Shloka 81
यक्ष उवाच केनस्विदावृतो लोक: केनस्विन्न प्रकाशते । केन त्यजति मित्राणि केन स्वर्ग न गच्छति,यक्षने पूछा--जगत् किस वस्तुसे ढका हुआ है? किसके कारण वह प्रकाशित नहीं होता? मनुष्य मित्रोंको किसलिये त्याग देता है? और स्वर्गमें किस कारण नहीं जाता?
yakṣa uvāca: kena svid āvṛto lokaḥ? kena svid na prakāśate? kena tyajati mitrāṇi? kena svargaṁ na gacchati?
Yakṣa berkata: “Dengan apa dunia ini terselubung? Karena apa ia tidak tampak bercahaya? Karena apa seseorang meninggalkan sahabat? Dan karena apa ia tidak mencapai surga?”
यक्ष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral inquiry: human life is obscured by inner factors that block clarity, damage loyalty to friends, and obstruct heavenly attainment. It prompts reflection on the ethical causes—such as delusion, desire, greed, anger, and unrighteous conduct—that veil discernment and lead to social and spiritual downfall.
In the Yakṣa–Praśna episode of the Vana Parva, the Yakṣa tests Yudhiṣṭhira through a sequence of probing questions. This verse is one set of those questions, challenging him to identify what conceals the world, what prevents true illumination, what makes people forsake friends, and what bars one from reaching heaven.