*YAKSHA PRASHNA – 6*

Yesterday, we seemed to have concluded our discussion on the Yaksha Prashna. However, three days back our member Mr. Gopal Sheelum from Florida wanted a clarification as to why answers to the 1st and 2nd questions of the first set and the 1st question of the 23rd set of questions are different though the question is the same.
Qns ( Set 1) Who makes the Sun rise? Who travels with him?
Ans.: It is Brahman who makes the Sun rise. Devas (Gods) travel with him.
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Qn (Set 23) : Who moves about alone?
Ans: The Sun moves on its path alone.
Quite confusing? Not really when we realize that what we looked at is a simplified English transliteration of the Yaksha Prashna. Thanks to Mr. Gopal Sheelum, when I referred to the Sanskrit text with a commentary, I realised that behind the plain and obvious meanings of the words employed both in the questions and the answers, there is a deeper significance of a spiritual kind.
For example, take up the first set of questions and answers. By Aditya, which of course commonly means the Sun, is indicated the unpurified soul. The first question then, becomes, ‘Who is it that exalteth the unpurified soul?’ The act of exaltation implies a raising of the soul from its earthly connections. The answer to this is, ‘Brahma, i.e., Veda or self-knowledge.’
The second question–‘What are those that keep company with the soul during its progress of purification?’ The answer is, Self-restraint and other qualities, which are all of a god-like or divine nature.’
The third question is.-Who lead the soul to its place (state) of rest? The answer is, Dharma, i.e., restitude, morality, and religious observances.’ It is often asserted that one must pass through the observances (Karma) before attaining to a state of Rest or Truth or Pure Knowledge.
The last question is,-‘On what is the soul established!’ The answer, according to all that has been previously said, is ‘Truth or Pure Knowledge.’ For the soul that is emancipated from and raised above all carnal connections, is no longer in need of observances and acts (Karma) but stays unmoved in True Knowledge (Jnana).
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Similarly, every question and answer has hidden meanings of spiritual nature. I recommend that those interested in knowing the inner meaning in detail, should refer to the book “ Yaksha Prasna” by Sri K. Balasubramania Iyer, published by the Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan’s Book University. I am sending the soft copy of the book for convenience.
For information, the English translation which I posted was based on an article Yaksha-Yudhisthira Conversation in Mahabharata by Sibaprasad Dutta, Jadavpur University from the book: Episodes in Mahabharata, Chapter: 1

*Concluded*