Four Levels of Yudhishthira's Wisdom
1.LITERAL COMPREHENSION :
This story 'YUDHISHTHIRA'S WISDOM' has been taken from the Hindu holy book, the Mahabharata. It is about the great wisdom of Yudhishthira, the oldest of the Pandavas. It describes how he saved his dearly brothers giving the right answer to all the philosophical questions posed by Yakshya.
During their exile, Pandavas brothers live in the forest. one scorching Summer Day, they set off for hunting. They had been running after a deer, but the deer vanished in the forest. they got tired and grew thirsty. They went to all directions for some sign of water but did not find it anywhere. Yudhishthira sent his youngest brother Sahadeva in search of water . When he did not return, he sent Nakula, Bhima and Arjuna one by one. But none of them returned back. Then suspecting that something Evil has overtaken them, he became anxious and went to search them following their foot steps.And soon he came Upon a beautiful pool. To his great surprise, his saw all his brothers there, lying either died or unconscious .He fell on his knees and began to weep bitterly.
On known to Yudhisthira, Sahadev had arrived to the enchanted pool to quench his thirst. As he was ready to drink water, a voice broke through the Silence and forbade him to drink water until his questions were settled. Startled through, Sahadeva could not stay without drinking water, as a result ,he fell down on the ground . One by one each brother had defined the warning of the individual voice and had felt the strange test thereby meeting the same fade.
After a while Yudhishthira bent down to drink the inviting water in his turn, the same voice stopped him with the same warning .He heartily obeyed Yakshya and answered him intelligently . Yakshya was pleased with yudhisthira and wanted to restore one of his brothers . He told Yudhishthira to choose one of his brothers. In favour of righteousness he choose the life of Nakula to run Madri's line while Bhima and Arjuna were kunti's son like himself . Yakshya was highly impressed by Yudhishthira's wisdom and revived himself as the divine personage . Yama, the god of justice and righteousness , restored all of his brothers . He also blessed them and advise to go to Matshya where they could be safe from there enemys.
2.INTERPRETATION :
This story might be implying that god is the only way to justify men. So he, in disguised form, may check the various aspect of human virtues like passions, obedience, wisdom and right conduct. Such quantities are the true award for human identity. The pandava would have lost their life if Yudhishthira had not possesed these virtues.
3.CRITICAL THINKING :
If we are ready to believe in God, religion, spiritual conventions then this story is acceptable .but reverse case there comes us series of questions such as:
i) does God really exist?
ii) if God created the universe, who is the creator of God?
iii) can God justify human beings?
iv) Are truth and good conducts rewarded in this world? If so, good people would not never suffered.
v) how can a man be revived after his death?
Moreover, anger, Pride, Desire are presented as human nature which in fact all unavoidable human instincts without which life would be monotonous .Like wise Yudhishthira's answer also ridiculous .Does the sun really shine by the power of God?
4.ASSIMILATION :
After reading this story I realized that patience is great virtue so we should not lose our patience in crisis .It also led me an event of my village .One day we were playing football against senior boys. They scored two goals in the first half. I was the captain and I told them not to lose the hope and patience untill the time would not be over. As a result, we also scored three goals and won the match at last.
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Question Answers of Yudhishthira's Wisdom
Q.1. Write the story "Yudhishthira's Wisdom" from Yaksha's point of view.
ANSWER : Once, I (Yaksha) was taking rest sitting near the pool of my palace. Suddenly, a man came near the pool and became ready to drink water. I ordered him not to drink until my questions were answered properly. He was Sahadev who disobeyed me and soon became unconscious after drinking water. Similarly, Nakula, Bhima, Arjuna came and drank water without giving answers of my questions. So, all of them became unconscious near the pool. Afterward, Yudhishthira came and became sad seeing the condition of his brothers. When he also was about to drink water, I warned him with the questions. He waited to answer my questions. First, I asked him, "What makes the sun shine?" He answered 'the power of god". "What is the surest weapon against danger?" was the second question. He answered 'the courage'. Next, I asked, "what gives more to man than earth?" He answered 'the mother'. "What makes man happy when he gives up?" He became sad and answered 'anger'. Similarly, desire was his answer for my last question. I was happy by his answers. So, I liked to revive one of the Pandava brothers. Then, Yudhishthira proposed to Nakula instead of Bhim and Arjun, which made pleased me very much. Then, I revived all of the brothers by blessing them for a comfortable time during rest of exile. I was actually Yama taking the examination of Yudhishthira but he turned to be a successful for his virtue and wisdom.
Q.2. Retell the plot of this story "Yudhishthira's Wisdom".
ANSWER : Once, in the exiled period, five Pandav brothers grew thirsty running after a deer in the forest of Yaksha. Yudhishthira sent his youngest brother, Sahadeva in search of water. He came across a beautiful pond and became ready to drink its water hurriedly. Some voice stopped him from drinking until he could answer his questions. Thinking it as a fancy, he drank water. He sooner got fainted. Similarly, Nakul, Bhim and Arjun got into the same accident. Lastly, Yudhishthira himself arrived to the pond and found such horrible condition of his brothers. But, he waited from drinking water after listening similar warning. He gave the answers of all the questions asked by Yaksha until Yaksha became pleased. Yaksha promised to revive one of the brothers, for that Yudhishthira referred to Nakul with much pleasing reason. So, being happy Yaksha revived his entire brothers and gave blessing for easy and comfortable life of the remaining exiled period.
Q.3. Write the story of "Yudhisthira's Wisdom" from point of view of Yudhisthira.
ANSWER : I am Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pandava brothers. Once, we were chasing a deer in scorching day. We got tired and felt thirsty. I sat under a tree and ordered Sahadeva to look for some water nearby. He went to search water but failed to return. I sent Nakula, Arjuna and Bhima one after another but none of them returned. Finally, I went to the surrounding following their foot prints. I found an enchanting pool there and other side, I saw my four brothers lying on the ground either dead or unconscious. I cried in sorrow. I felt very thirsty so I went to near the pool and started to drink. As I was ready to drink, an unknown voice warned me not to drink water before answering his questions. I agreed and got ready to answer the questions. The unseen voice was that of the Yaksha. He asked me religious and philosophical questions. I answered correctly and he became happy. So, he was ready to revive one of my brothers. I chose my step brother, Nakula. Yaksha was very glad and appeared in the form of the Yama. He revived all my brothers. At last, he promised to help us in future exiled life.
Q.4. Summarize the story "Yudhishthira's Wisdom" in a single sentence.
ANSWER : The importance of patience, obedience, wisdom and justice are the virtue of a real warrior like Yudhishthira who has passed in the ordeal of Yaksha because he hasn't lost his courage and patience in the critical situation.
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