यक्ष उवाच
किंस्विद्गुरूतरं भूमे: किंस्विदुच्चतरं च खात् |
किंस्विच्छीघ्रतरं वायो: किंस्विद्वहुतरं तॄणात् ||
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
माता गुरूतरो भूमे: खात्पितोच्चतरस्तथा |
मन: शीघ्रतरं वातात् चिन्ता बहुतरी तॄणात् ||
yaksha uvaach
kimsvidgurutaram bhoomeh kimsviduchchataram cha khaaat
kimsvidchchhighrataram vaayoh kimsvidbahutaram truNaat
yudhiShThir uvaach
maataa gurutaro bhoomeh khaatpitachchatarastathaa
manah sheeghrataram vaataat chintaa bahutaree truNaat
These two ‘shlokas’ from ‘AraNya Parva’ of Mahabharata occur as the part of famous dialogue between ‘Yaksha’ and Dharmaraj Yudhisthira, popularly known as ‘Yaksha Prashna’ episode.
Yaksha asked – “What is weightier (more sustaining) than the earth and what is higher than the sky? What is swifter than the wind and what is more numerous than grass? “
Yudhisthira replied – “The mother is more sustaining (weightier) than the earth and father is higher (bestower of more benefits) than the sky. The mind is swifter than the wind and thoughts (of a sorrow stricken mind) are more numerous than grass.
The earth and sky are often compared to the mother and father in the Vedas. The earth sustains and the sky gives rain but the mother sustains and nourishes her children with much more care and love and the father also bestows more benefits on his children.