Yudhishthira and a yaksha hold a question and answer dialogue by the lakeside in the Hindu epic Mahabharata..   Virtue, wisdom, and righteous conduct in navigating life's challenges. Yudhishthira's answers the Yaksha's quries. 

The Pandavas—Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—were central figures in the Mahābhārata. Their exile to the forest occurred after they lost a rigged game of dice to their cousins, the Kauravas (led by Duryodhana and his uncle Śakuni).

During the Pandavas’ exile in the forest, one day they became tired and thirsty. Yudhishthira asked Nakula to climb a tree and look for water. Nakula found a beautiful lake.

As he approached to drink, a mysterious voice warned him:

“This lake belongs to me. First answer my questions, then drink. If you drink without answering, you will die.”

Overcome by thirst, Nakula ignored the warning, drank the water, and fell dead.

Yudhishthira then sent Sahadeva. The same warning came. Sahadeva too ignored it, drank, and fell dead.

Then Arjuna went, heard the warning, defied it, drank, and fell dead.

Bhima also went, ignored the voice, drank, and fell dead.

At last Yudhishthira himself came to the lake and saw all four brothers lying motionless. He was overwhelmed with grief. Then the unseen being spoke again and repeated the warning. Unlike his brothers, Yudhishthira remained calm and said he would answer the questions first.

The being appeared as a Yaksha—a supernatural guardian spirit.

What follows is the famous dialogue.

Yaksha’s questions and Yudhishthira’s answers

There are many versions, and the wording varies a little from text to text, but the spirit remains the same. Below are the best-known questions and answers in clear English.

1. What makes the sun rise? Who keeps it company? What causes it to set? In what is it established?

Yudhishthira:
Brahman makes the sun rise. The gods keep it company. Dharma causes it to set. It is established in truth.

2. How does a man become learned? How does he attain greatness? How does he gain a companion? How does he become wise?

Yudhishthira:
By studying the scriptures he becomes learned. By austerity he attains greatness. By patience he gains a companion. By serving the wise he becomes wise.

3. What is heavier than the earth? What is higher than the sky? What is swifter than the wind? What is more numerous than grass?

Yudhishthira:
Mother is heavier than the earth. Father is higher than the sky. Mind is swifter than the wind. Thoughts are more numerous than grass.

4. What is the greatest support of dharma? Of fame? Of heaven? Of happiness?

Yudhishthira:
Skill supports dharma. Charity supports fame. Truth supports heaven. Good conduct supports happiness.

5. What is a man’s soul? Who is his friend given by destiny? What supports his life? What is his chief refuge?

Yudhishthira:
His son is his soul. His wife is the friend given by destiny. Rain supports life. Charity is his chief refuge.

6. What is the best of all possessions? What is the best of all gains? What is the best of all happiness? What is the highest duty?

Yudhishthira:
Knowledge is the best possession. Health is the best gain. Contentment is the best happiness. Non-injury is the highest duty.

7. What is that, by abandoning which, a man becomes loved? By abandoning which does he become free from sorrow? By abandoning which does he become wealthy? By abandoning which does he become happy?

Yudhishthira:
By abandoning pride, a man becomes loved. By abandoning anger, he is free from sorrow. By abandoning desire, he becomes wealthy. By abandoning greed, he becomes happy.

8. What is the greatest wonder?

Yudhishthira:
Day after day countless creatures go to the abode of death, yet those who remain live as though they themselves are immortal. This is the greatest wonder.

9. What is the path?

Yudhishthira:
Argument leads to no certain conclusion. The scriptures differ among themselves. No two sages have the same opinion. The truth of dharma is hidden in a cave. Therefore, the path is that which the great righteous ones have followed.

10. What is news?

Yudhishthira:
This world is like a cooking pot. Time is the cook. The sun is the fire. Days and nights are the fuel. Creatures are being cooked in that pot. This is the news.

11. Who is truly happy?

Yudhishthira:
He who cooks simple food in his own home, who is not burdened by debt, and who does not live in exile—he is truly happy.

12. What is real wealth?

Yudhishthira:  Contentment is the highest wealth.

13. What is the highest gain?

Yudhishthira:  Health is the highest gain.

14. What is the highest happiness?

Yudhishthira:  Contentment is the highest happiness.

15. What is dharma that is highest in the world?

Yudhishthira:  Compassion and non-injury are the highest dharma.

16. What rescues a man in danger?

Yudhishthira:  Courage rescues him in danger.

17. What is more valuable than gold?

Yudhishthira:  Knowledge is more valuable than gold.

18. What is the greatest enemy?

Yudhishthira:  Anger is the greatest enemy.

19. What is the disease that has no end?

Yudhishthira:  Greed is the endless disease.

20. Who is a true Brahmana?

Yudhishthira:
Conduct, not birth alone, makes one a Brahmana. He in whom truth, self-restraint, charity, compassion, and good conduct dwell is a Brahmana.

21. Who is truly alive?

Yudhishthira:  He who performs righteous deeds and whose good name lives on is truly alive.

22. What is faster than an arrow?

Yudhishthira:  The mind.

23. What is the greatest virtue?

Yudhishthira:  Truthfulness.

24. What is the best friend of a traveler?

Yudhishthira:  A companion is the traveler’s friend.

25. What is the friend of one who stays at home?

Yudhishthira:  The wife is the friend of one who stays at home.

26. What is the friend of the sick?

Yudhishthira:  The physician is the friend of the sick.

27. What is the friend of a dying man?

Yudhishthira:  Charity is the friend of a dying man.

28. What is that which, when controlled, leads to no regret?

Yudhishthira:  The mind.

29. By what does one become wise?

Yudhishthira: By association with the wise.

30. What is true restraint?

Yudhishthira:  The restraint of the mind is true restraint.

31. What is true forgiveness?

Yudhishthira:  To endure injury calmly is true forgiveness.

32. What is true shame?

Yudhishthira:  Refraining from unworthy acts is true shame.

33. What is true knowledge?

Yudhishthira:  Knowledge of the Self is true knowledge.

34. What is peace?

Yudhishthira:  Peace is the calm of the heart.

35. What is compassion?

Yudhishthira:  The desire to protect all beings from suffering is compassion.

The final test

Pleased with Yudhishthira’s wisdom, the Yaksha said:

“One of your brothers may be brought back to life. Choose.”

Yudhishthira did not choose Bhima, the strongest, nor Arjuna, the greatest warrior. Instead he chose Nakula.

The Yaksha was surprised and asked why.

Yudhishthira replied that his father, King Pandu, had two wives—Kunti and Madri. Yudhishthira himself, Bhima, and Arjuna were Kunti’s sons, while Nakula and Sahadeva were Madri’s sons. Since Yudhishthira was alive as Kunti’s surviving son, fairness required that one son of Madri should also live. Therefore he chose Nakula.

This answer revealed Yudhishthira’s perfect commitment to justice, balance, and dharma, even over personal advantage.

The Yaksha was deeply pleased.

Who was the Yaksha?

The Yaksha then revealed his true identity: Dharma, the god of righteousness, and also Yudhishthira’s divine father.

Because Yudhishthira remained truthful, patient, wise, and just, Dharma restored all four brothers to life.

He also blessed the Pandavas for the remainder of their exile.

Why this story is so important

This episode is treasured because it shows Yudhishthira at his finest:

• calm in grief
• respectful in danger
• wise in philosophy
• just in action
• faithful to dharma even when tested

The most famous teachings from this story are:

• Contentment is the greatest happiness
• Anger is the greatest enemy
• Greed is an endless disease
• The greatest wonder is that humans see death all around them, yet live as if they will never die
• The path of dharma is subtle and must be followed through the example of the righteous