Yaksha Prashna

Dadi: "Guddu, imagine you're desperately thirsty and find a lake. A voice warns you: answer my questions before drinking, or die. What would you do?"

Guddu: "I'd probably try to answer! But that's a scary situation."

Dadi: "Four of the five Pandava brothers faced exactly this choice - and all four ignored the warning. Only Yudhishthira survived because he listened. This is the famous Yaksha Prashna - the Questions of the Yaksha."

Guddu: "What happened to the brothers who didn't listen?"

Dadi: "At the end of their twelve years of forest exile, the Pandavas were resting when Yudhishthira sent the youngest brother, Sahadeva, to find water. Sahadeva found a beautiful lake - and a mysterious voice spoke: "Stop! Answer my questions before you drink, or you will die.""

Guddu: "Did he answer?"

Dadi: "He ignored the voice and drank. Instantly he fell dead. When he didn't return, Nakula went searching - found the lake, heard the warning, ignored it, drank, died. Then Arjuna the mighty archer - ignored, drank, died. Then the powerful Bhima - ignored, drank, died."

Guddu: "How could they all make the same mistake?"

Dadi: "Pride, impatience, thirst - and the assumption that their strength could overcome any threat. They were great warriors. They didn't respect a disembodied voice."

Guddu: "What did Yudhishthira do differently?"

Dadi: "When he finally came searching and found all four brothers dead, he was heartbroken. But instead of seeking revenge or acting rashly, he noticed a crane by the water who said, "I am the owner of this lake. Your brothers died because they ignored my questions. Will you answer, or will you drink and die?""

Guddu: "He agreed to answer!"

Dadi: "He agreed because he was wise enough to know that something powerful enough to kill all four of his brothers deserved respect. The crane revealed itself as a Yaksha - a powerful nature spirit - and began asking questions."

Guddu: "What kind of questions?"

Dadi: "Some were riddles: "What is heavier than earth? What is higher than sky? What is swifter than wind?""

Guddu: "Those sound impossible!"

Dadi: "Yudhishthira's answers were profound: "The mother is heavier than earth. The father is higher than sky. The mind is swifter than wind. And worries are more numerous than men.""

Guddu: "Oh! He wasn't thinking literally - he was thinking about meaning!"

Dadi: "The Yaksha asked about a hundred questions covering everything - duty, friendship, happiness, death. My favorite: "What is the greatest wonder in the world?""

Guddu: "What is it?"

Dadi: ""People die every day, yet the living think they will live forever. This is the greatest wonder.""

Guddu: "That's so true! We know everyone dies but never really believe it'll be us."

Dadi: "The Yaksha was satisfied with all answers. He told Yudhishthira: "I will restore one of your brothers. Choose.""

Guddu: "Just one? How could he possibly choose?"

Dadi: "Yudhishthira asked for Nakula to be revived. The Yaksha was surprised: "Why not the mighty Bhima who protects you? Why not Arjuna the matchless warrior? Why choose Nakula?""

Guddu: "Why did he?"

Dadi: ""My father had two wives - Kunti and Madri. Kunti's sons are myself, Bhima, and Arjuna. Madri's sons are Nakula and Sahadeva. If I survive from Kunti's line, then a son from Madri should survive too. Both mothers deserve a living child.""

Guddu: "He was thinking about fairness to his stepmom!"

Dadi: "Even in grief, even with the impossible choice of which brother lives, Yudhishthira thought about justice and the feelings of others. The Yaksha was so impressed that he revealed himself to be Yama, the god of death - who was also Yudhishthira's spiritual father!"

Guddu: "It was a test all along?"

Dadi: "The whole thing - the deer that stole the brahmin's fire sticks, the magical lake - all was a test. And because Yudhishthira passed by showing wisdom, patience, and dharma, Yama restored all four brothers and blessed them for their upcoming year of hiding."

Guddu: "So listening and thinking saved him, while pride and impatience killed the others?"

Dadi: "Exactly the lesson, beta. Strength without wisdom is dangerous. The mightiest warriors in the world died because they thought strength was enough. Only the one who paused, listened, and used his mind survived."