Test of wisdom

(There is reference to a type of wood called Arani in this chapter. It was widely used in ancient times to ceremonially generate fire in rituals. Two barks of the hard Arani are grinded against each other producing sparks. The practice is being followed even these days in Yajnas)

To catch a thief

The Pandavas were shaken by their experience in the last episode when their dear wife was taken by force by the Sindhu king, Jayadratha. They felt uncomfortable continuing their stay in the Kamyaka forest and moved again back into the Dwaita.

One day a Brahmin approached them for help there. He had hung his Arani barks on the branches of a tree near his hermitage. They got stuck on the horns of an antelope as it was rubbing itself against the tree. When the Brahmin tried to recover them the antelope ran away. He requested the Pandavas to get them for him.
All kings took it their duty to help Brahmins and protect their rituals. The Pandavas wasted no time to go after the animal. They found the antelope at a distance and gave it a hot chase. When they got near enough, the animal somehow disappeared again. Soon, they got tired and were extremely thirsty chasing the animal under scorching sun.

Water beyond reach

Yudhishthira asked Nakula to search for some source of water. Nakula climbed a tree and looked around. He could see a lake not far away and reported the matter to his brother. Yudhishthira sent him to get some water in his quiver.

Nakula was away for long, but, there was no trace of him or the water. So, Yudhishthira sent Sahadeva after his brother. Even after a long while the two sons of Madri did not return. Then, Arjuna and lastly Bhima were sent. None of them returned even after a long wait.

Yudhishthira was worried. Something definitely would have gone wrong. His thirst was by then unbearable. He started himself after his missing brothers and towards the mysterious lake. He found all his brothers on the shores of the lake, apparently dead.

Yudhishthira wanted to quench his thirst first before finding out what went wrong with his brothers, and entered the lake. Then he heard a voice. “Do not act rashly. Note, what happened to your brothers, because they did not listen to my warning. This lake belongs to me. If you drink its water before answering my questions satisfactorily, you shall die”.

Yudhishthira cautious

The senior Pandava looked at his brothers carefully. There were no wounds on their body. If they are all dead, then there is definitely some mystery. It was better to be cautious.

So, Yudhishthira turned to the voice though he could not see any body. He said. “You may ask me your questions. I shall answer them as best as I can. First, tell me who you are”.

Dialogue with Yaksha

The voice said. “I am a Yaksha and I am the one who caused the death of your brothers”. Then, Yudhishthira could see a huge form materialize in front of his eyes. The Yaksha, then started asking a series of questions. They were all esoteric in nature. Yudhishthira, apparently, understood the philosophic content of each and replied all to the satisfaction of the Yaksha.

For example, the very first question was “who supports the sun and who are all his followers? What causes the sun to set, and what sustains it?” Yudhishthira’s reply was, “Brahma, the ultimate god causes the sun to rise and the other gods are his followers. It is righteousness (Dharma) that causes the sun to set. It is sustained by Truth”.

Some of the questions were more like modern day riddles. One such question was, “what is weightier than earth and what is loftier than the sky? What travels faster than the wind and what reaches even each blade of grass?” The reply was, “mother, father, mind and thought”.

The first to live

Yudhishthira answered all the questions to the satisfaction of the Yaksha. He said that he was pleased. He would bring one of the Pandavas back alive. Whom would Yudhishthira choose? Yudhishthira reflected for a moment and opted for the life of Nakula. The Yaksha asked, why. Yudhishthira said. “My mother, anyway, has me as son whereas my stepmother, Madri, would have none otherwise”. The Yaksha was pleased with the sense of righteousness in the choice and made all the four Pandavas alive.

Yudhishthira, then, asked the Yaksha. “You do not sound like an ordinary Yaksha. Please tell me who you are”.

The god of death in person

The Yaksha replied that he was the god of death (and also of righteousness or Dharma and hence called Yama and Dharmaraja) . He was the father of Yudhishthira. He came to meet his son in person and to bless him.
The Dharmaraja asked Yudhishthira to choose any boon. Yudhishthira wanted help to recover the pair of Arani barks. Dharmaraja said. “It was I who carried them away as an antelope. Here they are. You may return them to the Brahmin. You may choose another boon”.

Yudhishthira said that he and his brothers have just completed twelve years in the forest. Now, they have to spend one year in disguise without letting out their identity. He needed the blessing of the god to make that happen. Dharmaraja granted Yudhishthira accordingly. Then, he offered a third boon. Yudhishthira wished that he could have control over all human weaknesses like lust and greed and desired that his mind always rested in truth and charity. That was also granted and the god disappeared at the very next instant.

The chapter called “story of the Aranis or the Aaraneya Parvam” and the book of life in forest “Vana Parvam” ends here.

(We start the life incognito of the Pandavas from the next episode. We may alternate the main story with the sub-stories of the last few chapters which we have left behind in www.kunjunny.blogspot.com henceforth)