Yudhishthira’s Wisdom: Four Levels of Interactions with Text
Literal Comprehension:
Once in the exiled period, five Pandav brothers grew thirty while running after a deer in the forest of Yaksha. In the hot weather, they were tired and thirsty Yudisthira sent his youngest brother Sahadeva in search of water. He came across a beautiful pond and ready to drink water hurriedly. Some voice stopped him from drinking until he could have given his questions’ answers. Thinking it might be fancy he drank water. He sooner got fainted. Similarly, Nakula, Bhima, and Arjuna got the same fate lastly Yudhisthira himself went and found such a condition of brothers. He waited for admonition form drinking water after listening similar. He gave the answers to all questions asked by Yaksha until Yaksha became pleased. He promised to restore one of the brothers. For that Yudhisthira preferred Nakala with much pleasing reason. So Yaksha being happy to restore all his brothers and gave blessing for an easy and comfortable life of remaining exiled period.
Interpretation:
This mythological story is taken from Mahabharata. The righteousness of Yudhisthira is the central point of this story. It focuses on wisdom; patience and loyalty to God are great human qualities. If we conduct any work rightly that has the creative results. The story seems too tall that we must be faithful and honest about our work. If we have a selfish and careless attitude, that ruins our personality in particular and humanity in general. Again, the reasonable and philosophical answers to the questions given by Yudhisthira can be knowledgeable. The due respect and love to the brother become another important meaning of this story.
Critical Thinking:
The charming table of Mahabharata seems to be philosophical and knowledge to any reader. Despite its morality and simplicity of language, there are some contradictory points in this story. At present, there is a question over the existence of God. Some disagreeing points can be given asking a question like:
( a) can we see Yaksha in our life?
(b) can sunshine with God’s power?
(c) Does god exist really?
(d) Is it true having less anger means being happy?
Etc. Still we can learn much more philosophy from this story.
Assimilation:
Reading this text gave me new awareness. To be truly human, we must have wisdom and righteousness. We learn that we should forsake pride, anger, desires, etc to be happy and satisfied in our life. I have learned to change myself changing my thinking as well.
