Sushmajee
Bhaagvat Puraan | Biographies

Skandh 1 Skandh 2 Skandh 3 Skandh 4 Skandh 5 Skandh 6
Skandh 7 Skandh 8 Skandh 9 Skandh 10 Skandh 11 Skandh 12

Home | Bhaagvat | Biographies

A-F  |  G-J  |  K-N  |  O-R  |  S-T  |  U-Z

   


Yudhishthir

Yudhishthir was  the son of Kuntee and Paandu through Dharm Raaj. He was the follower of Dharm. He used to speak truth and only truth. It is said that because of speaking truth his chariot used to run 4-finger above the ground. But when he told lie, in the Kurukshetra war, that "Ashwatthaamaa died",  then only his chariot started running on the ground. 

Yudhishthir and Dronaachaarya
He spoke only one lie which was also on Krishn's advice. It was when Bheeshm Pitaamaha lay on arrows bed and Drone was the army chief. Drone was also so brave that Paandav were not able to defeat him. "What to do?" Paandav asked themselves. There was an elephant named Ashwatthaamaa in Kaurav's army, so Krishn advised that "if we kill that elephant and declare that "Ashwatthaamaa has died" then Drone will become weak and he will not be able to fight any more, because he will think his son has died". Ashwatthaama was Drone's son and he used to love him very much. Paandav asked - "But why should he believe others?" Then Krishn said - "But if Yudhishthir will say that, "Ashwatthaamaa died" then he will believe that, because he always speaks truth." Yudhishthir was not ready to tell lie. Then Krishn got a bit annoyed. After all he had to say that. And of course, after that Drone couldn't fight any more and  Dhrishtdyumn killed him as he was destined to kill him.

So on that day, Bheem killed the elephant and shouted "Ashwatthaamaa died, Ashwatthaamaa died". Krishn also spread this news that Ashwatthaamaa died. Drone couldn't think of the elephant but of his own son (while he should not have thought so because he was immortal). Now Drone wouldn't believe any other except Yudhishthir. So he asked Yudhishthir - "You tell me. Has Ashwatthaamaa died?" and he said "Yes, Ashwatthaamaa died". Although his conscious was not allowing him to say that but he had no alternative, so he whispered "elephant".

Why Did Yudhishthir Play Chausar?
Yudhishthir was a very good king. He had all the qualities to become a king. He could not have done anything unjustified. He was always ready to learn a king's duties. When Bheeshm was lying on arrows bed he went to him to learn politics, diplomacy etc. On asking that why did he go to play dice game to Hastinaapur, he told because he did not want to disregard his elder uncle and the King of Hastinaapur, because whatever he ordered that should have been regarded as his orders and his orders could not be disobeyed. When the time came to set the terms of the game, he left everything on Duryodhan, because he was his younger brother and that is why he had the first right to decide everything according to his wish; and since he invited him to play the dice game, so he had the full right to decide the terms of the game.

Yudhishthir and Yaksh
Once when Paandav were in exile, Draupadee felt thirsty. Yudhishthir asked Sahadev to look for water. Sahadev climbed on a tree and said - "I can see some birds flying nearby, there may be some water there." Yudhishthir said, "then go and bring some water from there, we are all feeling thirsty." Sahadev went but didn't come back. After Sahadev, Nakul, Bheem, and Arjun also went but they also did not come back. Yudhishthir got very worried and went himself to check. 

He found all his brothers lying on the shore of a lake. He checked their bodies, there was no sign of wound or anything. He could not think that how his mighty brothers died without a sign of fight. Then as he wanted to take water from the lake, A Yaksh appeared and said to him - "First you reply my questions then you can take this water." Yudhishthir asked - "Kindly tell me who are you and who has done this to my brothers?" He said - "I am the owner of this lake. This is my lake and only he can drink water from this who has answered my questions. Your brothers did not listen to me that is why they are lying in this condition." 

Yudhishthir said - "Hey Yaksh, Ask me anything you want." Then Yaksh asked 64 questions and Yudhishthir replied all the 64 questions correctly. Then Yaksh said - "I am very pleased with you, now you can bring only one brother alive. Tell me whom do you want to bring alive?" Yudhishthir said - "If I have to have only one brother alive, then grant the life to Sahadev." Yaksh asked - "Why did you ask for Sahadev only while you could have asked for Arjun who is the best archer, or Bheem who is very mighty?" Yudhishthir said - "I am alive from our mother Kuntee, now I want one son alive of my another Mother Maadree. I cannot do injustice with her. At least her one son should be alive."

Yaksh got very pleased with this reply and he made his all brothers alive. Then Yudhishthir asked - "If you don't mind, now I want to ask you one question. Nobody can give life except Bhagavaan, and you are not Bhagavaan, then who are you?" Then Yaksh showed his real form of Dharm Raaj and said - "You are right, I am not Bhagavaan, I am Dharm Raaj. You are my son. I just had a desire to see you that is why I created this scene."

Even though Dhritraashtra and Duryodhan tried to insult and kill them several times; whatever and whenever they could, they tried to harm them, but he was always respectful, obedient and polite to Dhritraashtra, even to Duryodhan. He never disrespected or even felt bad about both Dhritraashtra and his son Duryodhan. He used to say, "Duryodhan is our younger brother, he is good at heart, whatever he does he does it being controlled by his nature. In the last, after the war, Dhritraashtra and Gaandhaaree lived with him happily for several years. But as they left for forest on the advice of Vidur Jee, Yudhishthir also left the world. He alone went to Swarg with this mortal body, everybody else died on the way.

 

Home | Bhaagvat | Biographies

A-F  |  G-J  |  K-N  |  O-R  |  S-T  |  U-Z


Created by Sushma Gupta on 5/27/03
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 06/09/11