Shloka 43
युधिछिर उवाच न चाहं कामये यक्ष तव पूर्वपरिग्रहम् । काम॑ नैतत् प्रशंसन्ति सन््तो हि पुरुषा: सदा,युधिष्ठिरने कहा--यक्ष! मैं तुम्हारे अधिकारकी वस्तुको नहीं ले जाना चाहता। मैं स्वयं ही अपनी बड़ाई करूँ; इस बातकी सत्पुरुष कभी प्रशंसा नहीं करते। मैं अपनी बुद्धिके अनुसार तुम्हारे प्रश्नोंका उत्तर दूँगा, तुम मुझसे प्रश्न करो
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | na cāhaṁ kāmaye yakṣa tava pūrva-parigraham | kāmaṁ naitat praśaṁsanti santaḥ hi puruṣāḥ sadā | yathā-buddhi tava praśnān uttarāṇi dadāmi te | pṛccha māṁ tvaṁ mahā-bāho ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O Yakṣa, I do not wish to take what is already under your prior claim. The good do not praise self-advertisement or self-glorification; noble persons avoid it always. I will answer your questions according to my understanding—ask me what you will.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds ethical restraint: do not seize what is under another’s rightful prior claim, and avoid self-praise. True nobility is shown through humility and measured speech, answering responsibly within one’s understanding.
In the Yakṣa-prashna episode, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the Yakṣa who controls the situation at the lake. He refuses to take what belongs to the Yakṣa and agrees to answer the Yakṣa’s questions thoughtfully, inviting the interrogation to proceed.