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4-Devtaa and Yaksh Dialog

The following story is taken from Ken Upanishad. It is the dialog between Devtaa and a Yaksh about Devtaa's egoism.

Once in the fight with the Asur, the Devtaa defeated them. The Devtaa thought that they did so with their own power and prowess and forgot that it was Divine help which brought this victory to them. Lord Brahmaa wanted to teach them a lesson. He knew their idea of being puffed up with vanity and appeared before them in the form of a Yaksh (Great spirit) the beginning and end of which were not visible. They did not know Him (the Yaksh).

They asked Agni - "O Jaatvedaa, Find out what this great spirit is?" He said, "Yes" and ran up to Brahmaa Jee and Brahma Jee asked him - "Who art thou?" He replied - "I am verily Agni, I am verily Jaatavedaa." Brahmaa Jee asked Agni - "What power hast thou?" Agni replied - "I can even burn whatsoever there is on the Earth." Brahmaa Jee placed a blade of grass before Agni and said - "Burn this." Agni approached it with all its power, but he could not burn it. He came back ashamed.
Next came Vaayu Dev (the god of wind). Brahma Jee asked Vaayu Dev - "What power hast thou? Vaayu replied - "I can blow away all the Universe and all that is on the Earth." Brahmaa Jee again placed a blade of grass before Vaayu Dev and said - "Blow this away." Vaayu approached it with all his power but was not able to make it move even an inch from its place.

Last of all the chief of the Devtaa, Indra himself came. But when he reached the spot, he found that the Yaksh had vanished. Indra was in a state of great dilemma. He was confused and perplexed. When he was thus standing there, bewildered and ashamed at their defeat, Umaa (Haimaavatee), the daughter of Himvaan (Himaalaya) and the consort of Lord Shiv appeared before him and revealed to him the real identity of the Yaksh. Then only Indra knew the spirit to be Brahmaa.

He verily became excellent before the other gods on account of the grace of the Mother Umaa. "On account of egoism, you think that you do everything and so you are bound. Feel that you are an instrument in the hands of God. God works through your hands, beholds through your eyes, hears through your ears, smells through your nose. You will be freed from egoism and the bondage of Karm. You will attain peace and become one with God. This is the secret of Karm Yog and Bhakti Yog."

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