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The Pandavas
+10XP10-20 mins
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On a certain day during the time of exile, Pandavas were hunting out in the forest. They traveled from one forest to another by walking long distances. At one point they were exhausted and thirsty. Yudhishthira asked Nakul to go and look for water. After searching Nakul came near a pond. As he was about to drink water a voice said,” Do not drink water from this, before you answer my questions.” Nakul ignored the voice and drank water. He felt dead. When Nakul did not return Yudhishthira sent Sahadeva to look for him. As soon as he came near the pond a voice said,” Wait do not drink water from this before answering my questions.” Sahadeva said,” Let me quench my thirst first, then I shall answer your questions.” he drank and fell dead. On his not returning Yudhishthira felt some danger and asked Bheema and Arjuna to look for them. They came to the pond, as they were about to drink water the same voice appeared, “Who are you? Show yourself.” Bheema said,” Leave it Arjuna. Let’s drink some water.” They both drank and fell dead. Finally, on their not returning back Yudhishthir went in search of them. Eventually, he went to the pond and saw all his brothers lying dead. He asked the pond water, “Are you a culprit? Are you the one who took my brother's life? Take mine too.” A voice said, “Stop do not drink the water before answering my questions.” Yudhishthira asked the voice to appear in front of him. A Yaksha appeared and continued, “This pond is mine. It belongs to me. Your brothers died because they drank from its water before answering my questions.” He continued, “Do you wish to suffer the same fate?” Yudhishthira said,” I do not wish to take what does not belong to me. Ask your questions, I’ll answer them as best as I can.”


Yaksha started asking the questions.

Few such questions were

Q: What is more important than the earth itself?

A: One’s mother

Q: What is swifter than the wind?

A: The mind

Q: What must be controlled?

A: The mind

Q: What can be renounced without regret?

A: Anger.


Such questions were asked by the Yaksha and Yudhishthira answered them very beautifully. Finally, Yaksha asked Yudhishthira, “You are the wisest man in the world and the most righteous one. I grant you a boon, ask me for the life of any one of your brothers.” Yudhishthira after wondering a while answered,” Give me Nakul.” Yaksha wondered,” Bheema is dearest to you among all your brothers, you depend on Arjun to win the war that’s coming yet you choose Nakul’s life.” Yudhishthir replied,” I have two mothers Kunti and Madri. I am the son of Kunti and I am alive. Surely a son of Madri should also live.” Yaksha was greatly surprised and he said,” I grant you not just Nakul’s life but the life of all your brothers." Yaksha waived all the brothers’ lives. Yaksha was Dharma, Yudhishthira’s father. Pandavas after losing the game of dice, during exile went through a transformation by living in the forest. They made themselves into much better human beings and later to much better kings. All this was Krishna’s game plan.

Challenge

The questions asked by Yaksha are just amazing. Aren't they? Look for more such questions and present yourself(through text/video), by explaining about it.

YOU CAN EARN...!

THINKING SKILLS
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