Prakriti P.O.V
It was our last day of exile in forest, then Agyatvasa for one year will start. One clear morning, a distraught old brahmana arrived there. Breathless from having run through the forest, he cried to Brother Yudhishtira, "Help me, O king! You must help me or my worship will be ruined". Brother looked at him in calm manner as he continued his crying and sat down on the ground.
"What happened, Muni, to disturb your worship?" Elder Brother asked.
"A stag took my arani sticks with it as I kindle it for scared fire, it is same sticks my Grandfather and Father used, I can't start my worship without them, please help me" he cried joining his hands in pleading gesture, Elder Brother sat in front of him and put both of his hands on Brahman's hand lowering them "Me and my family will help you" he responded with a promise and turned towards us. I barely nodded my nod "Brahman, can you tell me in which direction the stag ran away?" I asked him, he quickly pointed at the direction. "Lets go" Elder Brother ordered to us, I joined them because I am well aware of the nature and animals, with my help we can find the stag fast. With our weapons, we ran in the direction Brahman pointed to us. We looked around for the stag but couldn't find it anywhere, there was no sign of it, it was almost two hours that we were searching for it.
Panting we sat under a fine pipal tree, everyone were exhausted except Brother Bheem who looked frustrated and it was ordinary because we were unable to find Stag yet and it is a dharma to help needy specially, a rishi. "Why are we cursed like this?" Nakula started saying in distraught. I frowned turning my gaze at him "What do you mean Nakula?" I asked him, if we are unable to find Stag now doesn't means we can't find it, we will start our search again. "In times of misfortune, troubles never come singly. It is to be a trial that they come and we hardly know why: whether for any fault of ours or not. All we can do is bear them resolutely" Brother Yudhisthira responded, Brother Bheem quickly intervened in the conversation. "Suffering is always punishment for past sins. And I know what my sin is: I should have never left Dusasana and Duryodhana alive after what they did to Panchali!" he gritted his teeth, his anger rising. Arya nodded his head "I should have never spared Karna after what he said to her that day. But I let him live and I am paying for my sin" his fist was clenched in anger, I sighed and looked at them "Anger is not the solution of the problem, everything happens for a reason and we just have to wait for the right time because Dharm path is always correct" I said trying to let them understand that mulling over the past won't be any good for us, we have to move towards future.
Elder Brother smiled "Prakriti is right, we can't dwell on the past, thirst churns our mind thats why we are getting irritated and frustrated. Nakula, my brother, climb this tree and see if there is any water nearby" he said and sighed, Nakula nodded his head and climbed up the tall tree looking for any water source.
"I see a lake through the trees, not far from here" he called down.
Everybody sighed in relief, we all were parched right now, in need of water. Nakula climbed down from the tree and looked at us "I will fetch some water quickly" he said and ran through the forest where he saw the lake. Until then we waited for him to come back. We waited for almost one hour but there was no sign of him "He should have been back by then" I said aloud in worry. Elder Brother nodded "The lake was not so far that he should be this long. Go and see what has happened to him" Brother sent Sahadeva in the same direction Nakula went. Another half-hour went by, then Arya said, "I fear they are in some trouble. Shall I go and find them?" he asked in concern, Elder Brother gave permission to leave. I felt troubled with their disappearance.
Something is not right there!
"I can't wait anymore, I have to go" Brother Bheem said and stood up from the ground looking at us. "I will come with you" I said standing up as well, he shook his head "Don't worry, I will be back real quick" he responded and went away, I turned my gaze towards Elder Brother who looked parched and bothered. We waited for half an hour more for everyone to return but there was no sign of them. I huffed and stand up "Give me permission to go, Elder Brother" I said, he shook his head and slowly stood up "I can't let you go until I am here, it is my duty to protect you and my brothers" he said, his voice coming out weak due to thirst. I shook my head "Remember Elder Brother, you are our Jyesth if there is some trouble let me handle it before it reach to you" I responded, I have to see and check it out myself. He sighed but slowly nodded his head "Very well, come back soon with them" he said in concern, with a quick nod I walked towards the direction where other Pandavas went. As I walked further, I had a eerie feeling of entering in a charmed place. The trees were all unfamiliar and the birds sang songs which I never heard.
Gandharvas are here?
I walked and arrived at the lake, it was indeed calm blue lake, it looked inviting. I rushed towards the lake and saw Nakula, Sahadev, Arya and Brother Bheem lying dead, their skin were turning blue. My eyes widened and I moved towards their lying form. I looked at their bodies for any sign of wound and struggle marks but there were none, they were killed by enchantment. My nostrils flared in anger and I looked towards the calm lake "Show yourself before me, I want to know the reason why you killed my family" I asked waiting for someone to appear. Suddenly a figure rose from the water, huge jewels on its fingers and upon its monstrous breast and its ghastly, ten-eyed face in the very sky, big as a moon. "Dharma Raj, why did you punish my family?" I asked him as he joined his hands in respect. "I am here to take my son test, for that it is necessary" he responded, I frowned "But killing them, how come it is necessary!" I asked again, I don't see any use here. He gave him a smile "Mother, You will see as the future will unfold" he said.
"Now what I have to do?" I asked him, I can't see the future as I promised Mahadeva.
"You have to drink water from this lake and you will be send into a state where you will appear dead but you can still see and hear us" he said telling me about his idea, I nodded my head at last understanding his views, I turned towards my family "They will be fine, won't they?" I asked him, seeing your family dead in front of your eyes is unbearable. He nodded his head with a smile. Finally content with all of these, I walked at the lake and kneeled down in front of it, taking clear water in my palms and taking a sip of it and I also fell deathlike swoon beside my family. I waited for Elder Brother to come and find us here.
At last, he reached the lake, a gasp escaped from his mouth as he saw us lying dead in front of his eyes, I could hear his footsteps quickly came towards us. He collapsed on his knees beside us "Who has done this to my family?" whispered Brother Yudhishtira incredulously. "But no blood or struggle marks the place. They haven't fought, yet they lie dead". He turned his head towards the lake and folding his hands together "Who are you, great one, who could kill my family?" he asked.
"I am Yaksha and the lake is mine" Dharm Raj said appearing out of the lake.
"Your family lay dead here because they didn't listen to me and drank the water from my lake and if you answer my riddles, I will give you two life back" he further said, Elder Brother nodded his head accepting the decision "You say the lake belongs to you. How can I drink its fragrant water without your leave? But I am thirsty and I would be grateful if you ask me whatever riddles you have quickly" he responded as he turned his gaze towards us for a moment.
Yaksha nodded his head "What makes the sun rise?"
"Brahma."
"Who are the sun's companions?"
"The Devas."
"Why does the sun set?"
"Dharma makes him set."
"In whom does the sun dwell?"
"In the Truth."
"What makes one learned?"
"The study of the Srutis."
"How does a man achieve greatness?"
"By tapasya."
"Does a man always have a friend?"
"Yes. His intelligence."
"How is intelligence acquired?"
"By serving one's elders."
"Where does the brahmana's divinity lie?"
"In his knowledge of the Vedas."
"What is charity?"
"Protecting all creatures."
He answered riddles after riddles without pausing, his knowlege was beyond the world for a mortal being, now I understood why Dharma Raj wanted to test his own son.
"What is truly amazing in this world?"
Brother took a pause and thought for a moment then he smiled "Every day, countless lives enter into the temple of death. Yet, those who remain in this world think themselves immortal. What could be more amazing?" he responded making me internally smile from his answer. Yaksha laughed appreciatively nodding.
"Who is he, Yudhishtira, who has every kind of wealth?"
"Only he to whom joy and sorrow, fortune and misfortune, past and future, are all the same" Brother responded quickly without wasting any second. Yaksha delighted laughter can be heard across the lake. "I am pleased with your answers! Yudhishtira, you are the wisest man in the world and the most righteous one too. I grant you a boon: ask me for the life of any two of your family" he said impressed.
Without any hesitation Elder Brother asked for mine and Nakula life, I was surprised with his decision. "I am surprised. I know Bheema is dearest to you among all your brothers. You depend on Arjuna to win the coming war. Yet, you choose Nakula's and Prakriti life over theirs. Why?" Yaksha questioned to him. "I would rather sacrifice my life than dharma. O Yaksha, my father had two wives, Kunti and Madri. One of Kunti's sons already lives: I. It is dharma that one of Madri's sons should also live. So I chose Nakula and for Prakriti, she is Kuruvansh daughter in law, she left her family for us, for her happiness she always sacrificed and put us first before herself" he replied, my eyes started to welled up with tears from his response. At-least my family understand that woman sacrifice throughout her life for her family. Again Yaksha laughed at this in joy "You are a great soul indeed, Yudhishtira. I grant you not just Nakula's and Prakriti's life, but the lives of all your brothers!" he said smiling.
I opened my eyes from the dead like state and stood up, everyone woke up as well, quickly Elder Brother ran in our direction and engulfed us in a hug. "I am not thirsty anymore" Brother Bheem murmured making us chuckle. We looked at Yaksha who transformed into his true self in front of our eyes. His presence transformed the sylvan lake into a realm of wonder. The trees breathed, the very air seemed made of many colors, floating and of subtle music. "I am indeed your father, Yudhishtira my son. I am not Pandu, but Dharma. I wanted to meet you and these heroic family of yours, so I came" he said with pride in his eyes.
"My Lord!" Elder Brother breathed.
"I am more pleased with you, my child, than I had ever hoped. You are as righteous as I had heard, more so" he continued impressed. "My just son, I want to give you another boon. Ask me for anything".
Without hesitation Elder Brother opened his mouth "Lord, we came into the jungle to find a brahmana's arani sticks. Grant that we may find them, or we will fail in our kshatriya dharma" he said joining his hands. Dharm Raj smiled and by looking at his smile, I realized something and a laughed escaped from my mouth, everyone turned their head in my direction in confusion. "You were the Stag, weren't you" I stated smiling, he nodded his head "Yes, it was me and all the illusion was done to get you here" he responded, his eyes shining with joy. "But that is no boon, ask me for something else" he said again.
"Grant, my Lord, that we are not discovered during the thirteenth year of our exile, which will soon begin" Elder Brother asked wisely, all of us nodded along, our Agyatvasa will be starting. "Which has begun even today. I grant you that boon: go safely back into the world, disguised. No one will see through your disguises" Dharma Raj spoke, time flew by fast, now it is our last year.
"Go, my sons, the nature in herself and be joyful. I am with you and you shall be victorious" he blessed us and I joined my hands in respect. With that said, he vanished away from the view leaving us alone. Finally with content heart we walked back to our home with arani sticks giving them back to the Muni who sighed in relief and gave us his blessings. Krishne smiled at our accomplishment as we told her about our encounter with Dharma Raj.
It was time to now seriously consider the disguises we were going to adopt for the thirteenth year of our exile, the Agyatavasa. Duryodhana's spies would be everywhere, eager to find us and send us back to another twelve years in the wilderness.
Dharma Deva's assurance had put new heart in us for our future.