Phantom of words

1. Literal Comprehension: One day the Pandova brothers went for from their dwelling place in search of Deer in the jungle. They saw a deer and followed it but the deer vanished. They felt very tired and thirsty. Yudhishthira could not find any sign of water around them. SoYoudhishthira sent Sahadeva to search water. Sahadeva went from there but he didn't come back. Yudhishthira became worried and he sent Nahakula. But Nahakula also failed to return. Then Yudhishthira sent Bhima and Arjuna ther foot steeps to know what had happened to them. After sometime he comes to a clearing. He saw a beautiful pool looked fresh, cool and inviting. But at the some time, he saw another terrible scene. His all brothers were lying on the bank of the pool, their eyes were closed.

Yudhishthira became mournful. He prayed the God to take him also because he could not live without his dear brothers. He cried bitterly. However, he could not control his thirst. When he bent down to drink the water, the sound of the Yaksha ordered him that he could not drink the water until he answered his questions. He had given the same order. However, Yudhishthira was very wise and patient. He requested the Yaksha to ask his questions and promised that he would answer them as well as he could.

The Yaksha asked him many questions that he answered sincerely and rightly. The Yaksha was very much impressed by his replies and promised to revive one of his brothers. Yuthishthira was very just fair, truth and wise. So, he requested the Yaksha to save Nahakula the son of step mother. The Yaksha was even more impressed by Yudhishthira's wisdom and justice. He revived all the brothers of Yudhishthira. He also advised them to remember him in future difficulties. Then he suggested them to go to Matsya with Draupadi and spend the rest exile period.

2. Interpretation: The story may be trying to tell us something about the importance of patience, obedience to good wisdom, and right conduct. If Yudhishthira had lacked these qualities, all the Pandava brothers would have been lost. The story stresses the right, justice and fairness more than other things. Likewise, the story suggests us to be courageous and to give up anger, pride and desire to live a happy and healthy life.

3. Critical thinking: After reading this story, I found many useful things for life. However, there are also some disagreeable ideas. Do the gods exist? If so what is the proof of their existence? Can we truly say that patience and right conducts are rewarded on this earth? Was the right conduct of people like Socrates, Gandhi and Martin Luther King rewarded while they live? Do such complicated questions really have so simple answers would modern people believe that the sun shines by the power of God? Is courage the best weapon against danger? Would life be worth living without desire? So, I don't agree with the writer totally.

Assimilation: When I read this story, I found many things useful for my life. I understood the importance of patience, justice and right conduct. I will also try to be like Yudhisthira. However, I will not give up all my desires it they are within my reach.

I am Yaksha the God of death and justice. Once the Pandava brothers were in exile, they go tired and turned thirsty after chasing a deer. They wandered in the forest in search of water. There was an enchanted pool in the forest and I was the owner of that pool. The Pandava brothers come to the pool one by one and were attracted by clear and cool water. 

When the Pandava brothers bent down to drink water, I warned them not to drink the water before answering some complex and philosophical questions asked by me. Sahadeva, Nahakula, Arjuna and Bhima come to the pool by turn and they drank the water disobeying of my warning. I got angry and made the unconscious. As a result of my punishment, the four Pandava lay on the ground as if dead. Finally, Yudhishthira himself came there. He wept seeing his brother's dead. However, he could not control this thirst. When he bent down to drink the water, I warned him not to drink before answering my questions. 

He controlled his thirst, became patient and answered all my questions wisely. Being pleased with him, I decided to revive one of his brothers. Yudhishthira choose Nahakula, his step brother and moved his morality and fairness. I was more pleased with him the wisdom, morality, patience and selflessness of Yuthishthira and finally I revived all the brothers and promised to help them in their future hardships.

I am Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandava brothers. Once we were in exile. We got tired and turned thirsty after chasing a deer. We took rest under a tree. I ordered Sahadeva to look for some water. When he didn't turn for a long time, I sent Nahakula, Arjuna and Bhima one after another but none of them come back. Finally being worried, I myself wandered and come upon a pool. I saw my four brothers lying dead on ground near the pool. I cried in sorrow. I was, however, enchanted by the fresh and cool water. As I was ready to drink, a voice warned me not to drink the water before answering his questions. I got ready to answer his question as well as I could. 

The voice was of Yaksha. He asked me very complex and philosophical questions. I replied in simple, correct and wise way. Being pleased from my answers, the Yaksha was ready to revive one of my brothers. I choose my step brother Nahakula. The Yaksha was fully pleased with my choice. He appeared in the form of the Yama, the God of death and justice promised to help us in the future hardships