| Otherwise lie would
be struck senseless nearby. Without paying heed to the Yaksha's words, Sahadeva drank the
water and lay senseless on the ground. The same thing happened to the others one by one,
Nakula, Arjuna and Bhima-Lastly Dharmaputra answered the Yaksha's questions successfully
and the Yaksha granted Yudhisthira a boon according to which his brothers were restored to
their senses. Two hundred and sixteen questions are asked thus. The Yaksha puts before Yudhishthira an intriguing conundrum which
Dharmaputra is said to have solved in this way, a way which enjoins every son of Hinduism
to fulfil the five fold duties or Panchamaha- yajnas.
Dharmaputra answers:
"Who is it that does not live, though breathing, though he enjoys the objects of the
senses, is a man of intellect, is honoured by society and is accepted by all."
"He who does not perform the five Yajnas to God, the guests, to the dependants, to
the manes, and to one's self, cannot be said to live though actually breathing." |
