YUDHISHTHIRA BROUGHT HIS DEAD BROTHERS BACK TO LIFE

Yudhishthira pleases Yaksha with his answers and brings his dead Pandava brothers back to life

I went thru the Aranya Parva in the book and determined another admirable story of Yaksha and Yudhishthira that I will share right here in my post. Yudhishthira had made his brothers alive again by way of answering all the questions of Yaksha subtly. Since we all recognize that he used to be a spiritual and pious person solely he could reply to these truthfully. Pandavas tried to assist one Brahmin however they were not aware of its consequences. Let me take you to that story.

Pandavas moved from the Kamyaka van to the Dveta van. One day one Brahmin came close to him, asking for help. He told them, "I saved Arani and Mathani; used to ignite the sacrificial fire, on a tree. A deer was standing next to it and these fell and got caught in between his two horns. The deer ran away with my Aruni and Mathani. I am l unable to fetch the deer subsequently I request you for help, as I have to operate Agnihotra." All the Pandavas took their weapons and ran closer to the deer immediately. They observed the deer and shot arrows however he disappeared. They became exhausted and thirsty.

Nakula climbed up a tree and informed Yudhishthira that he looked for the river everywhere and located one nearby. Yudhishthira asked him to bring water for all. Nakula went in the direction of the river and heard a voice from the sky not to drink the water from that river. It cited that the river belonged to Yaksha only. Yaksha had one condition after answering his certain questions, a person could drink water from it. Nakula omitted his wordings, drank the clean water of the river out of thirst, lost his sense, and fell there. Since Nakula did not return to the Pandavas, Yudhishthira anxiously sent Sahadeva to look for his brother there. Sahadeva found his brother Nakula senseless near the river. He additionally avoided Yaksha's announcement and drank the water consequently, fell unconscious there. Yudhishthira next asked Arjuna to search for his brothers. Arjuna also heard the wordings of Yaksha close to the river and discovered his lifeless brothers lying there. He dared Yaksha to combat him and drank the water. He also collapsed and fell. Then Bhima additionally repeated the same mistake. Yudhishthira was perturbed and extremely thirsty. Seeing his brothers now not coming back, he went to the river himself. He was in dilemma to discover all his brothers lifeless there.

Yudhishthira was worried to know the purpose behind his brother's death. Yaksha that time took the form of a crane. He instructed Yudhishthira that he was accountable for his brother's death. Yudhishthira knew he would not be a mere bird. Out of curiosity, he requested for that bird's identity. Yaksha gave him his introduction. Yudhishthira noticed the big monstrous-eyed Yaksha sitting on the tree. Yaksha informed him of what had happened to his brothers there. Yudhishthira respectfully did not drink the water as it was owned by Yaksha and agreed to reply to all his questions.

The Yaksha asked, Who makes the sunrise? Who moves around the Sun? Who makes the sunset? What is the true religion of the Sun and where is the Sun dignified?

Yudhishthira answered Brahma makes the sunrise. The deities travel around the Sun. Dharma sets the Sun. Truth is the religion of the Sun and it is established in Truth only".

Yaksha asked: What is godliness in Brahmins? What is the religion of a Brahmin? What is the humanlike quality of a Brahmin? What are the characteristics of their similar to that of a bad person?

Yudhishthira replied: The study of the Vedas is godliness in a Brahmin. The practice of austerities is their religion. Death is human-like quality in a Brahmin. Taking ill about others is the characteristic of a Brahmin like a bad person.

Yaksha asked, What is the holiness in Kshatriyas? What is the religion of a Kshatriya? What is the human-like quality of Kshatriya? What is the attribute in a Kshatriya similar to that of a bad person?

Yudhishthira replied The warfare skills of a Kshatriya is their holiness. A sacrificial offering like sage is the religion of a Kshatriya. Fear is his human-like quality. Abandoning people who need protection is the attribute of the Kshatriya Similar to that of a bad person. 

Yaksha asked, What is similar to Mantra in performing yajna? Who is the performer of rites during Yajna? Who accepts the offerings During such? What is that which even a Yajna can not contravene?

Yudhishthira replied life is like a Mantra in the performance of yajna. the mind is the performer of all rites during Yajna. Only Shlokas of the Vedas, accept offerings. The Yajna cannot contravene the shlokas".

Yaksha asked, What is heavier than Earth, higher than the heavens, faster than the wind, and more infinite than straws?

Yudhishthira answered a mother is heavier than the Earth, a father is higher than the heaven, the mind is faster than the wind and our stresses are more infinite than straws.

Yaksha asked, Who is the friend of a traveller? Who is the friend of the ill person and one who is dying?

Yudhishthira's response is, The friend of a traveller is his partner. The doctor is the friend of the ill person and a dying man's friend is charity.

Yaksha asked, What is that thing, when rejected, makes one lovable? What is that thing when is rejected makes one happy and wealthy?

Yudhishthira replied, when Pride is rejected, it makes one lovable, ignoring greediness makes one happy, and rejecting desires makes one wealthy.

Yaksha asked, What is the indestructible enemy? What is an incurable disease? Who is a generous man and what is mean?

Yudhishthira told Anger is the indestructible enemy. Desiring another's possessions is an incurable disease. One who wishes the welfare of all is generous and any act without mercy is mean.

In such a way, Yudhishthira replied to all the answers to many questions of Yaksha. At last, Yaksha instructed him to select one out of all his lifeless brothers for being alive again.

Yudhishthira chose Nakula. Yaksha asked him the cause behind not selecting his very own brothers Arjuna and Bhima but Nakula.

Yudhishthira responded to him, "I always viewed Madri; the second spouse of Pandu and the mother of Nakula and Sahadeva, as my mother. I in no way tried to differentiate between my very own mom Kunti and Madri. I cherished them Equally. Since I am the elder son to Kunti, I wish to see Madri's elder son Nakula alive."

After listening to kind and saintly words from him, Yaksha was very much thrilled with Yudhishthira. All of his brothers were alive again. Then Yaksha came to his real form at that time. He was none other than his father Dharmaraja or Yama. He wished to provide him with a boon. Yudhishthira with politeness wished to assist Brahmin to complete his Agnihotra work. Yamraja informed him, "I was the one who converted myself into a deer and took away those woods of the Brahmin. So I return these Aruni and Mathani to you here." Satisfied with the beneficial nature of his son, he then wished to grant Yudhishthira some other boon. Yudhishthira knew the thirteenth year of their exile duration was approaching, in which he along with his brothers had to continue to be in disguise. Hence he wished from him that they would emerge as successful in their agyantbaas or incognito so that No one would recognize them throughout such a period. Dharmaraj granted him the boon and left.

Ref: Mahabharata book 

Read about the conversation between Yudhishthira and Nahusha..