Yaksha Prashna — complete dialogue: Sanskrit and English translation

This appendix contains the complete central dialogue between the Yaksha and Yudhishthira—from the first question to the choice of Nakula and the revival of all the brothers. The Sanskrit text follows the textual form of the Mahābhārata, Āraṇyakaparvan 3.314 on Sanskrit Wikisource; chapter numbering differs in other editions. The English text is an editorial THY-REALITY translation prepared for this project, using the project’s Slovenian translation as an internal consistency reference and consulting the public-domain translation by K. M. Ganguli at difficult passages.

Text appendix licence: the Sanskrit transcription is used with attribution to Sanskrit Wikisource under CC BY-SA 4.0/GFDL; this page and the English translation are therefore published for this appendix under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Sanskrit Wikisource, Mahābhārata 3.314. Control translation: K. M. Ganguli, Project Gutenberg eBook 12333 (listed by Project Gutenberg as public domain in the United States).

Translation note: terms such as dharma, brahman, kshatriya, śruti, yajus, sāman, ṛk and related concepts belong to a specific ancient Indian conceptual world. Where a single English equivalent would be too narrow, the translation is intentionally somewhat explanatory.

1. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किंस्विदादित्यमुन्नयति के च तस्याभितश्चराः। कश्चैनमस्तं नयति कस्मिंश्च प्रतितिष्ठति ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। ब्रह्मादित्यमुन्नयति देवास्तस्याभितश्चराः। धर्मश्चास्तं नयति च सत्ये च प्रतितिष्ठति ॥

1. English translation

Yaksha: What causes the Sun to rise? Who accompanies it? Who leads it toward the west, and in what is it grounded? Yudhishthira: Brahman raises the Sun; the gods accompany it; dharma leads it toward the west; and it is grounded in truth.

2. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। केन स्विच्छ्रोत्रियो भवति केन स्विद्विन्दते महत्। केन स्विद्द्वितीयवान्भवति राजन्केन च बुद्धिमान् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। श्रुतेन श्रोत्रियो भवति तपसा विन्दते महत्। धृत्या द्वितीयवान्भवति बुद्धिमान्वृद्धसेवया ॥

2. English translation

Yaksha: By what does a person become learned in sacred tradition? By what does one attain greatness? By what does one gain a reliable companion, and by what does one become wise? Yudhishthira: Through learning the sacred tradition one becomes learned; through ascetic discipline one attains greatness; through steadfastness one gains support; and one becomes wise by serving and listening to elders.

3. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किं ब्राह्मणानां देवत्वं कश्च धर्मः सतामिव। कश्चैषां मानुषो भावः किमेषामसतामिव ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। स्वाध्याय एषां देवत्वं तप एषां सतामिव। मरणं मानुषो भावः परिवादोऽसतामिव ॥

3. English translation

Yaksha: What is divine in the brahmans? What is their virtue? What is human in them, and what is unworthy? Yudhishthira: The study of sacred texts is their divinity; ascetic discipline is their virtue; mortality is their human condition; and slander is their unworthiness.

4. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किं क्षत्रियाणां देवत्वं कश्च धर्मः सतामिव। कश्चैषां मानुषो भावः किमेषामसतामिव ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। इष्वस्त्रमेषां देवत्वं यज्ञ एषां सतामिव। भयं वै मानुषो भावः परित्यागोऽसतामिव ॥

4. English translation

Yaksha: What is divine in the kshatriyas? What is their virtue? What is human in them, and what is unworthy? Yudhishthira: The bow and weapons are their power; sacrifice is their virtue; fear is their human condition; and abandoning one who needs protection is unworthy.

5. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किमेकं यज्ञियं साम किमेकं यज्ञियं यजुः। का चैषां वृणुते यज्ञं कां यज्ञो नातिवर्तते ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। प्राणो वै यज्ञियं साम मनो वै यज्ञियं यजुः। ऋगेका वृणुते यज्ञं तां यज्ञो नातिवर्तते ॥

5. English translation

Yaksha: What is the saman of a sacrifice, what is its yajus, what encompasses it, and what can the sacrifice not transcend? Yudhishthira: The breath of life is its saman; the mind is its yajus; the rik encompasses it, and without the rik the sacrifice does not proceed.

6. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किंस्विदावपतां श्रेष्ठं किंस्विन्निवपतां वरम्। किंस्वित्प्रतिष्ठमानानां किंस्वित्प्रसवतां वरम् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। वर्षमावपतां श्रेष्ठं बीजं निवपतां वरम्। गावः प्रतिष्ठमानानां पुत्रः प्रसवतां वरः ॥

6. English translation

Yaksha: What is best for those who cultivate the land? What for those who sow? What for those who seek lasting prosperity, and what for those who bring forth children? Yudhishthira: Rain is best for cultivators; seed for sowers; cattle are the support of prosperity; and a child is the most precious fruit of bringing forth life.

7. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। इन्द्रियार्थाननुभवन्बुद्धिमाँल्लोकपूजितः। संमतः सर्वभूतानामुच्छ्वसन्को न जीवति ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। देवतातिथिभृत्यानां पितॄणामात्मनश्च यः। न निर्वपति पञ्चानामुच्छ्वसन्न स जीवति ॥

7. English translation

Yaksha: Who, though breathing, enjoying the objects of the senses, intelligent, honoured and accepted, nevertheless does not truly live? Yudhishthira: One who gives nothing to the five—to the gods, guests, servants, ancestors, and oneself—though breathing, does not truly live.

8. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किंस्विद्गुरुतरं भूमेः किंस्विदुच्चतरं च खात्। किंस्विच्छीघ्रतरं वायोः किंस्विद्बहुतरं तृणात् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। माता गुरुतरा भूमेः खात्पितोच्चतरस्तथा। मनः शीघ्रतरं वाताच्चिन्ता बहुतरी तृणात् ॥

8. English translation

Yaksha: What is heavier than the earth? What is higher than the sky? What is swifter than the wind, and what is more numerous than grass? Yudhishthira: A mother is heavier than the earth; a father is higher than the sky; the mind is swifter than the wind; and cares and thoughts are more numerous than grass.

9. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किंस्वित्सुप्तं न निमिषति किंस्विज्जातं न चेङ्गते। कस्यस्विद्धृदयं नास्ति का स्विद्वेगेन वर्धते ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। मत्स्यः सुप्तो न निमिषत्यण्डं जातं न चेङ्गते। अश्मनो हृदयं नास्ति नदी वेगेन वर्धते ॥

9. English translation

Yaksha: What sleeps without closing its eyes? What is born but does not move? What has no heart, and what grows by its own current? Yudhishthira: A fish sleeps without blinking; an egg does not move once formed; a stone has no heart; and a river swells with its current.

10. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किंस्वित्प्रवसतो मित्रं किंस्विन्मित्रं गृहे सतः। आतुरस्य च किं मित्रं किंस्विन्मित्रं मरिष्यतः ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। विद्या प्रवसतो मित्रं भार्या मित्रं गृहे सतः। आतुरस्य भिषङ्मित्रं दानं मित्रं मरिष्यतः ॥

10. English translation

Yaksha: Who is the friend of a person in a foreign land? Who is the friend of one at home? Who is the friend of the sick, and who of the dying? Yudhishthira: Knowledge is the friend of one in a foreign land; a wife is the friend of one at home; a physician is the friend of the sick; and giving is the friend of the dying.

11. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। कोऽतिथिः सर्वभूतानां किं स्विद्धर्मं सनातनम्। अमृतं किंस्विद्राजेन्द्र किंस्वित्सर्वमिदं जगत् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। अतिथिः सर्वभूतानामग्निः सोमो गवामृतम्। सनातनोऽमृतो धर्मो वायुः सर्वमिदं जगत् ॥

11. English translation

Yaksha: Who is the guest of all beings? What is eternal dharma? What is immortality, and what is this whole world? Yudhishthira: Fire is the guest of all beings; soma, or the milk of cows, is the drink of life; dharma is eternal and deathless; and air pervades the whole world.

12. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किंस्विदेको विचरते जातः को जायते पुनः। किंस्विद्धिमस्य भैषज्यं किंस्विदावपनं महत् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। सूर्य एको विचरते चन्द्रमा जायते पुनः। अग्निर्हिमस्य भैषज्यं भूमिरावपनं महत् ॥

12. English translation

Yaksha: What travels alone? What, once born, is born again and again? What is the remedy for cold, and what is the greatest field? Yudhishthira: The Sun travels alone; the Moon is born anew again and again; fire is the remedy for cold; and the earth is the greatest field.

13. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किंस्विदेकपदं धर्म्यं किंस्विदेकपदं यशः। किंस्विदेकपदं स्वर्ग्यं किंस्विदेकपदं सुखम् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। दाक्ष्यमेकपदं धर्म्यं दानमेकपदं यशः। सत्यमेकपदं स्वर्ग्यं शीलमेकपदं सुखम् ॥

13. English translation

Yaksha: What is the essence of dharma? What is the essence of fame? What leads to heaven, and what is the essence of happiness? Yudhishthira: Skill and right action are the essence of dharma; giving is the essence of fame; truth leads to heaven; and good character leads to happiness.

14. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किंस्विदात्मा मनुष्यस्य किंस्विद्दैवकृतः सखा। उपजीवनं किस्विदस्य किंस्विदस्य परायणम् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। पुत्र आत्मा मनुष्यस्य भार्या दैवकृतः सखा। उपजीवनं च पर्जन्यो दानमस्य परायणम् ॥

14. English translation

Yaksha: What is a person's self or continuation? Who is the friend given by the gods? What sustains a person, and what is one's ultimate refuge? Yudhishthira: A son is a person's continuation; a wife is the friend given by the gods; rain is the source of livelihood; and giving is one's refuge.

15. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। धन्यानामुत्तमं किंस्विद्धनानां स्यात्किमुत्तमम्। लाभानामुत्तमं किंस्यात्सुखानां स्यात्किमुत्तमं ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। धन्यानामुत्तमं दाक्ष्यं धनानामुत्तमं श्रुतम्। लाभानां श्रेय आरोग्यं सुखानां तुष्टिरुत्तमा ॥

15. English translation

Yaksha: What is most worthy of praise? What is the best wealth? What is the greatest gain, and what happiness is highest? Yudhishthira: Ability is most worthy of praise; knowledge is the best wealth; health is the greatest gain; and contentment is the highest happiness.

16. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किंस्विद्धर्मपरं लोके कश्च धर्मः सदाफलः। किं नियम्य न शोचन्ति कैश् सन्धिर्न जीर्यते ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। आनृशंस्यं परं धर्मो त्रेताधर्मः सदाफलः। मनो यम्य न शोचन्ति सन्धिः सद्भिर्न जीर्यते ॥

16. English translation

Yaksha: What dharma is highest in the world? What duty always bears fruit? What must be mastered so that one does not grieve? And with whom does an alliance not decay? Yudhishthira: Non-harm and compassion are the highest dharma; ritual duty bears its fruit; one who masters the mind does not grieve; and an alliance with good people does not decay.

17. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किं नु हित्वा प्रियो भवति किंनु हित्वा न शोचति। किंनु हित्वाऽर्थवान्भवति किंनु हित्वा सुखी भवेत् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। मानं हित्वा प्रियो भवति क्रोधं हित्वा न शोचति। कामं हित्वाऽर्थवान्भवति लोभं हित्वा सुखी भवेत् ॥

17. English translation

Yaksha: What must a person give up to become beloved? What must one give up to avoid grief? What must one give up to become wealthy, and what to become happy? Yudhishthira: Give up pride and one becomes beloved; give up anger and one does not grieve; give up craving and one becomes rich; give up greed and one becomes happy.

18. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किमर्थं ब्राह्मणे दानं किमर्थं नटनर्तके। किमर्थं चैव भृत्येषु किमर्थं चैव राजसु ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। धर्मार्थं ब्राह्मणे दानं यशोर्थं नटनर्तके। भृत्येषु सङ्ग्रहार्थं च भयार्थं चैव राजसु ॥

18. English translation

Yaksha: Why does one give to a brahman, why to actors and dancers, why to servants, and why to kings? Yudhishthira: One gives to a brahman for the sake of dharma; to actors and dancers for fame; to servants for their support; and to kings for protection from fear.

19. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। केन स्विदावृतो लोकः केन स्विन्न प्रकाशते। केन त्यजति मित्राणि केन स्वर्गं न गच्छति ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। अज्ञानेनावृतो लोकस्तमसा न प्रकाशते। लोभात्त्यजति मित्राणि सङ्गात्स्वर्गं न गच्छति ॥

19. English translation

Yaksha: By what is the world veiled? Why does it fail to shine? Why does a person abandon friends, and why does one fail to reach heaven? Yudhishthira: Ignorance veils the world; darkness keeps it from shining; greed makes a person abandon friends; and attachment keeps one from reaching heaven.

20. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। मृतः कथं स्यात्पुरुषः कथं राष्ट्रं मृतं भवेत्। श्राद्धं मृतं कथं वा स्यात्कथं यज्ञो मृतो भवेत् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। मृतो दरिद्रः पुरुषो मृतं राष्ट्रमराजकम्। मृतमश्रोत्रियं श्राद्धं मृतो यज्ञस्त्वदक्षिणः ॥

20. English translation

Yaksha: When is a person as though dead? When is a kingdom dead? When is a rite for the ancestors dead, and when is a sacrifice dead? Yudhishthira: A destitute person is as though dead; a kingdom without a king is dead; a rite without a learned officiant is dead; and a sacrifice without a gift is dead.

21. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। का दिक्किमुदकं पार्थ किमन्नं किं च वै विषम्। श्राद्धस्य कालमाख्याहि ततः पिब हरस्व च ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। सन्तो दिग्जलमाकाशं गौरन्नं प्रार्थना विषम्। श्राद्धस्य ब्राह्मणः कालः कथं वा यक्ष मन्यसे ॥

21. English translation

Yaksha: What is the true direction? What is called water? What is food, and what is poison? Tell me also what is the proper time for a rite to the ancestors. Yudhishthira: Good people are the direction; space is like water; the cow is food; begging or selfish demand is poison; and the presence of a suitable brahman determines the proper moment for the rite.

22. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। तपः किं लक्षणं प्रोक्तं को दमश्च प्रकीर्तितः। क्षमा च का परा प्रोक्ता का च ह्रीः परिकीर्तिता ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। तपः स्वधर्मवर्तित्वं मनसो दमनं दमः। क्षमा द्वन्द्वसहिष्णुत्वं ह्रीरकार्यनिवर्तनम् ॥

22. English translation

Yaksha: What is the mark of ascetic discipline? What is true self-control? What is forgiveness or endurance, and what is shame or moral restraint? Yudhishthira: Ascetic discipline is steadfastness in one's own dharma; self-control is mastery of the mind; forgiveness is endurance of opposites; and shame is turning away from an unworthy act.

23. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किं ज्ञानं प्रोच्यते राजन्कः शमश्च प्रकीर्तितः। दया च का परा प्रोक्ता किं चार्जवमुदाहृतम् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। ज्ञानं तत्त्वार्थसम्बोधः शमश्चित्तप्रशान्तता। दया सर्वसुखैषित्वमार्जवं समचित्तता ॥

23. English translation

Yaksha: What is knowledge? What is peace? What is the highest compassion, and what is sincerity or straightforwardness? Yudhishthira: Knowledge is understanding the true nature of things; peace is tranquillity of mind; compassion is the wish for the happiness of all beings; and sincerity is evenness or impartiality of mind.

24. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। कः शत्रुर्दुर्जयः पुंसां कश्च व्याधिरनन्तकः। कीदृशश्च स्मृतः साधुरसाधुः कीदृशः स्मृतः ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। क्रोधः सुदुर्जयः शत्रुर्लोभो व्याधिरनन्तकः। सर्वभूतहितः साधुरसाधुर्निर्दयः स्मृतः ॥

24. English translation

Yaksha: Which enemy is hardest to conquer? Which disease has no end? Who is a good person, and who is bad? Yudhishthira: Anger is the hardest enemy to conquer; greed is an endless disease; a good person seeks the welfare of all beings; a bad person is one without compassion.

25. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। को मोहः प्रोच्यते राजन्कश्च मानः प्रकीर्तितः। किमालस्यं च विज्ञेयं कश्च शोकः प्रकीर्तितः ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। मोहो हि धर्ममूढत्वं मानस्त्वात्माभिमानिता। धर्मनिष्क्रियताऽऽलस्यं शोकस्त्वज्ञानमुच्यते ॥

25. English translation

Yaksha: What is delusion? What is pride? What is laziness, and what is sorrow? Yudhishthira: Delusion is confusion about dharma; pride is conceited self-absorption; laziness is neglect of what ought to be done; and sorrow arises from ignorance.

26. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। किं स्थैर्यमृषिभिः प्रोक्तं किं च धैर्यमुदाहृतम्। स्नानं च किं परं प्रोक्तं दानं च किमिहोच्यते ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। स्वधर्मे स्थिरता स्थैर्यं धैर्यमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः। स्नानं मनोमलत्यागो दानं वै भूतरक्षणम् ॥

26. English translation

Yaksha: What do the sages call steadfastness? What do they call fortitude? What is true cleansing, and what is giving? Yudhishthira: Steadfastness is remaining faithful to one's own dharma; fortitude is mastery of the senses; true cleansing is removing the impurities of the mind; and giving is the protection of living beings.

27. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। कः पण्डितः पुमान्ज्ञेयो नास्तिकः कश्च उच्यते। को मूर्खः कश्च कामः स्यात्को मत्सर इति स्मृतः ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। धर्मज्ञः पण्डितो ज्ञेयो नास्तिको मूर्ख उच्यते। कामः संसारहेतुश्च हृत्तापो मत्सरः स्मृतः ॥

27. English translation

Yaksha: Who should be considered learned? Who is an unbeliever? Who is ignorant? What is desire, and what is envy? Yudhishthira: Learned is the one who knows dharma; in this framework the unbeliever is called ignorant; desire is a cause of continued worldly existence; and envy is pain of the heart.

28. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। कोऽहंकार इति प्रोक्तः कश्च दम्भः प्रकीर्तितः। किं तद्दैवं परं प्रोक्तं किं तत्पैशुन्यमुच्यते ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। महाऽज्ञानमहंकारो दम्भो धर्मो ध्वजोच्छ्रयः। दैवं दानफलं प्रोक्तं पैशुन्यं परदूषणम् ॥

28. English translation

Yaksha: What is egoism? What is hypocrisy? What is called divine favour, and what is slander? Yudhishthira: Great ignorance is egoism; displaying piety for show is hypocrisy; the fruit of giving is called divine favour; and slander is the defamation of another.

29. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च परस्परविरोधिनः। एषां नित्यविरुद्धानां कथमेकत्र संगमः ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। यदा धर्मश्च भार्या च परस्परवशानुगौ। तदा धर्मार्थकामानां त्रयाणामपि संगमः ॥

29. English translation

Yaksha: Dharma, material interest, and desire often conflict with one another. How can these three come together? Yudhishthira: When dharma and married life are mutually aligned, dharma, material interest, and desire can come together.

30. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। अक्षयो नरकः केन प्राप्यते भरतर्षभ। एतन्मे पृच्छतः प्रश्नं तच्छीघ्रं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। ब्राह्मणं स्वयमाहूय याचमानमकिंचनम्। पश्चान्नास्तीति यो ब्रूयात्सोऽक्षयं नरकं व्रजेत् ॥ वेदेषु धर्मशास्त्रेषु मिथ्या यो वै द्विजातिषु। देवेषु पितृधर्मेषु सोऽक्षयं नरकं व्रजेत् ॥ विद्यमाने धने लोभाद्दानभोगविवर्जितः। पश्चान्नास्तीति यो ब्रूयात्सोऽक्षयं नरकं व्रजेत् ॥

30. English translation

Yaksha: By what does a person incur an unending hell? Yudhishthira: If one personally invites a poor petitioner and then says there is nothing to give; if one knowingly declares the sacred teachings, the gods, and duties toward the ancestors to be empty falsehood; or if, out of greed, one possesses wealth yet neither gives nor makes proper use of it and claims to have nothing—such a person, according to this teaching, moves toward the gravest punishment.

31. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। राजन्कुलेन वृत्तेन स्वाध्यायेन श्रुतेन वा। ब्राह्मण्यं केन भवति प्रब्रूह्येतत्सुनिश्चितम् ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। शृणु यक्ष कुलं तात न स्वाध्यायो न च श्रुतम्। कारणं हि द्विजत्वे च वृत्तमेव न संशयः ॥ वृत्तं यत्नेन संरक्ष्यं ब्राह्मणेन विशेषतः। अक्षीणवृत्तो न क्षीणो वृत्ततस्तु हतो हतः ॥ पठकाः पाठकाश्चैव ये चान्ये शास्त्रचिन्तकाः। सर्वे व्यसनिनो मूर्खा यः क्रियावान्स पण्डितः ॥ चतुर्वेदोऽपि दुर्वृत्तः स शूद्रादतिरिच्यते। योऽग्निहोत्रपरो दान्तः स ब्राह्मण इति स्मृतः ॥

31. English translation

Yaksha: Does a person become a brahman by birth, by conduct, by independent study, or by learning? Tell me clearly. Yudhishthira: Listen, Yaksha: neither birth, study alone, nor mere learning is decisive; conduct is decisive. A person must carefully guard one's character. One who knows the texts but lives badly is, in this sense, ignorant; learned is the one who actually lives one's dharma. Even a knower of the four Vedas, if badly behaved, does not attain the brahmanical ideal; one who is self-disciplined and truly lives one's duty is called a brahman.

32. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। प्रियवचनवादी किं लभते विमृशितकार्यकरः किं लभते। बहुमित्रकरः किं लभते धर्मे रतः किं लभते कथय ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। प्रियवचनवादी प्रियो भवति विमृशितकार्यकरोऽधिकं जयति। बहुमित्रकरः सुखं वसते यश्च धर्मरतः स गतिं लभते ॥

32. English translation

Yaksha: What does one gain by speaking kindly? What does one gain by acting after reflection? What does one gain by having many friends, and what by being devoted to dharma? Yudhishthira: One who speaks kindly becomes beloved; one who reflects before acting achieves greater success; one who has many friends lives more happily; and one devoted to dharma reaches a good path or goal.

33. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। को मोदते किमाश्चर्यं कः पन्थाः का च वार्तिका। वद मे चतुरः प्रश्नान्मृता जीवन्तु बान्धवाः ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। पञ्चमेऽहनि षष्ठे वा शाकं पचति स्वे गृहे। अनृणी चाप्रवासी च स वारिचर मोदते ॥ अहन्यहनि भूतानि गच्छन्तीह यमालयम्। शेषाः स्थावरमिच्छन्ति किमाश्चर्यमतः परम् ॥ तर्कोऽप्रतिष्ठः श्रुतयो विभिन्ना नैको मुनिर्यस्य मतं प्रमाणम्। धर्मस्य तत्त्वं निहितं गुहायां महाजनो येन गतः स पन्था ॥ पृथ्वी विभाण्डं गगनं पिधानं सूर्याग्निना रात्रिदिवेन्धनेन। मासर्तुदर्वीपरिघट्टनेन भूतानि कालः पचतीति वार्ता ॥

33. English translation

Yaksha: Who is truly happy? What is the greatest wonder? What is the path? And what is the greatest news? Answer these four questions, and your dead kinsmen may live again. Yudhishthira: Happy is the person who cooks simple food in one's own home, is free from debt, and is not compelled to wander the world. The greatest wonder is this: day after day beings depart for the abode of death, yet those who remain behave as though they themselves were permanent. What could be more astonishing? Reasoning alone has no final resting place; traditions differ; there is no single sage whose opinion is the sole measure. The essence of dharma lies hidden in depth; therefore the path is the one trodden by the great or exemplary. And the news is this: the world is like a great pot; the Sun is the fire, day and night are the fuel, months and seasons are the stirring ladle—time cooks all beings.

34. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। व्याख्याता मे त्वया प्रश्ना यथातत्वं परंतप। पुरुषं त्विदानीं व्याख्याहि यश्च सर्वधनी नरः ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। दिवं स्पृशति भूमिं च शब्दः पुण्येन कर्मणा। यावत्स शब्दो भवति तावत्पुरुष उच्यते ॥ तुल्ये प्रियाप्रिये यस्य सुखदुःखे तथैव च। अतीतानागते चोभे स वै पुरुष उच्येत ॥ समत्वं यस्य सर्वेषु निस्पृहः शान्तमानसः। सुप्रसन्नः सदा योगी स वै सर्वधनी नरः ॥

34. English translation

Yaksha: You have answered well. Now tell me: who is fully a human being, and who is truly rich in every way? Yudhishthira: A human being is one whose good name, born of good deeds, reaches heaven and earth and lives as long as that good name endures. One who is even-minded toward the pleasant and unpleasant, happiness and pain, past and future; one who is impartial, unattached, and peaceful in mind—such a person is truly rich in every way.

35. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। व्याख्यातः पुरुषो राजन्यश्च सर्वधनी नरः। तस्मात्त्वमेकं भ्रातृणां यमिच्छसि स जीवतु ॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच। श्यामो य एष रक्ताक्षो बृहत्साल इवोत्थितः। व्यूढोरस्को महाबाहुर्नकुलो यक्ष जीवतु ॥

35. English translation

Yaksha: You have explained who a human being is and who possesses every wealth. Therefore choose one of your brothers; whichever one you choose shall live again. Yudhishthira: Let Nakula live—the dark-complexioned one with red eyes, tall as a great tree, broad-chested and long-armed.

36. Sanskrit

यक्ष उवाच। प्रियस्ते भीमसेनोऽयमर्जुनो वः परायणम्। त्वं कस्मान्नकुलं राजन्सापत्नं जीवमिच्छसि ॥ यस्य नागसहस्रेण दशसङ्ख्येन वै बलम्। तुल्यंतं भीममुत्सृज्य नकुलं जीवमिच्छसि ॥ तथैनं मनुजाः प्राहुर्भीमसेनं प्रियं तव। अथ केनानुभावेन सापत्नं जीवमिच्छसि ॥ यस्य बाहुबलं सर्वे पाण्डवाः समुपासते। अर्जुनं तमपाहाय नकुलं जीवमिच्छसि ॥

36. English translation

Yaksha: Bhima is dear to you, and Arjuna is the support on whom all of you depend. Why, then, do you wish to revive Nakula, the son of your father's other wife? Why pass over Bhima, whose strength is like that of thousands of elephants, and Arjuna, on whose arms the Pandavas rely?

37. Sanskrit

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः। तस्माद्धर्मं न त्यजामि मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ॥ आनृशंस्यं न परो धर्मः परमार्थाच्च मे मतम्। आनृशंस्यं चिकीर्षामि नकुलो यक्ष जीवतु ॥ धर्मशीलः सदा राजा इति मां मानवा विदुः। स्वधर्मान्न चलिष्यामि नकुलो यक्ष जीवतु ॥ कुन्ती चैव तु माद्री च द्वे भार्ये तु पितुर्मम। उभे सपुत्रे स्यातां वै इति मे धीयते मतिः ॥ यथा कुन्ती तथा माद्री विशेषो नास्ति मे तयोः। मातृभ्यां सममिच्छामि नकुलो यक्ष जीवतु ॥

37. English translation

Yudhishthira: If dharma is destroyed, it destroys us; if it is protected, it protects us. Therefore I will not abandon it. To me there is no higher dharma than impartial compassion. So let Nakula live. People know me as one who strives to remain faithful to dharma, and I do not wish to depart from it. My father had two wives, Kunti and Madri. I wish each of them to have a living son. Kunti and Madri are equal to me; I make no distinction between them. Therefore I seek justice toward both mothers—let Nakula live.