Shloka 114
यक्ष उवाच को मोदते किमाश्चर्य क: पन्था: का च वार्तिका । ममैतांश्वतुरः प्रश्नान् कथयित्वा जलं पिब,यक्षने पूछा--सुखी कौन है? आश्वर्य क्या है? मार्ग क्या है और वार्ता क्या है? मेरे इन चार प्रश्नोंका उत्तर देकर जल पीओ
yakṣa uvāca: ko modate? kim āścaryam? kaḥ panthāḥ? kā ca vārtikā? mama etān caturaḥ praśnān kathayitvā jalaṃ piba.
夜叉说道：“谁才是真正知足的人？世间最大的奇异是什么？何为正道？何为得体之言？先答我这四问，然后方可饮水。”
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.