Yaksha Prashnam Questions 31-34

Continued From:  http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/02/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo_12.html

The Yakshan asked Yudhishtirar to name that which sleeps without closing its eyes. Which even when it is still-born makes its parents very happy? Which is heartless and which grows big because of its speed?

Name that which sleeps without closing its eyes.

Yudhishtirar replied that fish sleeps without closing its eyes. He used the word “matsya” while he could have also used “meenaha” to refer to fish. This is because the word “matsya” is also used for a “brown nose”. Once, Lord Agni when he was a child hid underwater because he had heard that the earlier Agnis passed away by following their occupation of transferring offerings made in the Yagam to the Devas. The Devas went in search of child Agni. A fish (matsya) noticed child Agni hiding under water and immediately reported to the Devas. Agni in turn cursed the fish that from that moment people will start to catch fish by casting their net.

The meaning of Yudhishtirar’s answer is that like a fish we ignore our mistakes and pretend to sleep but we are wide awake when other’s make mistake. We look forward to an opportunity to complain about other people’s mistakes. We must overcome this bad habit.

Which even when it is still-born makes its parents very happy?

Yudhishtirar said that an egg is still born but it makes its parents happy. The birds have to wait patiently for the egg to hatch. 

Which is heartless?

He said that a stone is heartless. He used the word “ashmana” for stone to indicate that it is present everywhere. There is a Vedic manthram “ashma bhavathu nasthambhuhu” which when chanted properly renders the body of the person who chants the manthram hard like stone yet keeping the person’s heart soft (full of compassion) like cotton.

Which grows big because of its speed?

A river grows because of its own speed; i.e., our Lord’s grace will sweep us off our feet.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/02/yaksha-prashnam-question-10.html

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Based on, Yaksha Prashnam - A discourse in Tamil by Sri U.Ve. Karunakaran Swamy
(Any errors or inconsistencies in the following series are due to the mistakes I made while taking notes. ) 

Copies of the CDs can be obtained from Sri Karunakaran Swami’s website http://www.nadadoor.org/ . This series is for the benefit of people who do not understand Tamil. Those of you who understand Tamil very well must definitely obtain a copy of Swami’s Upanyasam. You can do so by contacting Nadadoor.org. Swami also renders discourses in English but I am not sure if Yaksha Prashnam discourse is available in English.  The experience of listening to Swami’s upanyasams could never be obtained by reading the following series. I have done my best to take notes with due diligence. I apologize for any errors that I have made while writing this series.