The Absconsion

The Mythology

That night when everybody was about to sleep, E3 approached E7 who was talking with P9 regarding what had happened inside the room. She said that she was okay with what E7 had proposed earlier. Together, they shifted her cot. By seeing this, all the other players were now shifting their cots to the players with whom they had played earlier. H8(Zain) observed everyone but had no one to approach. He was alone now. Being alone was something he is habituated to, but at places like this, he knew that kind of attitude does not work. He should soon make friends with someone so that he would have people to manipulate. 

The next day, everyone woke up and had their breakfast, which was an apple and orange juice. Just like yesterday, in the beginning, the players felt like that would not be sufficient, but after drinking the juice, they were pretty much full. The organizer came live on the screen, soon after the players completed their breakfast. 

' Good morning, players. I hope you all have had a healthy breakfast. Today we are going to conduct round 2 and its name would be revealed when we instruct you all about the game. Just like yesterday, I would be saying you a story, post which you will have a short break and then we shall proceed with the next round. I hope you all are excited about the next round. 

The story that I am going to tell now belongs to Hindu Mythology. It is called Yaksha Prashna ( The Tale of the Righteous Crane) which appears in the Vana Parva of the grand epic, the Mahabharata. The twelve years of exile of the Pandavas and their wife Draupadi in the forest were coming to an end. The thirteenth and final year which they were required to spend incognito was about to begin.

One day a Brahmin, an Agnihotri, came to the Pandavas for their aid. He told them that the sticks meant for kindling the fire for performing his daily Yagna got caught in the horns of a stag which escaped from the scene and wanted the Pandavas to track the fleeing animal and retrieve the sticks so that he could perform his rituals. As the Pandavas felt that it is their responsibility to protect those who practice their daily essential dharmic karma, they proceeded in pursuance of the stag. Their attempts to stop the animal failed. They felt very much fatigued, starving, and thirsty on account of the long hunt. The five brothers sat down finally to rest under the cool shade of a tree.

Yudhishthira instructed Nakula to find out if there is any stream of water flowing nearby. Nakula followed the instructions and notified Yudhishthira that he could hear the cries of water cranes in the vicinity indicating the availability of water. Yudhishthira suggested to Nakula to go to the spot and fetch some water for all of them.

Nakula discovered a crystal clear lake, surrounded by trees, flowers, and birds. He was overjoyed and felt like enjoying a cool drink for himself first before he carry them to his brothers. So he settled near the refreshing water. As he was about to take some water he heard a voice of warning: ” Do not dare to touch that water, my dear child. You must first answer my questions". Nakula ignored the warning as he was thirsty from the long chase he had and drank the water from the stream and immediately fell dead.

When Nakula did not return Yudhishthira suggested that Sahadeva should go and find out what was the reason for Nakula’s delay. Sahadeva appeared on the scene and was horrified to see Nakula lying dead. He thought of quenching his thirst first and when he attempted to drink from the stream, he also heard the same warning. Sahadeva also ignored it for the same reason, Nakula did in the first place. Only if he had known the consequences, he would have answered the questions before he had quenched his thirst. Therefore, upon pursuing his attempt to drink, he fell dead.

Now it was Arjuna's turn to look into what had happened. Apprehending some danger, he proceeded with his Gandiva bow. When he arrived at the lake he was shocked to see his two brothers lying as though dead. Arjuna also tried to quench his thirst and heard the same warning. Unlike Nakula and Sahadeva, Arjuna did not ignore the warning but challenged it. Asking the voice to come before him physically, he shot several arrows in the direction from which the voice was coming. In reply, he received more threats. Arjuna challenged the voice again, but when the voice did not approach him physically, he proceeded to drink the water from the stream ignoring the warning, and he fell down dead just like his other brothers. 

Later, Bhima was sent to the stream to check the situation. He arrived near the stream and was baffled to see his brothers lying down as though dead. He attempted to wake them up but decided to quench his thirst first. He too has heard the warnings which he ignored and met with the same fate.

Yudhishthira was then very much upset because all his brothers were not returning even after so long. So now he prepared himself for the possible harm that might have befallen his dear and powerful brothers, he decided to go in search of them. When he arrived at the lake, he was stunned to see all his four brothers lying dead on the ground. His hopes of recovering his lost kingdom with the assistance of his brothers were destroyed. He mourned for a while and then began to look around to make out the cause of his brothers’ death. He wondered “there are no signs of violence on their bodies, no footprints anywhere; the killer must be a supernatural being”.

Ruling out the possibility of Duryodhana’s hand in the incidents, he convinced himself that this must have been the doing of a godlike being. He went to fetch some water to begin the last rites for his brothers. He heard a sudden voice declaring: “I am the cause of your brothers' death; you shall be the fifth victim if you do not answer my questions before using the water".

Yudhishthira questioned "Who are you? Are you a rudra, vasu, or marut? You must be powerful to be able to put to death these powerful brothers of mine. Your feat is remarkable because neither gods nor demons could stand up to my brothers. What I do not understand is the reason behind all of this. What do you want? Noble one! Why are you here? Who are you?"

The voice replied: "I am a Yaksha, Yudhishthira. "

As he heard these words, Yudhishthira saw before his eyes a surrealistic form. A voice thundered: “I warned your brothers. But they would not listen to me. So now they are dead. This stream belongs to me and unless you answer my questions you shall not even touch this water." 

Yudhishthira replied: “I have no will to take what belongs to you. Ask me and I will reply as best as I can. ”

The Yaksha then asked, “What is it that makes the Sunrise? Who keeps him company? Who causes him to set? And in whom is he established?” 

Yudhishthira answered, “Brahma makes the Sunrise: the gods keep him company: Dharma causes him to set: and he is established in truth.” 

The Yaksha then asked, “By what do one become learned? By what does he attain what is very great? How can one have a second? And, O king, how can one acquire intelligence?” 

Yudhishthira answered, “It is by the study of the Srutis that a person becometh learned; it is by severe self-discipline that one acquires what is truly noble: it is by intelligence that a person acquires a second and it is by serving the old that one becomes wise.” 

The Yaksha asked, “ What constitutes the divinity of the Brahmanas? What even is their practice that is like that of the divine? What also is the human attribute of the Brahmanas? And what practice of theirs is like that of the wicked?” 

Yudhishthira answered, “The study of the Vedas constitutes their divinity: their asceticism constitutes behavior that is like that of the divine; their liability to death is their human attribute and slander is their sin.”

The Yaksha asked, “ What establishes the divinity of the Kshatriyas? What even is their practice that is like that of the divine? What is their human attribute? And what practice of theirs is like that of the wicked?” 

Yudhishthira answered, “Arrows and weapons are their divinity: a celebration of sacrifices is that act which is like that of the divine: liability to fear is their human attribute, and refusal of protection is that act of theirs which is like that of the ungodly. ” 

The Yaksha asked, “What person, enjoying all the objects of the senses, endued with intelligence, regarded by the world and liked by all beings, though breathing, is not yet alive?”

Yudhishthira answered, “The person, who does not offer anything to these five: gods, guests, servants, ancestors, and himself, though endued with the breath, is not yet alive.”

The Yaksha asked, “What is weightier than the earth itself? What is higher than the heavens?” What is swifter than the wind? And what is more numerous than grass?”

Yudhishthira answered, “The mother is weightier than the earth; the father is higher than the heaven; the mind is fleeter than the wind; and, thoughts are more numerous than grass.”

The Yaksha asked, “What is that which does not close its eyes while asleep; What is that which does not move after birth? What is that which is without heart? And what is that which swells with its own purpose?”

Yudhishthira answered, “A fish does not close its eyes while asleep: an egg doth not move after birth: a stone is without heart: and a river swells with its own purpose.”

The Yaksha asked, “Who is the friend of the exile? Who is the friend of the householder? Who is the friend of him that ails? And who is the friend of one about to die?”

Yudhishthira answered, “The friend of the exile in a distant land is his companion, the friend of the householder is the wife; the friend of him that ails is the physician: and the friend of him about to die is charity.

The Yaksha asked, “Who is the guest of all creatures? What is eternal duty? What, O foremost of kings, is Amrita? And what is this entire Universe?”

Yudhishthira answered Agni is the guest of all creatures: the milk of a cow is amrita: Homa therewith is the eternal duty: and this Universe consists of air alone.”

The Yaksha asked, “What is the highest refuge of virtue? What of fame? What of heaven? And what, of happiness?”

Yudhishthira answered, “Liberality is the highest refuge of virtue: gift, of fame: truth, of heaven: and good behavior, of happiness.”

The Yaksha asked, “What is the soul of man? Who is that friend bestowed on man by the gods? What is man’s chief support? And what also is his chief refuge?”

Yudhishthira answered, “The son is a man’s soul: the wife is the friend bestowed on man by the gods; the clouds are his chief support, and gift is his chief refuge.”

The Yaksha asked, “What is the best of all worthy things? What is the most valuable of all his possessions? What is the best of all gains? And what is the best of all kinds of happiness?”

Yudhishthira answered, ” The best of all worthy things is a skill; the best of all possessions is knowledge: the best of all gains is health: and contentment is the best of all kinds of happiness.”

The Yaksha asked, “What is the highest duty in the world? What is that virtue which always bears fruit? What is that which if controlled, leads not to regret? And who are they with whom an alliance cannot break?”

Yudhishthira answered, “The highest of duties is to refrain from injury: the rites predetermined in the Three Vedas always bear fruit: the mind if controlled, leads to no regret: and an alliance with the good never breaks. "

The Yaksha asked, “What is that which, if renounced, makes one agreeable? What is that which, if renounced, leads to no regret? What is that which, if renounced, makes one wealthy? And what is that which if renounced, makes one happy?”

Yudhishthira answered,—“Pride, if renounced, makes one agreeable; wrath, if renounced, leads to no regret: desire, if renounced, makes one wealthy: and greed if renounced, makes one happy.”

The Yaksha asked, “For what does one give away to Brahmanas? For what to actors and dancers? For what to servants? And for what to king?”

Yudhishthira answered, “It is for religious merit that one given away to Brahmanas: it is for fame that one gives away to actors and dancers: it is for supporting them that one gives away to servants: and it is for obtaining relief from fear that one gives to kings.”

The Yaksha asked, “For what may one be considered as dead? For what may a kingdom be considered as dead? For what may a Sraddha be considered as dead? And for what, a sacrifice?”

Yudhishthira answered, “For want of wealth may a man be regarded as dead. A kingdom for want of a king may be regarded as dead. A Sraddha that is performed with the aid of a priest that has no learning may be regarded as dead. And a sacrifice in which there are no gifts to Brahmanas is dead.”

The Yaksha asked, “ What constitutes the way? What, has been spoken of as water? What, as food? And what, as poison? Tell us also what is the proper time of a Sraddha, and then drink and take away as much as you likest!”

Yudhishthira answered, " They that are good constitute the way. Space has been spoken of as water. The cow is food. A request is a poison. And a Brahmana is regarded as the proper time of a Sraddha. I do not know what you may think of all this, O Yaksha?”

The Yaksha asked, “What has been said to be the sign of asceticism? And what is true restraint? What constitutes forgiveness. And what is shame?”

Yudhishthira answered, “Staying in one’s own religion is asceticism: the restraint of the mind is of all restraints the true one: forgiveness consists in enduring enmity; and shame, in withdrawing from all unworthy acts.”

The Yaksha asked,—“What, O king is said to be knowledge? What, tranquility? What constitutes mercy? And what hath been called simplicity?”

Yudhishthira answered, “True knowledge is that of Divinity. True tranquility is that of the heart. Mercy consists in wishing happiness to all. And simplicity is the serenity of heart.”

The Yaksha asked, “What enemy is invincible? What constitutes an incurable disease for man? What sort of a man is called honest and what dishonest?”

Yudhishthira answered, “Anger is an invincible enemy. Greed constitutes an incurable disease. He is honest that desires the weal of all creatures, and he is dishonest who is unmerciful.” 

 The Yaksha asked, “What has steadiness been said by the Rishis to be? And what, patience? What also is a real ablution? And what is charity?”

Yudhishthira answered, “Steadiness consists in one’s staying in one’s own religion, and true patience consists in the subjugation of the senses. A true bath consists in washing the mind clean of all impurities, and charity consists in protecting all creatures.”

Yaksha asked, “What man should be regarded as learned, and who should be called an atheist? Who also is to be called ignorant? What is called desire and what are the sources of desire? And what is envy?”

Yudhishthira answered, “He is to be called learned who knows his duties. An atheist is he who is ignorant and so also he is ignorant who is an atheist. Desire is due to objects of possession, and envy is nothing else than the grief of heart.”

The Yaksha asked, “What is pride, and what is hypocrisy? What is the grace of the gods, and what is wickedness?”

Yudhishthira answered,“ Apathetic ignorance is pride. The setting up of a religious standard is hypocrisy. The grace of the gods is the fruit of our gifts, and wickedness consists in speaking ill of others.”

The Yaksha asked, “Virtue, profit, and desire are opposed to one another. How could things thus antagonistic to one another exist together?”

Yudhishthira answered, “When a wife and virtue agree with each other, then all the three thou hast mentioned may exist together.”

The Yaksha asked, “Who is he that is condemned to everlasting hell? It behoveth you to soon answer the question that I ask!”

Yudhishthira answered,—“He that summons a poor Brahmana promising to make him a gift and then tells him that he has nothing to give, goes to everlasting hell. He also must go to everlasting hell, who blames falsehood to the Vedas, the scriptures, the Brahmanas, the gods, and the ceremonies in honor of the Pitris, He also goes to everlasting hell who though in possession of wealth, never gives away nor enjoys himself from greed, saying, he has none.”

Yudhishthira thus answered all the questions posed by Yaksha. The surrealistic form therefore vanished and the high-souled Pandavas after they had slept sweetly were united with one another. And their exhaustion dismissed, those heroes returned to the shelter and gave back that Brahmana his firesticks. That man who pursued this glorious and fame-enhancing story of the revival of the Pandavas and the meeting of father and son (Dharma and Yudhishthira), obtained perfect tranquillity of mind.

And with that, the story finally ends. I believe that you now had understood the importance of knowledge. But knowledge alone is not sufficient to achieve success. Wisdom is worthless if the person is ignorant. Humility is also an important trait that helps in achieving great things. I will now give all the players some time to rest and then, we shall begin round 2. '