Dharmakshetra on Epic channel #4/ DT Nt pg 3 - Page 38

Vana Parva indeed is a storehouse of gems! Here is another gem from the same Parva, found in Ajaagar Parvadhyaya.

Background of Yudhishthir-Nahusha samvad:

Once Bheem was roaming in the forest. Suddenly a large serpent attacked him and Bheem was seized in its grip. He tried his best to make himself free but all his might went in vain. The serpent told him, "I'm hungry, I shall eat you!" Actually that serpent was King Nahusha, the ancestor of Kurus, who fell from Heaven for his extreme pride and misbehaviour with Rishi Agastya. With Agastya's curse, Nahusha became a large serpent and currently living in this jungle.
Bheem understood, he would not be able to escape. He would have to die. Then he said, "Who can avoid destiny! Otherwise why would all powers of arms be lost like this? But I don't worry for myself, my only sorrow is, my brothers still are deprived of their kingdom, and living in this forest! And when they will get the news of my death, they will lose all effort to regain the kingdom, because it's me who always keep reminding them about their duty of winning kingdom back! I know Arjun will not mourn my death because he is self-controlled, but mother will break down, and so as Nakul-Sahadev! That's my only grief at this moment!"
Yudhishthir was in their hut then. Suddenly he experienced several bad omens around him, and could not find Bheem in hut. He asked Draupadi and got to know that Bheem had gone out long time ago. Yudhishthir immediately ordered Arjun to protect Draupadi and the twins to protect the Brahmins. He left the hut to search for Bheem.
Yudhishthir noticed Bheem's foot-prints, and the trees uprooted by him while hunting, thus he followed the right track and discovered Bheem, motionless, coiled in a serpent's large tail. He understood what happened.
Yudhishthir told the serpent, "Please let my brother go, I shall arrange another food for you." Nahusha replied, "No, this is my food for today, as he himself has come near my mouth. And you flee from here as soon as you can, otherwise I will reserve you for my tomorrow's meal!"
Yudhishthir did not get frightened. He asked the serpent, "Who are you, large serpent? Pandu's son Yudhishthir is asking you, who are you? Are you any God or a demon? It's not so easy task to seize my brother Bheem! And do tell me what food should I give you to make my brother free."
Nahusha seemed impressed with Yudhishthir's courage and firmness. He replied, "I'm Nahusha, your ancestor." Then he narrated his own story of Agastya's curse. And finally said, "If you can answer to my few questions then I will let your brother go!"
Yudhishthir humbly replied, "Ask me whatever you like! I will try to give answer if I can."

Before the actual questions , just see the background part. I think there are something good too. Personally I like Bheem's love for his mother and brothers. then Yudhi's care and concern for all, and his presence of mind. Like yaksha prashna, here too we see Yudhi's mental strength. Now see the question answer part.

Nahusha: Who is a Brahmana?

Yudhi: The one who has truth (satya), forgiveness (kshamaa), penance (tapasya), compassion (dayaa), non-voilance (ahimsa), good character (sat charitra) and charity (daan) is a Brahmana.

Nahusha: But these virtues can be found even in a Shudra!

Yudhi: The Shudra having these seven virtues can never be a Shudra, he indeed is a Brahmana! None is a Brahmana or a Shudra by birth alone. If these qualities are not seen in a person then he is a Shudra, even after being a Brahmana by birth!

Nahusha: Well, now tell me, what should be known?

Yudhi: The Supreme Brahma (Paramaatma), who is beyond all happiness and misery, should be known. Because creatures do not affect with misery after knowing that Supreme!

Nahusha: But I do not see any such being who is beyond all happiness and misery! Do such a thing exist at all?

Yudhi: Still, this is my opinion that Supreme Brahma does exist and He is beyond all happiness and misery.

Nahusha: You are so knowledgeable and highly intelligent! Now after listening to your answers, how can I eat your brother?

Thanks for the posting that informative conversation, Urmi

Thanks for your views, didi. Of course I remember that member who guessed both Yaksha prashna and Nahusha samvad are interpolations. But I do believe such things cannot be later addition. Rather these philosophical messages are indeed the heart of the epic. And if we start deleting these messages then remaining MB will be simply a war story having no moral values!
As for that Brahmin part, yes I second your words! I was surprised when I first read that answer and thought, how could a person of dwapar yug say so, how could he think so generously in that caste-based society? And how true his words are! This was one of the reasons behind my liking for his character 😆 that answer touched my heart 😳 and I think as per this definition, he himself was a Brahmin, was he not? So his words in Virat Parva was not a lie from this viewpoint too.
As for his firm belief on Brahma, I think he could realize the presence of that Supreme. You see, Rishi Markandeya told him, "See King, your relative Krishna is that Supreme, the Lord!"

Y-Y samavaad needs a separate thread Sema.

Originally posted by: varaali

Y-Y samavaad needs a separate thread Sema.

Can you open one, so that, at last, we can have some worthwhile discussions ?

Regarding the definition of Brahmin Yudhi is echoing only what Lord Krishna will later say in the BG "ChaturvarNam maya srushtam GuNa karma vibhAgasha "

The four classes are created by me on basis of traits / character and Actions.

Pls create a separate thread so that all relevant discussions can be under one roof

Suswagatam didi 🤗 after a looong time aap yahan padhare 😃
I wanted to create a separate Vana Parva thread for detailed explanation of all related things 😆 but you know, Yaksha prashna is my second most favourite after Geeta so I will love to have a detailed analysis of it 😳 and yes, I also found Yudhi's thoughts are echoing Lord's uttering of Geeta in many places.
I can open a thread in a condition, you promise that you will post there regularly with your unique analysis 😈😆 don't deprive us from your knowledge 😳

Varaali is of course in demand but Urmi, you too are in demand 😉 Somebody was searching in a thread near you ! 😆 and your ff was in news as well! Enjoy the attention and make a new thread soon..

my thoughts on yaksha prasna (YP):

(excuse the spelling mistake in transliteration of sanskrit texts , am not able to copy the font here)

the YP is a series of 123 ques fron Yaksha to Yudi and as such is a very long post . am posting here for only first 8 ques - readers tell me whetehr i continue or not.

The Yaksha said,
1.What causes the sun to rise? and
2.What are its companions?
3.What makes it set? and
4.what is it founded?
Yudhistra (dharmaputra) said:
1a. Brahman (Veda) makes the sun rise, and the
2a. Devas are its companions
3a.The Law(Dharma) makes it sets, and on
4a.Truth is it founded.

These questions are for the purpose for ascertaining the truth about the "Atman" cause though Aditya generally means sun it can also be interpreted as "the soul of man". Yudi answers that it is the Vedas which gives knowledge to differentiate between pure Atman fron self frequently confused with the senses and body from which it is different.By Devas are interpreted as sama, dama etc through the aids of which Atman can be obtained.Dharma here means activities like karma, upasan etc which directly or indirectly make a person see the Atman in the "akasa (vastness)of the heart" and firmly grounded in truth means upasana i the akasa of heart (relfection of self) leads one to finally see the truth of Absolute Reality, which is devoid of all gunas and is ure consciousness.

5.By what does one become learned?
By learning one becomes learned.
6.By what one attains to great things?
By austerities one attains to great things
7.By what does one have a second/companion?
One has a second in perseverance.
8.By what does one get insight?


The word "stotriya" means a person who has studies the vedas and can recite the text. By "sruta" means culture acquired by proper learning. Yudi here emphasizes that a person cannot be called a stotriya unless he is imbued with Vedic culture and tradition.
what does "tapas" in second line mean? Generally its interpreted as spirituality or spiritual quest. But in "dhatupata" of Panini it says "tapa alochane" - reflection is tapas and Upanishads says "yasya gyanamayam tapam" - whose tapas is constituted by gnanam (knowledge). hence tapas here means research into true import of the Vedanta - by reflection on the meaning of what has been heard.The word "steadfastness (dhrit)" in next line has special meaning in Gita - it is the steadfastness attained by concenration of mind, prana(vital energy) and senses. the Atman has to be experienced or percieved first by hearing the Vedanta/Upanishads , then by contemplating on its true import and then by making it a pat of your life by concentration. In the next line where Yudi says "service to elders" he means obeisance at feet of guru by repeated questioning and service to him. its also what the Gita says "tatvidtdhi pranipaaten pariprashnena sevaya". Why the word "elders" because as per vedas mother is our first guru who points out to our next guru -father who both then lead us to our teacher - the spiritual guru.

Wonderful Bhas 👏 really there are lots of similarities between Geeta and Yaksha Prashna. Please continue with your awesome analysis 😊