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Main article: Yudhisthir 
The Yakhsa Prashna (Also known as the Dharma Baka Upakhyan: Story of the Righteous Crane) appears in the Vana Parva or Aranyaka-parva or Aranya-parva (Meaning: The Book of the Forest) of the great Hindu epic, the Mahabharat. The story is set up at the end of twelve years of exile of the Pandavas in the forest.
[edit] MythAt the end of the course of in-cognito exile of 12 years of van-vaas, the Pandava princes came across a Brahmin who complained that a deer has taken his Arani (The pair of wooden blocks to generate fire by friction) on its antlers and therefore he was not able to lit the fire for performance Vedic rituals. The valorous Pandava princes set out to retrieve the Brahmin's Arani and followed the hoov-marks of the deer. In the quest of the mysterious deer, Yudhisthir, became exhausted and thirsty. Therefore, Sahadeva, the youngest, ventured to fetch water and found a beautiful lake. The lake was devoid of any living creature except a crane (Baka). When Sahadeva attempted to take water from the lake, the crane spoke, "O Sahadeva! The water of this lake will turn into poison if you take it without satisfactorily answering my questions." Sahadeva, in arrogance, did not pay heed and hurriedly took water from the lake. Upon drinking the water which appeared crystal clear, Sahadeva died instantly of poisoning. The next Pandava, Nakula followed Sahadeva, found the same lake, saw dead Sahadeva, and was also warned by the crane. But Nakula also ridiculed the baka and died after drinking the water. In the same manner, both valiant Arjuna, and powerful Bheema, met the same fate. Since none of the brothers returned with water, Yudhisthir emarked in search of his younger brothers and water. Upon following the same path, Yudhisthir came across the lake and found all his brothers lying dead. Before searching for the killer of his brothers, Yudhisthir decided to drink some water from the lake. But when the baka warned him, Yudhisthir harked back and listened intently and realised that the baka holds the answer to the turn of events. In virtuosity that Yudhisthir represented, he proceeded to answer the questions put forth by the crane. Before putting the questions to Yudhisthir, the crane revealed itself as a Yaksha. The Yaksha asked 18 mystical questions with philosophical and meta-physical ramifications. The Yaksha-Yudhisthir dialogue is embodoed in the Madhya Parva of the Mahabharat. It is also known as the Dharm-Baka Upakhyan (Legend of the Virtous Crane). [edit] Baka Prashna/Yakhya Prashna: (The Questions of the righteous Crane or the YakshaQuestion No. 1:Yaksha questioned: Who makesthe sun to rise and ascend in the skies? Who moves around the Sun? Who makes the sun set in the horizons? What is the true nature of the Sun and where is the sun established? Yudhisthira answered: Brahma makes the sun rise and ascend. The Gods perambulate about the Sun. The Dharm sets the Sun. Truth is the actual Sun and the Sun is established in truth only. Question No. 2: How can one become a 'Shrotriya'? How can one attain greatness? What is man's second companion? How does one become become intelligent? Yudhisthira replied: The study (Adhyana) of the Vedas makes one a 'Shrotriya'. One can achieve greatness by penance and perseverance. Patience is one's second companion. Service to old and wise men renders one intelligent. Question No. 3: Yaksha enquired: What instills 'divinity' in Brahmins? What is the quality of virtuousity in a Brahmin? What is the humanlike quality of a Brahmin? What is the conduct akin to a non-virtuous person in a Brahmin? Yudhisthira replied: The self-study (Swadhyana) of the Vedas is divinity in a Brahmin. Penance is the quality like a virtuous person in a Brahhmin. Death is human-like quality in a Brahmin. Criticising others is conduct in a Brahmin like a non-virtuous person. Question No. 4: Yaksha asked: What instills 'divinity' in Kshatriyas? What is the quality of virtuousity in a Kshatriya? What is the humanlike quality of a Kshatriya? What is the conduct akin to a non-virtuous person in a Kshatriya? Yudhisthira replied: The art of archery is the divinity in a Kshatriya. Oblation is Kshatriya's quality of virtuousity in Kshatriya. Fear is his humanly quality. Abandoning people are under protection of Kshatriya is his conduct like a non-virtuous person in Kshatriya. Question No. 5 the Yaksha asked: What is that thing which is like a Mantra in the performance of oblations (Yajnya)? Who is the performer of rites and ceremonies during Yajnya? Who accepts the offerings and oblations of a Yajnya? What is that which even a Yajnya can not transgress? Yudhisthira replied: 'Breath' is like a Mantra in the performance of rites. 'Mind' is the performer of all rites in the course of Yajnya. Only Shlokas of the Vedas, termed rucha or the richa accept oblation. The Yajnya can not surpass nor transgress the richas. [edit] See alsosdgjosijgo [edit] Notes[edit] References
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