Hari Aum.
As I mentioned in previous posts, despite my ongoing commitment to spiritual life and japa yoga, I am currently very much immersed in householder life. I presently have a long and tedious list of chores to get through during this weekend (and some in my life would say, I should be working my way through some of them instead of writing this post!).
However, I have been watching the Mahabharata series (made in 2013-14) again in recent weeks. And I have been longing to write about Yudhishthira for a while-- and now seems like the perfect opportunity.
The word 'Yudhishthira' is synonymous with 'dharma' or righteousness. He was devoted to virtue his entire life. He was a highly intelligent king who always saw good in everyone (his enemies often took advantage of his good nature to cause him and his family harm-- as in the case of the famous game of dice described in the Mahabharata).
I personally feel a little thrill of admiration and reverence whenever I utter the name 'Yudhishthira'-- there is something just so endearing about him. He is described as being extremely kind and good; it is impossible not to like him. His relations find his intense love of dharma or righteousness exhausting at times-- as he is the eldest brother and also King, his younger brothers and wife, Draupadi, are compelled to constantly adhere to dharma, and remain calm in the face of severe provocation (from their enemies, the evil-minded Kauravas)--and they do not find this at all easy!
Yudhishthira insists being kind and forgiving in the face of evil. His brothers (the hot-headed Bhima in particular!) often want to express righteous anger and even vengeance in the face of evil-- but Yudhishthira does not allow it. He believes in giving good in return for evil. This is the way of dharma.
One can feel frustrated at times by the manner in which he forgives people who do not appear to deserve any forgiveness, and who repeatedly take advantage of his kindness. "Why Yudhishthira?!" one cannot help but say as one reads his story. "Why must you keep giving them the benefit of the doubt?! Why do you trust them? Why are you so good to those who treat you so horribly?! Don't do it, because they will make you suffer!".
But Yudhishthira just cannot help it-- he is after all, the son of dharma. He is the son of Lord Yama himself, the demi-god of death whose other name is Dharma or righteousness.
(The legend of the Mahabharata says that his mother, Queen Kunti, was taught a mantra that allowed her to summon any of the demi-gods to gift her a child. When her husband, King Pandu, was cursed to never be able to bear his own children, he asked his wife to use the mantra to obtain children born of the demi-gods. In accordance with her husband's wishes, Kunti used the mantra to request the devas to present the couple with children. The first demi-god invoked was Yama and so Yudhishthira, born by his grace, became the eldest son of Kunti and Pandu, and thus the oldest of the Pandava brothers).
Yudhishthira loved dharma or righteousness intensely and tried his best to live in accordance with its principles (these include the yogic ethics). He had a great love for ahimsa or non-violence and did not wish to participate in a war with his cousins, the wicked Kauravas. However, destiny compelled him to fight as it was his duty or dharma as a kshatriya or warrior to work for justice for his people. He was a vital instrument in the hands of Krishna, the avatar of Narayana, who was born to establish dharma on Earth.
He also had an intense love for truthfulness. As truth is the essence of dharma or the Divine, Yudhishthira practiced this devoutly throughout his life and never willingly spoke a single untruth.
After the infamous game of dice, Yudhishthira had regained everything he had lost due to the wisdom of his wife, Draupadi (who invoked Krishna and brought His grace upon them).
After this, he was invited one last time by Duryodhana and Shakuni to play a very short game. There would be only a single throw of the dice. The winner would take the kingdom, and the loser would have to go to the forests outside the land in exile for twelve years. A further thirteenth year would need to be spent incognito (if they were discovered during this time, the cycle would have to be repeated, i.e. another twelve years and a further incognito year would have to be undergone).
It was part of the warrior code at the time for a King to accept a challenge, be it a war or a game of dice (refusing this was regarded to be an act of weakness or cowardice). It was clear by this time that the Kauravas were extremely wicked and dangerous. However, in accordance with the kshatriya code, Yudhishthira felt compelled to accept the invitation.
He lost of course (as the dice were false) and he, accompanied by his four brothers and wife, were forced to go into exile. Before they left, they were told their kingdom would be returned after the period of exile was completed (the Kauravas refused of course to keep their promise, which led to the great war in accordance with the law of karma and Divine will).
A number of interesting events take place during the exile, the war and later during Yudhishthira's rule as King that demonstrate his exceptional commitment to dharma or goodness.
Some of these include the famous 'yaksha prashna' (the test posed by a being called a 'yaksha'), the incident involving Guru Drona, the great conversation with Bhishma (including the teaching of the Vishnu sahasranama) after the war, and his ascent to heaven (after his time on Earth). I want to write about some of these events in the coming weeks.
I wanted to describe the yaksha prashna here but will aim to write a separate post on this soon if possible as it is very interesting and also a bit lengthy. In the meantime, I will leave you with one famous question posed by the yaksha (who was Yudhishthira's own divine father, Lord Yama, in disguise) and the King's answer.
After asking many challenging questions related to the material and spiritual aspects of life, Lord Yama asks his son: "What is the greatest wonder?"
Yudhishthira, who had so far correctly answered all the questions posed by his divine father, replies:
"Every day, numerous living beings die and depart for the realm of Yama, the demi-god of Death. Yet, those who are still alive feel that they will live forever. What can be a greater wonder than this?"
This famous question and answer is often discussed by various spiritual Gurus in the yoga tradition. They remind us, their disciples, not to take our lives for granted. We do not know what tomorrow will bring, what even the next moment will bring. Life can change in seconds as some of us may have seen and even experienced.
The great Gurus Adi Shankara and the Buddha famously described human life to be as fragile as a drop of water trembling on the tip of a leaf or a blade of grass. At any moment, this drop can fall. Therefore, they tell us to wake up as quickly as possible from the slumber of spiritual ignorance.
This life is as precious as it is fragile, they say. It is to be used wisely to attain that which is everlasting, a state of peace and bliss that is beyond the mind and senses.
For this reason alone, many of us plod daily upon the spiritual path. Desiring this alone, drawing inspiration from great individuals like Yudhishthira, we adhere to the path of dharma to the best of our ability.
When Lord Dharma or Yama, pleased with his son's virtue and wisdom, asked him to request various boons or blessings, Yudhishthira (after asking for various blessings for others) said:
"O Lord, may I always be able to conquer greed, delusion and anger. May my mind always be directed towards charity and austerity."
Yudhishthira is, in many ways, a wonderful inspiration for us as spiritual seekers. Despite living an intensely busy life as King and householder, he remained deeply committed to a life of spiritual attainment and dharma. Contemplating his life and teachings grants a powerful motivation to walk the path of dharma.
Om Dharmadhyakshaya Namah.
Om Namo Narayanaya.
Hari Aum Tat Sat.
