A reminder to humans!
- artirustagi
- Oct 30, 2025
- 2 min read
So often, we speak of “culture” — we debate it, defend it, and sometimes even use it to judge others. But how many of us truly understand its roots?
The values we quote so freely were never meant to be about rules or superiority, but about awareness, balance, and responsibility.
The Mahabharata is one of the foundations of Indian culture — shaping our literature, philosophy, and sense of dharma. Yet few of us pause to look beyond the surface of its stories to see the depth of human understanding they hold.
Here’s an excerpt — a small reminder from one such moment in the Mahabharata, the dialogue between Yudhishthira and the Yaksha — a reminder of our values!
One day, while the Pandavas were hunting in the forest, a Brahmana asked them to retrieve sacred grass that a deer had carried away. As they searched, each brother—Nakula, Sahadeva, Arjuna, and Bhima—came upon a pond and, ignoring a mysterious voice warning them not to drink before answering its questions, drank the water and fell dead.
When Yudhishthira arrived, he found his brothers lifeless and was stopped by the same voice. The being revealed itself as a Yaksha, declaring that the pond was his. Unlike his brothers, Yudhishthira, ever righteous and composed, agreed to answer the Yaksha’s 125 questions first, showing why he is revered as Dharmaraj, the upholder of righteousness.
The questions (a few of them)
What is that whose number exceeds even the countless blades of grass on earth?
Our infinite thoughts
And what is swifter than wind?
the mind, the speed of the mind knows no bounds
What does the mind seek?
Happiness
What is happiness
Freedom from vices like lust, anger, greed and attachment.
Then what is sorrow?
Ignorance
And what is ignorance?
Being unaware of one’s own actions.
Then who is the wise one?
One who maintains balance in their duties and deeds.
What is a person’s greatest deed?
Showing compassion, love and care for all living beings is the greatest deed.
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