Yudhisthira's Wisdom
Literal Comprehension
Once Pandava brothers were wandering in a forest to hunt a deer, but the deer in their sight disappeared abruptly. In the meantime, they grew thirsty and couldn't move ahead. Yudhisthira, the eldest brother, sent one of his brothers Nakula in search of water. But he didn't come back for a long time. So, he sent all his brothers one after the other gradually but none of them returned with any information of the source of water nearby. Therefore, ultimately, Yudhisthira himself set out to fetch water and his brothers.
After a short walk, he noticed a beautiful pool on the bank of which were lying all his brothers either unconscious or dead. Though he was in extreme distress and sorrow due to this event, he bent to drink water from the pool since his thirst overpowered his grief. But an unknown voice warned him not to drink water before answering his questions. So, Yudhisthira tactfully answered all the questions asked by the voice i.e. Yama, the God of Justice and Death, whereas his brother had disobeyed him and as such were prostrate on the ground.
His philosophical answers pleased God and he became ready to revive one of his brothers. Yudhisthira utilizing his wisdom abandoned his selfishness and selected, on moral grounds, his step-brother for revival. As a result, the god appeared in front of Yudhisthira, highly appreciated him for his patience, righteousness and wisdom and restored all his brothers to life.
Interpretation
From the moral and religious point of view, the story holds tremendous significance. It has conveyed a message that a morally upright person if acts as per the religious and moral principles, can ultimately outstrip all the hurdles and difficulties that arise in his life and lives the life of a respected personality. This story has presented Yudhisthira in this position. Basically, this story intends to teach the readers that human beings should have the power of endurance, wisdom and righteousness to achieve success in every walk of life.
These characteristics, in fact, help them to solve any kind of problems in hardships and difficulties. The person who doesn't possess these qualities suffers in life. In this story, Yudhisthira with these qualities became able to save all his four brothers. The philosophical queries of Yama and tactful answers of Yudhisthira also interest the reader’s much. Yudhishthira's answers like mother, giving up pride, anger and desire are all wisdom-based and philosophically correct.
Critical Thinking
As we read the story thoroughly with concentration, we find that from the moral and religious point of view the story is appreciable. It sounds like a charming tale. But when, we as critical thinkers, make attempts to separate the wheat from the chaff, it undergoes several drawbacks and shortcomings. If we try to relate this story to the one in (the present context, we come to notice that people don't have much respect for or regard for morality and religion. Modern people are chiefly concerned with material happiness.
Similarly, on the other hand, we can raise doubts over the existence of god in this world. Patience, right conduct, wisdom, as well as endurance are not rewarded on this earth. We have a great concern over the answers given by Yudhisthira, which sound quite simple but such philosophical answers are not expected from the direct questions of Yama. From our perspectives, a man without desires can never be rich, nor can we lose our anger. Similarly, a man can't abandon pride and ambition, in their absence, success will be a mere dream. As such in all these aspects, we disagree with the writer along with one event in which all the Pandava brothers are restored to life even after the death -this is absolutely impossible in reality.
Assimilation
As I went through the story carefully, I came to realize the reality of life. The concept that real happiness of life stands on the platform of right conduct, wisdom, patience and endurance has now changed my mode of thinking about several aspects of life. I was never convinced earlier that all these qualities would one day be rewarded. But now Yudhisthira's brothers' restoration of life has wiped out all my illusions and on my part, reverence to God has increased a lot. Even I was able to grab some philosophical concepts which have always appeared as my subject of interest. In totality, the secrecy of being a great person in the life on moral and religious grounds is vivid to me so far.
