The Riddle of Yaksha

One of the significant episodes in Mahabharata is the 'Yaksha Prasna' where the question and answer session between Yama and Dharma Raja (father and son) is narrated. Yama queries as to what is the most astounding thing in this world, and Dharma Raja replies that persons grieving for the dead is the most astounding thing as death is inevitable and the person grieving has also to follow.

This may be relevant for those times, may be.

But today do we grieve a person's death? or the material loss it has created? In other words do we grieve one's absence or the absence of the comforts that used to accrue from the person's living?

People routinely say 'so and so's death is an irrepairable loss or the void cannot be filled. They may be literally true. If a pensioner dies, there is a permenent loss of income. If a grandparent dies, the loss is of an unpaid and dependable baby-sitter.

So today's grief may be more natural and truthful though for different reasons and since a reason valid is there, this grief may not be astounding anymore in our times. I don't know what will be Dharma Raja's answer will be today.

Ponder...