As the days of exile of the Pandavas were coming to an end, one day a Brahmin hurriedly came to them and said,
'As I approached the deer, the deer ran away and entered the thicket along with sacrificial forest leaves. Bring me my belongings once and for all.'
Hearing this, the Dharmaraja first sent his four brothers to the forest in search of the deer and followed them. He saw the deer in the distance, but as he approached, the deer hid in bushes. So the Pandavas ran after deer and became very depressed as they were unable to capture it. Finally, the five brothers went and sat in the shade of a tree. Dharmaraja said,
'Nakula, I am very thirsty. See if there is a lake somewhere around. '
Immediately Nakul took Lota and left. He saw a lake in front of him. There was a great man sitting there. As he approached the water, he said,
'Son, wait a minute. Who are you? Answer my questions first, or you will die. '
However, despite his instructions, Nakula drank to his heart's desire. He died immediately. Dharma sent Sahadeva to see why Nakula had not come yet. He had the same fate. Bhim went next and he died too. When the three had not yet returned, Dharma sent Arjuna at last. For whatever reason, he also ends up dead.
'So far, I have been told that any work has been done immediately by my brothers, but how can I survive for so long without water to drink?'
So finally Dharmaraja went in search of the brothers. He turned towards the lake, at which point the man said,
'If you give me proper answers to my questions, you will get water to drink and your four brothers will also survive. Otherwise like them you too must die. '
Dharmaraja was ready to answer the questions. Then the great man asked the following questions,
Q. Who makes the sun rise? A. Lord Brahma
Q. Who keeps the sun company? A. Gods (Surya Naryana)
Q. Who causes the sun to set? A. Dharma
Q. And in whom is the sun established? A. Truth
Q. By what does one become learned? A. By Srutis (that scriptures which revealed)
Q. How one acquires something very great? A. By ascetics austerities (tapas)
Q. How can one acquire intelligence? A. By serving the old
Q. What constituents the divinity of Brahmins? A. Study of Vedas (Scriptures)
Q. What is pious practice in them? A. Their asceticism (penance) constituents’ behavior that is like that of the pious.
Q. What is human attributes of Brahmins? A. Death
Q. What is impious practice in them? A. Insulting anyone is their impiety
Q. What constituents the divinity of Kshatriyas? A. Arrows and their Weapons
Q. What is pious practice in them? A. Celebration of Sacrifices
Q. What is human attributes of Kshatriyas? A. Fear
Q. What is impious practice in them? A. Refusal of protection Dharma
Q. What is value to those who cultivate? A. Rain
Q. What is value to those who sow? A. Seed
Q. What is value to those who wish the prosperity in this world? A. Preacher
Q. What is value to those who that bring forth? A. Offspring
Q. What is heavier than Earth? A. Mother
Q. What is higher than Heaven? A. Father
Q. What is fleeter (running fast) than Wind? A. Mind
Q. What is more numerous than Grass? A. Thoughts
Q. What which sleep does not close eyes? A. Fish
Q. What which does not move after birth? A. Egg
Q. What which is without heart? A. Stone
Q. What which swells in its own impetus? A. River
Q. Who is friend of the exile? A. Companion
Q. Who is friend of the householder? A. Wife
Q. Who is friend of the sick? A. Physician
Q. Who is friend of one who is about to die? A. Charity
Q. Who is guest of all creatures? A. Agni (Fire)
Q. What is eternal duty? A. Homa (Yajna Sacrifice), Following Regulations of Sanatan Dharam
Q. What is Amrita? A. Milk of Cow is Amrita
Q. What is in the universe? A. Universe consists of Air alone.
Q. What is Highest shelter of virtue? A. Liberty is the Highest Guard of virtue
Q. What is Highest shelter of fame? A. Gift is the Highest Guard of Fame
Q. What is Highest shelter of heaven? A. Truth is Highest Guard of Heaven
Q. What is Highest shelter of happiness? A. Good Behavior is the Highest Guard of Happiness
Q. What is best of all laudable things? A. Skills
Q. What is most valuable possession? A. Knowledge
Q. What is best of all gains? A. Health
Q. What is best of all kind of happiness? A. Contentment
Q. What if renounced, make one agreeable? A. Pride
Q. What if renounced, leads no regret? A. Anger
Q. What if renounced, makes one wealthy? A. Desire
Q. What if renounced, makes one happy? A. Greed
Q. Why one give to Brahmins? A. For Religious Merit
Q. Why one give to actors/dancers? A. For Fame
Q. Why one give to servants? A. For Supporting them
Q. Why one give to king? A. For obtaining Relief from Fear
Q. What is sign of asceticism? A. Staying in one’s own religion
Q. What is true restraint? A. Restrain of Mind
Q. What is forgiveness? A. Stable Enmity
Q. What is shame? A. Withdrawing from all Unworthy Acts
Q. Which enemy is invincible? A. Anger
Q. What is incurable disease? A. Greediness
Q. Who is honest? A. Wishes well for all Creatures
Q. Who is dishonest? A. Un-merciful
Q. What is ignorance? A. Not knowing one’s duty
Q. What is pride? A. Consciousness of one’s being himself sufferer in life (Ignorance)
Q. What is idleness? A. Not discharging one’s prescribed duties
Q. What is grief? A. Ignorance
Q. What is steadiness? A. Staying in one’s own religion
Q. What is patience? A. Overpowering of senses
Q. What is real ablution (bath)? A. Washing the mind, clean of all impurities
Q. What is charity? A. Protecting all creatures
Q. Who is learned? A. Who knows his duties
Q. Who is atheist? A. Who is ignorant
Q. What is desire? A. Desire is due to object of possession
Q. What is envy? A. Grief of Heart
Q. What is sin? A. Suffering and slander
Q. What is virtue? A. To do charity
Q. What is misconduct? A. Renunciation of virtue
Q. Who is always happy? A. Someone not addicted to karma.
Q. What is the greatest wonder? A. Man forgets his death even when he sees people dying before his eyes.
Q. What is the path? A. The cult of the saints.
Q. Who is Guru? A. Someone who is All-knowing, kind, generous.
Q. Who is the disciple? A. Someone who is passionate, intelligent, and clever.
Q. What is poisonous? A. Disobeying the Guru.
Q. What work should be done quickly? A. To overcome worldly sorrow.
Q. Who is pure man? A. one without a sense of deceit in his heart.
Q. Who is blessed? A. Someone who expresses philanthropy by his act, speech, and pure mind.
Q. Who is the real thief? A. Panchavishay (Someone who can deceive five senses)
Q. What is more appealing than alcohol? A. Affection
Q. Who is blind? A. Someone who is engaged in the subject
Q. Who is brave? A. Someone who does not forget feminine.
Q. What is deep? A. Femininity
Q. Who is poor? A. Someone who is always worried.
Q. Who is diminutive? A. Someone who is greedy.
Q. What is hell? A. Always engrossed in worldliness.
Q. What is happiness? A. Abandonment.
Q. Who is deaf? A . Someone not listening to the things of interest
Q. What is momentary? A. Life, wealth, and youth.
Q. Who controls the world? A. Someone who is truthful and has humility.
Q. What are ear ornaments? A. Harikatha(Stories of god).
Q. Where should one stay? A. Near the saint or in the sacred area.
Q. What are two things that are rare in the world? A. To donate with sweet words, to have unconditional knowledge without pride.
After getting proper answers to your questions from Dharma that great man revealed his true identity. He said, 'Dharma, I am Yaksha and I took the form of deer and taken away the forest leaves to conduct a test on you. ' So he put it before Dharma. Then Dharmaraja joined hands and prayed to Yaksha for raising the four brothers. He also paid homage to Yaksha. 'Though your days were hard till now, you will rule peacefully hereafter. ' Yaksha disappeared saying that. The Pandavas went to Swashram and handed over the forest leaves to the Brahmin.
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