This story occurs in the great Hindu epic, Mahabharata at the time of exile of the Pandavas in the forest (Vana Vasa).
At the end of their twelve years of exile, a brahmin approaches the Pandavas and complains that a deer with antlers has taken away his two rods used for igniting fire for Vedic rituals. In order to help the Brahmin, the Pandavas set out following the hoove marks of the deer but fail to trace it. Due to the tiresome search, Yudhisthira becomes thirsty and requests Sahadev to get some water. Sahadev finds a beautiful lake in which there stands a crane. When Sahadev was about to take water from the lake, the crane warns him saying "Sahadev! If you don’t answer my questions before taking water, the water will turn poisonous". Sahadev ignores the words of the crane and drinks water, after which he dies. In the same way, Nakula, Bhima and Arjuna die at the lake.
As none of his brothers have returned, Yudishthira becomes worried and goes to search for them. He finds his brothers dead at the lake and wonders that there are no foot marks around or marks of violence on their bodies and hence the killer must be a supernatural being. He sees the crane in the lake and demands "Who are you? What do you want?" The crane reveals that he is a Yaksha and says "This pool belongs to me. I have warned your brothers but they didn’t pay heed to my words. Unless you answer my questions correctly you can't touch the water". Yudhisthira replies saying "I have no intention to take what is yours, put forward your questions and I shall answer them as best as I can".
Dialogue between Yaksha and Yudhisthira
Yaksha: Which is the greatest of all pleasures?
Yudhisthira: Happiness
Yaksha: What is the highest virtue of mankind?
Yudhisthira: Non violence
Yaksha: What should we control in order to achieve happiness?
Yudhisthira: Mind
Yaksha: What is it that is born but doesn’t have a life?
Yudhisthira: Egg
Yaksha: What is it that results in ultimate fame?
Yudhisthira: Charity
Yaksha: What is spread across the world?
Yudhisthira: Ignorance
Yaksha: What is meant by sorrow?
Yudhisthira: Being ignorant
The last answer provided by Yudhisthira is a great example of his righteousness.
Yaksha: If I were to save only one of your brothers, whom will you choose?
Yudhisthira: I choose Nakula.
Yaksha: Why not Bhima or Arjuna who can give a good fight and help you get back your kingdom?
Yudhisthira: I have 2 mothers. My mother will have a son as I will be alive but my step mother will lose all her sons if I choose Bhima or Arjuna to live hence I chose Nakula who is one of her sons.
Pleased with Yudhisthira, the Yaksha reveals himself as Lord Yama Dharma who is none other than Yudhisthira’s father and admits that he has taken the two rods of the Brahmin in the form of a deer and returns them to Yudhisthira. He brings all the brothers of Yudhisthira to life and blesses him saying that as he adhered to righteousness (Dharma), Dharma will protect them, and grants a boon that during the last year of their exile in which they have to stay incognito (Ajnata Vasa), nobody will recognize them.
At the end of their twelve years of exile, a brahmin approaches the Pandavas and complains that a deer with antlers has taken away his two rods used for igniting fire for Vedic rituals. In order to help the Brahmin, the Pandavas set out following the hoove marks of the deer but fail to trace it. Due to the tiresome search, Yudhisthira becomes thirsty and requests Sahadev to get some water. Sahadev finds a beautiful lake in which there stands a crane. When Sahadev was about to take water from the lake, the crane warns him saying "Sahadev! If you don’t answer my questions before taking water, the water will turn poisonous". Sahadev ignores the words of the crane and drinks water, after which he dies. In the same way, Nakula, Bhima and Arjuna die at the lake.
As none of his brothers have returned, Yudishthira becomes worried and goes to search for them. He finds his brothers dead at the lake and wonders that there are no foot marks around or marks of violence on their bodies and hence the killer must be a supernatural being. He sees the crane in the lake and demands "Who are you? What do you want?" The crane reveals that he is a Yaksha and says "This pool belongs to me. I have warned your brothers but they didn’t pay heed to my words. Unless you answer my questions correctly you can't touch the water". Yudhisthira replies saying "I have no intention to take what is yours, put forward your questions and I shall answer them as best as I can".
Source:wiki
Dialogue between Yaksha and Yudhisthira
Yaksha: Which is the greatest of all pleasures?
Yudhisthira: Happiness
Yaksha: What is the highest virtue of mankind?
Yudhisthira: Non violence
Yaksha: What should we control in order to achieve happiness?
Yudhisthira: Mind
Yaksha: What is it that is born but doesn’t have a life?
Yudhisthira: Egg
Yaksha: What is it that results in ultimate fame?
Yudhisthira: Charity
Yaksha: What is spread across the world?
Yudhisthira: Ignorance
Yaksha: What is meant by sorrow?
Yudhisthira: Being ignorant
The last answer provided by Yudhisthira is a great example of his righteousness.
Yaksha: If I were to save only one of your brothers, whom will you choose?
Yudhisthira: I choose Nakula.
Yaksha: Why not Bhima or Arjuna who can give a good fight and help you get back your kingdom?
Yudhisthira: I have 2 mothers. My mother will have a son as I will be alive but my step mother will lose all her sons if I choose Bhima or Arjuna to live hence I chose Nakula who is one of her sons.
Pleased with Yudhisthira, the Yaksha reveals himself as Lord Yama Dharma who is none other than Yudhisthira’s father and admits that he has taken the two rods of the Brahmin in the form of a deer and returns them to Yudhisthira. He brings all the brothers of Yudhisthira to life and blesses him saying that as he adhered to righteousness (Dharma), Dharma will protect them, and grants a boon that during the last year of their exile in which they have to stay incognito (Ajnata Vasa), nobody will recognize them.
Really very nice story:)Looking forward for more from u :)
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