself. Professors and pupils, in fact, all who study the scriptures, if addicted to wicked habits, are to be regarded as illiterate wretches. He only is learned who performs his religious duties. He even that has studied the four Vedas is to be regarded as a wicked wretch scarcely distinguishable from a Sudra (if his conduct be not correct). He only who performs the Agnihotra and has his senses under control, is called a Brahmana!

55) What does one gain that speaks agreeable words?

He that speaks agreeable words becomes agreeable to all.

56) What does he gain that always acts with judgment?

He that acts with judgment obtains whatever he seeks.

57) What does he gain that has many friends?

He that has many friends lives happily.

58) And what he, that is devoted to virtue?

And he that is devoted to virtue obtains a happy state (in the next world).

59) Who is truly happy?

O amphibious creature, a man who cooks in his own house, on the fifth or the sixth part of the day, with scanty vegetables, but who is not in debt and who stirs not from home, is truly happy.

60) What is most wonderful?

Day after day countless creatures are going to the abode of Yama, yet those that remain behind believe themselves to be immortal.

61) What is the path?

What can be more wonderful than this? Argument leads to no certain conclusion, the Srutis are different from one another; there is not even one Rishi whose opinion can be accepted by all; the truth about religion and duty is hid in caves: therefore, that alone is the path along which the great have trod.

62) And what is the news?

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 news.

63) Tell us now who is truly a man,

The report of one's good action reaches heaven and spreads over the earth.

64) And what man truly possesses every kind of wealth?

As long as that report lasts, so long is a person to whom the agreeable and the disagreeable, weal and woe, the past and the future, are the same, is said to possess every kind of wealth.

65) What has steadiness been said by the Rishis to be?

Steadiness consists in one's staying in one's own religion,

66) And what, patience?

And true patience consists in the subjugation of the senses.

67) What also is a real ablution?

A true bath consists in washing the mind clean of all impurities,

68) And what is charity?

And charity consists in protecting all creatures.

69) What man should be regarded as learned,

He is to be called learned who knows his duties.

70) And who should be called an atheist?

An atheist is he who is ignorant.

71) Who also is to be called ignorant?

And so also he is ignorant who is an atheist.

72) What is called desire and what are the sources of desire?

Desire is due to objects of possession.

73) And what is envy?

Envy is nothing else than grief of heart

74) What is pride, and

Stolid ignorance is pride.

75) What is hypocrisy?

The setting up of a religious standard is hypocrisy.

76) What is the grace of the gods?

The grace of the gods is the fruit of our gifts.

77) What is wickedness?

And wickedness consists in speaking ill of others.

78) Virtue, profit, and desire are opposed to one another। How could things thus antagonistic to one another exist together?

When a wife and virtue agree with each other, then all the three you have mentioned may exist together.

79) Who is he that is condemned to everlasting hell?

He that summons a poor Brahmana promising to make him a gift and then tells him that he has nothing to give, goes to everlasting hell. He also must go to everlasting hell, who imputes falsehood to the Vedas, the scriptures, the Brahmanas, the gods, and the ceremonies in honour of the Pitris, He also goes to everlasting hell who though in possession of wealth, never gives away nor enjoys himself from avarice, saying, he has none.

80) What enemy is invincible?

Anger is an invincible enemy.

81) What constitutes an incurable disease for man?

Covetousness constitutes an incurable disease.

82) What sort of a man is called honest and

He is honest that desires the weal of all creatures.

83) What dishonest?

And he is dishonest who is unmerciful.

84) What is ignorance?

True ignorance consists in not knowing one's duties.

85) And what is pride?

Pride is a consciousness of one's being himself an actor or sufferer in life.

86) What also is to be understood by idleness?

Idleness consists in not discharging one's duties.

87) And what has been spoken of as grief?

And ignorance in grief.

88) What has steadiness been said by the Rishis to be?

Steadiness consists in one's staying in one's own religion.

89) What, patience?

And true patience consists in the subjugation of the senses.

90) What also is a real ablution?

A true bath consists in washing the mind clean of all impurities, and

91) And what is charity?

Charity consists in protecting all creatures.

92) What enemy is invincible?

Anger is an invincible enemy.

93) What constitutes an incurable disease for man?

Covetousness constitutes an incurable disease.

94) What sort of a man is called honest and

He is honest that desires the weal of all creatures,

95) What dishonest?

And he is dishonest who is unmerciful.

96) What is ignorance?

True ignorance consists in not knowing one's duties.

97) And what is pride?

Pride is a consciousness of one's being himself an actor or sufferer in life.

98) What also is to be understood by idleness?

Idleness consists in not discharging one's duties,


99) And what has been spoken of as grief?

And ignorance in grief.

100) With what is the world enveloped?

The world is enveloped with darkness.

101) What is that owing to which a thing cannot discover itself?

Darkness does not permit a thing to show itself.

102) For what are friends forsaken?

It is from avarice that friends are forsaken.

103) And for what does one fail to go to heaven?

And it is connection with the world for which one fails to go to heaven.

104) For what may one be considered as dead?

For want of wealth may a man be regarded as dead.

105) For what may a kingdom be considered as dead?

A kingdom for want of a king may be regarded as dead.

106) For what may a Shraddha (devotion) be considered as dead?

A Sraddha that is performed with the aid of a priest that has no learning may be regarded as dead.

107) And for what, a sacrifice?

And a sacrifice in which there are no gifts to Brahmanas is dead.

108) What constitutes the way?

They that are good constitute the way.

109) What, has been spoken of as water? That, as food?

Space has been spoken of as water. The cow is food.

110) And what, as poison?

A request is poison.

111) Tell us also what is the proper time of a Sraddha ?

And a Brahmana is regarded as the proper time of a Sraddha.

112) What has been said to be the sign of asceticism?

Staying in one's own religion is asceticism:

113) And what is true restraint?

The restraint of the mind is of all restraints the true one.

114) What constitutes forgiveness?

Forgiveness consists in enduring enmity.

115) And what is shame?

Shame, in withdrawing from all unworthy acts.

116) What, O king is said to be knowledge?

True knowledge is that of Divinity.

117) What, tranquility?

True tranquility is that of the heart.

118) What constitutes mercy?

Mercy consists in wishing happiness to all.

119) And what has been called simplicity?

And simplicity is equanimity of heart.

120) What is the best of all laudable things?

The best of all laudable things is skill.

121) What is the most valuable of all his possessions?

The best of all possessions is knowledge.

122) What is the best of all gains?

The best of all gains is health.

123) And what is the best of all kinds of happiness?

Contentment is the best of all kinds of happiness.

124) What is the highest duty in the world?

The highest of duties is to refrain from injury.

125) What is that virtue which always bears fruit?

The rites ordained in the Three (Vedas) always bear fruit.

126) What is that which if controlled, leads not to regret?

The mind, if controlled, leads to no regret.

127) And who are they with whom an alliance cannot break?

And an alliance with the good never breaks.

128) What is that which, if renounced, makes one agreeable?

Pride, if renounced, makes one agreeable;

129) What is that which, if renounced, leads to no regret?

Wrath, if nounced leads to no regret.

130) What is that which, if renounced, makes one wealthy?

Desire, if renounced, makes one wealthy.

131) What is that which if renounced, makes one happy?
Avarice, if renounced, makes one happy.

132) For what does one give away to Brahmanas?

It is for religious merit that one gives away to Brahmanas:

133) For what to mimes and dancers?

It is for fame that one gives away to mimes and dancers.

134) For what to servants?

It is for supporting them that one gives away to servants.

135) And for what to king?

It is for obtaining relief from fear that one gives to kings

Slides
http://www.slideshare.net/search/slideshow?searchfrom=header&q=Yaksha+Prashna

Location
https://www.google.com/search?site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1600&bih=731&q=kamyavan&oq=kamyavan

Tube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kamyavan

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