The Biggest Suprise In The World

In Mahabharata, comes a story when Pandavas were in exile. They had walked for a long time and Yudhishter felt very thirsty. 

Yudhishter said to Bhimsen - Can you find a pond and get some water? I am so thirsty. I am sure others are too.
Bhim agreed and went to search for water. He saw a pond close by and walked upto it to fill his utensil. There was a Yaksh in that pond due to a curse. 
Bhim heard a voice - Do not touch the water or I will pull you in the water. 
Bhim asked – Who is it? Come in front and talk to me. 
The Yaksh said – I can not come in front but I am a Yaksh and can easily pull you inside. 
Bhim had the strength of 10,000 elephants, so he did not care for the threat. He went inside and Yaksh pulled him in. 

Bhimsen did not come for some time. Yudhishter asked Arjuna to look for Bhim and water. And Arjuna came to the pond. The Yaksh warned Arjuna in the same way.
Arjuna asked the Yaksh - Why don't you let me take water? What do you want? 
The Yaksh replied – I have 60 questions. Answer them and then take the water. 
Arjuna did the same mistake. He did not care for the threat and was pulled into water by the Yaksh. 

Nakul and Sahdev also followed and were pulled by the Yaksh. 

Yudhishter answering the questions of the Yaksh

Yudhishter was waiting for a long time. All his brothers went to find water and did not come back. So he himself went to the pond. 
Yaksh warned him too. 
Yudhishter was the son of Dharma and was very humble. He said - Yes, please ask your questions.
The Yaksh asked him – What is the biggest surprise in the world? 
Yudhishter said – We see everyday that people are dying. A father is alive and his son is being taken for cremation. Everybody sees others dying but the ones who take the dead to the shamshan do not have the slightest realization that they will also have to die one day. If they do, then they would do something to build their parmaarth immediately. 

The Yaksh was pleased to hear this answer. He asked him other questions and received satisfactory answers for them too. And then he let Yudhishter take his brothers and water from the pond.

Moral of the Story

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj teaches us through this story that the human body is the only body in which there is Gyan Shakti - the power to absorb knowledge. And this is the only body in which the soul (jeev) has a right to earn from his karm and become free from Maya.

But there is a negative factor too. That human body is transient and we do not know when death will come.

So without any further wait, we should make our spiritual goal the highest priority and start putting our maximum efforts into it as if today is our last opportunity to do so.