Translation of three great works

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

I am extremely glad to inform you about the publication of my

translations in the web of three great works:-

 

1.Yaksha

Prasna :http://www.celextel.org/stotrasother/yakshaprasna.html (for

the first time in the web)

2. Adhi Shankara's Prashnothara Rathna Malika:

http://www.celextel.org/adisankara/prashnottararatnamalika.html (For

the first time in the web) and

3.Pandava Gita: http://www.celextel.org/stotrasother/pandavagita.html

 

The first two are great books of knowledge, which every Hindu

should read and the third is a remarkable anthology of devotional

songs. With best wishes, Ramachander

[Guest guest]

Hari Om!

 

You have done a wonderful translation! Thank you very much for the

keen and great efforts of yours, in taking these steps so as to

enable people like us to learn more through the net. Expecting more

of your valid translations in future, may God Bless you!

 

I would like to suggest some corrections in some places. I have put

it in bold letters and my suggestions within brackets. It's all

underlined for your easier attention.

 

Thanking you,

Pranams,

Vanaja Ravi Nair.

 

 

Yaksha Prasna

[Questions of Yaksha]

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

 

[During the time when the Pandavas were living in the forest, a deer

took away the stick used to make fire from the sage's home in the

forest in its antlers. The saint tried to recover it but could not.

He then requested the Pandavas (sons of Pandu)/(they were not

Pandu's sons, they were called as Pandavas because they had `Panda'

which means knowledge in Sanskrit, Pandavas means the ones who

possess knowledge) to trace the deer by its hoof marks and

recover it. The Pandavas followed the hoof marks of the deer

throughout the day and reached deep in the forest. Dharma Puthra the

eldest of the Pandavas became very tired and wanted to drink some

water before carrying on the chase any further. Sahadeva the

youngest brother volunteered to bring the water. He spotted a lake

near by. The lake was bare of any living beings except a crane. When

Sahadeva tried to drink water from the lake, the crane spoke to him,

Oh Sahadeva, the water of this lake is poisonous, if you drink it

without answering my questions. Sahadeva did not bother and drank

the water from the lake and died. After some time Nakula came in

search. And was surprised at seeing/(to see) the dead Sahadeva. He

too decided to drink water and was warned by the crane and he too

died on drinking the water. The same thing happened to Arjuna and

Bheema. Seeing that all his four brothers are /(were) missing,

Dharma Puthra came in search. Since he was very thirsty, he too

tried to drink the water from the lake. But when the crane warned

him, he decided to answer the questions of the crane. Before asking

questions, the crane revealed himself as a Yaksha. All the questions

asked by the Yaksha were answered by Dharma Puthra to the Yaksha's

satisfaction. Then the Yaksha gave a boon to Dharma Puthra to bring

back alive one of his dead brothers. Dharma wanted, Nakula to be

made alive. The surprised Yaksha asked him, Oh king, why did you

choose Nakula, when you could have chosen Bheema and Arjuna? Dharma

Puthra replied, I am alive and so my mother Kunthi has one son. I

wanted my other mother Madhri also to have a son alive, The Yaksha

was very much pleased and gave life back to all the Pandavas. Given

below are the pointed questions asked by the Yaksha and the pithy

and very direct replies given by Dharma Puthra. These are a store

house of knowledge and termed as Yaksha Prasna (Questions of

Yaksha). I have not been able to get the Sanskrit originals for

doing the translation but depended on a Tamil book called Yaksha

Prasna compiled by Sri P. N. Parsuraman and published by General

Publications, Madras (2001). This is the first time the translation

of the entire Yaksha Prasna is being uploaded in the web.]

 

15. What is the human side of Kshatriyas?

Fear/(Fearlessness) is the human side of Kshatriyas.

 

34. Who is the friend, for one goes abroad?

Education is the only friend of people who grow/(go) abroad.

 

35. Who keeps company to the one who stays with in(within) his house?

Only his wife keeps company to such a person.

 

37. Who is the friend of the one who is going to die?

Charity/(Mercy) is the only friend to such a person.

 

50. What is the soul for man?

Son (athmaja/(atmaja)-born out of soul) is the soul for man.

 

55. What is the best among things?

The knowledge that we get from learned/(the wise) is the best thing

 

61. Friendship with who/(whom) lasts for ever?

Friendship with godly/(Saintly) persons will last for ever.

 

65. Why should we give (daana or alms?) to Brahmins?

It is to do just action.

 

66. Why should we give (gifts?) to dancers and actors?

It is for attaining fame.

 

68. Why should we give (?) to the king?

It is to avoid fear.

 

75. When does a country does/(no need of does a second time here)

not have life?

When it does not have good rulers, it does not have life.

 

82. What is the proper time to carry death anniversary?

When you see a learned/(learnt) Brahmin, it is the proper time.

 

84. What is Dhama/(Dama)?

Dhama/(Dama) is controlling the mind.

 

85. What is the best patience?

Bearing (both) pleasures (and) sorrow, becoming (both) great (and)

being downgraded/(degraded) with equanimity, is the best patience.

 

86. What is Jnana?

Jnana (wisdom?)(no need of a question mark here) is knowing the real

truth.

 

94. Which is considered as insensibility?

Not understanding Dharma (just action?)(no need of a question mark

here) is considered as insensibility.

 

96. What is laziness?

Not doing Dharma (just action?)(no need of a question-mark here) is

laziness.

 

 

102. Who is fit to be considered as a scholar?

He who knows Dharma (just action)) can be considered as a scholar.

 

109. What is considered as the special God called luck?

The result of charity done by oneself/(one)is considered as the

special God called luck.

 

114. What does one who tells sweet words get?

He becomes friends/(a friend) for everybody.

 

 

 

advaitin , " ramya475 " <ramya475 wrote:

>

> Dear Friends,

> I am extremely glad to inform you about the publication of my

> translations in the web of three great works:-

>

> 1.Yaksha

> Prasna :http://www.celextel.org/stotrasother/yakshaprasna.html

(for

> the first time in the web)

> 2. Adhi Shankara's Prashnothara Rathna Malika:

> http://www.celextel.org/adisankara/prashnottararatnamalika.html

(For

> the first time in the web) and

> 3.Pandava Gita:

http://www.celextel.org/stotrasother/pandavagita.html

>

> The first two are great books of knowledge, which every

Hindu

> should read and the third is a remarkable anthology of devotional

> songs. With best wishes, Ramachander

>