Yaksha Prashna - Jo kal thay vo aaj nahin hain

                      A unique poem "Yaksha Prashna" 

Written by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee -  former Prime Minister of India 

 Please scroll down for English translation

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Jo kal thay - Vo Aaj nahin hain 

Jo aaj hain - Vo kal nahin hongay

Honay na honay ka kram isee tarah chalta rahega 

Ham hain - Ham rahengay - 

Ye Bhram bhee sadaa palta rahega 

Satya kya hai? 

Hona? ya na Hona? 

ya donon hee Satya hain? 

Jo hai - us ka hona Satya hai 

Jo nahin hai - uska Na hona Satya hai 

Mujhay lagta hai ki Hona-na-hona 

Ek hee Satya kay do Aayaam hain 

Shesh sab Samajh ka pher - 

Buddhi kay Vyaayaam hain 

Kintu na-honay ke baad kya hota hai? 

yeh Prashn Anuttarit hai 

Pratyek nayaa Nachiketa is prashn kee khoj mein laga hai

Sabhi Saadhkon ko is prashn nay thagaa hai 

Shaayad ye Prashn - Prashn hee rahega 

Yadi kuchh prashn Anuttarit rahen 

To is men buraayi kya hai? 

Haan - Khoj ka Silasil na rukay 

Dharm kee Anubhooti 

Vigyaan ka Anusandhaan 

Ek din avashya hee ruddh dvaar kholega 

Prashn poochhnay kee bajaaye 

   Yaksh Svayam hee uttar bolega 

                   (Shree Atal Bihaari Vajpeyee)

                  English Translation

Those who were there yesterday - are not there today 

Those who are here today - will not be here tomorrow

The cycle of Being and Not-Being will continue like this

We are here - we will be here - 

         This illusion will always flourish.

What is truth?

To be - or not to be?

Or both are true?

For what is there - 'Being is true.

For what is not there - 'Not-Being is true.

I think 

'Being and 'Not-being are two dimensions of the same truth.

All the rest is a matter of understanding - 

an exercise of the intellect.

But what happens after 'Not Being?

This question is unanswered.

Every new Nachiketa

Is engaged in the search of this question

This question has deceived all the seekers

Perhaps - this question will remain a question forever. 

If some questions remain unanswered

What is wrong with it?

Yes - the process of search should not stop

One day - The experience of religion - 

The research of science - 

will definitely open the closed door.

And instead of asking the question

Yaksha will utter the answer himself.

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(English Translation by Rajan Sachdeva)