Shloka 114
यक्ष उवाच को मोदते किमाश्चर्य क: पन्था: का च वार्तिका । ममैतांश्वतुरः प्रश्नान् कथयित्वा जलं पिब
yakṣa uvāca: ko modate? kim āścaryam? kaḥ panthāḥ? kā ca vārtikā? mama etān caturaḥ praśnān kathayitvā jalaṃ piba.
यक्ष उवाच—को मोदते? किमाश्चर्यम्? कः पन्थाः? का च वार्तिका? ममैतान् चतुरः प्रश्नान् कथयित्वा जलं पिब।
यक्ष उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical inquiry as a prerequisite for rightful action: true satisfaction, the nature of wonder, the correct path, and proper speech are presented as foundational questions. It implies that access to life-sustaining resources (water) is tied to discernment, humility, and dharmic understanding.
At the lake episode in the Vana Parva, the Yakṣa confronts the seeker and sets a condition: before drinking the water, he must answer a set of probing questions. This verse introduces four of those questions, establishing the test of wisdom and dharma.