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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Section embodying the nuances of Dharma

 

CHENNAI, MAY 29. The Puranas and the epics elaborate on the

teachings of the Vedas which are the primary scriptures of

Hinduism. Even though Vyasa composed 18 Puranas to expound the

subject matter of the Vedas, the two epics have the unique

distinction of being termed ``Itihasa'' because they relate the

events that happened when the Lord incarnated in the world as

Rama and Krishna. Both are revered as the quintessence of the

Vedas and the Mahabharata has been accorded the status of the

fifth Veda.

 

The Mahabharata contains important sections which have attained

independent status themselves because they embody teachings on

Dharma and the Yakshaprasna section which is in the form of a

dialogue between Yudhishtra and a celestial, Yaksha, is one such.

During the final months of their exile when the Pandavas were

living in Dwaitavana, a Pandit sought their help agitated as a

deer had run away with the sticks (Arani) used for making fire

for the performance of rituals. It was the custom to worship the

fire made by these sticks everyday and hence apprehensive that

calamity would befall him if he could not discharge this

obligatory ritual he approached the Pandavas for help as they

were great warriors.

 

In his discourse, Sri V. Rajagopala Ganapadigal said that the

Pandavas who went in chase of the deer into the forest could not

catch it and felt greatly depressed that they could not even

accomplish this simple task. Overcome with fatigue and feeling

thirsty they gathered under the shade of a tree. They felt that

they had failed in upholding their Dharma as warriors to help

those in distress. As the discussion turned more self-

reproachful, Yudhishtra intervened by drawing attention to their

immediate need for water to quench their thirst and sent Nakula

to fetch it from the lake he sighted.

 

Nakula did not return for a long time and the elder then sent

Sahadeva. Since he also did not return Arjuna and Bheema also

went searching for them. Yudhishtra grew apprehensive that none

had returned and went in search of them and found them all lying

dead beside the lake. Stunned that his four brave brothers could

have been felled like trees without any trace of fight he was

distraught that such a calamity had struck him. When he went near

the lake to quench his thirst a disembodied voice cautioned him

not to drink the water like his brothers had done before

answering it. The Yaksha which had tested them appeared before

Yudhishtra and questioned him on the nuances of Dharma which he

answered patiently, unlike his brothers.

 

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