The ‘Yaksha Prashna’
Aug 2024

The ‘Yaksha Prashna’

In the heart of the forest, the Pandavas wandered during their exile. While pursuing the stag, the brothers sensed urgency of water, Yudhisthira requested Nakula to locate a water source. To their relief, Nakula spotted a lake. However, a peculiar crane, claiming ownership of the lake. The crane informed Nakula that it could only get water after successfully answering his questions. Disregarding the crane’s warning, Nakula died soon after tasting the water.

In a tragic turn of events, one after another, the brothers met with the same fate at the hands of the crane on the lake’s shore, simply by disregarding its warning. Eventually, Yudhisthira arrived at the scene and got devastated by the loss of his siblings.

The crane unveiled itself as ‘Yaksha’, and warned, “This Lake is under my ownership and your brothers paid the price for not answering my questions before drinking from it. If you also ignore this, you too will suffer the same fate.” Yudhisthira responded respectfully, “I have no intention of claiming what is rightfully yours. Kindly ask me your questions, and I will make every effort to provide satisfactory answers.”

As the story goes, Yudhisthira answered with the wisdom drop by drop and all his brothers came back to life.

With respect to investment, the five answers of the ‘Yaksha Prashna’ can be following

  1. What is the most surprising thing in the world? – The most surprising thing is that countless people believe that their wealth is immune to risk. They forget that fortunes rise and fall like tides.
  2. What path should one follow? – The path of disciplined investing. Analyse history, study fundamentals, and plan strategically. Emotions sway like monsoon winds; principles endure.”
  3. What is the greatest wealth? – Contentment. True wealth lies not in hoarded gold but in finding peace with what one possesses. Market highs and lows are mere ripples.”
  4. What brings the greatest happiness? – Detachment from greed and unrealistic expectations. Happiness blooms when we accept what is achievable, ignoring market noise.”
  5. What must you protect? – Investment strategy should be of ethical standards, honor and integrity guard wealth. Shortcuts lead astray.

As an investor, Investment is nothing but following simple these 5 ‘Yaksha Prashna’ and not deviating from them.

Nishit Siddharth Shah