युधिष्ठिर उवाच नापदामस्ति मर्यादा न निमित्तं न कारणम्। धर्मस्तु विभजत्यर्थमुभयोः पुण्यपापयोः॥
Yudhishthira said : There is no limit to misfortunes and neither their effects nor their causes can be ascertained. It is Dharma who distributes the fruits of both virtue and sin.
भीम उवाच प्रातिकाम्यनयत् कृष्णां सभायां प्रेष्यवत् तदा। न मया निहतस्तत्र तेन प्राप्ताः स्म संशयम्॥
Bhima said: We have met with this disaster, because I did not slay Pratikami when he dragge Krishna into the assembly hall like a slave.
अर्जुन उवाच वाचस्तीक्ष्णास्थिभेदिन्यः सूतपुत्रेण भाषिताः। अतितीव्रा मया क्षान्तास्तेन प्राप्ताः स्म संशयम्॥
Arjuna said: As I did not present those very sharp and biting words, piercing the very bones, uttered by the son of Suta, so we have met with this calamity.
सहदेव उवाच शकुनिस्त्वां यदाजैषीदक्षद्यूतेन भारत। स मया न हतस्तत्र तेन प्राप्ताः स्म संशयम्॥
Sahadeva said : This calamity, O Bharata, has overtaken us because I did not kill Shakuni when he defeated you at the game of dice.
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा नकुलं वाक्यमब्रवीत्। आरुह्य वृक्षं माद्रेय निरीक्षस्व दिशो दश॥
Vaishampayana said : Then, king Yudhishthira said to Nakula "O son of Madri, climbing this tree look around the ten points.
पानीयमन्तिके पश्य वृक्षांश्चाप्युदकाश्रितान्। एते हि भ्रातरः श्रान्तास्तव तात पिपासिताः॥
O affectionate one, as these your brothers are fatigued and thirsty, so see whether any water or trees growing by water-side, are near.”
नकुलस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा शीघ्रमारुह्य पादपम्। अब्रवीद् भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठमभिवीक्ष्य समन्ततः॥
Nakula too saying “be it so" soon ascended a tree. And casting his looks around said to his eldest brother thus,
पश्यामि बहुलान् राजन् वृक्षानुदकसंश्रयान्। सारसानां च निदिमत्रोदकमसंशयम्॥
"O king, I see numerous trees growing near water and also hear the cries of the Sarasas. Therefore, surely water must be somewhere here."
ततोऽब्रवीत् सत्यधृतिः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। गच्छ सौम्य ततः शीघ्रं तूणैः पानीयमानय॥
Thereupon, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, firm in truth, said "O beautiful one, do go (there) and soon bring water in the quivers."
नकुलस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा भ्रातुर्येष्ठस्य शासनात्। प्राद्रवद् यत्र पानीयं शीघ्रं चैवान्वपद्यत॥
Saying “be it so" Nakula, at the command of his eldest brother, quickly, proceeded towards the spot where the water was and soon reached it.
स दृष्ट्वा विमलं तोयं सारसैः परिवारितम्। पातुकामस्ततो वाचमन्तरिक्षात् स शुश्रुवे॥
And seeing the transparent water surrounded by cranes, as he was desirous of drinking of it, he heard these words from the firmament.
यक्ष उवाच मा तात साहसं कार्मिम पूर्वपरिग्रहः। प्रश्नानुक्त्वा तु माद्रेय ततः पिब हरस्व च॥
The Yaksha said: O child, do not venture to do this. I have got possession of it before. O son of Madri, first answer my questions and then drink of it and carry it away.
अनादृत्य तु तद् वाक्यं नकुलः सुपिपासितः। अपिबच्छीतलं तोयं पीत्वा च निपपात ह॥
Nakula, (however), who was very thirsty, disregarding these words, drank the cool water. But as (soon) as he drank it he fell dead.
चिरायमाणे नकुले कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अब्रवीद् भ्रातरं वीरं सहदेवमरिंदमम्॥
Seeing Nakula's delay, Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, said to his heroic brother Sahadeva, the tormentor of his foes,
भ्राता हि चिरयातो नः सहदेव तवाचजः। तथैवानय सोदर्यं पानीयं च त्वमानय॥
“O Sahadeva, our brother (Nakula) who was born (just) before you, has been long out. Go and bring him and also water.
सहदेवस्तथेत्युक्त्वा तां दिशं प्रत्यपद्यत। ददर्श च हतं भूमौ भ्रातरं नकुलं तदा॥
Saying “be it so,” Sahadeva proceeded towards that direction and he then beheld his brother Nakula lying dead on the ground.
भ्रातृशोकाभिसंतप्तस्तृषया च प्रपीडितः। अभिदुद्राव पानीयं ततो वागभ्यभाषत॥
Sorely afflicted at the death of his brother and oppressed with thirst, as he made for the water he heard these words.
मा तात साहसं कार्मिम पूर्वपरिग्रहः। प्रश्नानुक्त्वा यथाकामं पिवस्व च हरस्व च॥
"O child, do not venture this. It has been before obtained possession by me. First answer my questions and then drink water and carry it away.”
अनाहृत्य तु तद् वाक्यं सहदेवः पिपासितः। अपिबच्छीतलं तोयं पीत्वा च निपपात ह॥
Sahadeva, as he was thirsty, despising those words drank the cool water and as he drank he fell dead.
अथाब्रवीत् स विजयं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। भ्रातरौ ते चिरगतौ बीभत्सो शत्रुकर्शन॥
Then Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, said to Vijaya (Arjuna) “O Vivatsu, O tormentor of foes, your brothers (Nakula and Sahadeva) have been long out.
तौ चैवानय भद्रं ते पानीयं च त्वमानय। त्वं हि नस्तात सर्वेषां दुःखितानामपाश्रयः॥
May you be in peace. Go and bring them and also water. O affectionate one, you are the refuge of all of us when in distress."
एवमुक्तो गुडाकेशः प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः। आमुक्तखङ्गो मेधावी तत् सरः प्रत्यपद्यत॥
Thus spoken to, the intellectual Gudakesha taking up his bow together with arrows and his naked sword soon proceeded towards that lake.
ततः पुरुषशार्दूलो पानीयहरणे गतौ। तौ ददर्श हतौ तत्र भ्रातरौ श्वेतवाहनः॥
(Having arrived at that lake), Shvetavahana beheld his two brothers, those most valiant of men, who came to fetch water, lying dead.
प्रसुप्ताविव तौ दृष्ट्वा नरसिंहः सुदुःखितः। धनुरुद्यम्य कौन्तेयो व्यलोकयत् तद् वनम्॥
And that lion amongst men, beholding them as if buried in slumber, became very afflicted, And then the son of Kunti upraising his bow looked around that forest.
नापश्यत् तत्र किञ्चित् स भूतमस्मिन् महावने। सव्यसाची ततः श्रान्तः पानीयं सोऽभ्यधावत॥
But he beheld no creature in that great forest. And oppressed with fatigue, Savyasachi made for the water.
अभिधावंस्ततो वाक्यमन्तरिक्षात् स शुश्रुवे। किमासीदसि पानीयं तच्छक्यं बलात् त्वया।॥
And as he rushed (towards the water) he heard these words from the firmament “Why are you coming towards the water You will not। be able to drink of it forcibly.
कौन्तेय यदि प्रश्नांस्तान् मयोक्तान् प्रतिपत्स्यसे। ततः पास्यसि पानीयं हरिष्यसि च भारत॥
O son of Kunti, O Bharata, if you can answer the questions put by me, then you may drink of the water and take it away.”
वारितस्त्वब्रवीत् पार्थो दृश्यमानो निवारय। यावद् बाणैर्विनिर्भिन्नः पुन:वं वदिष्यसि॥
Thus forbidden, Partha said "come to my presence and then prevent me. You will not speak again in this strain when I will rive you with darts."
एवमुक्त्वा ततः पार्थः शरैरस्त्रानुमन्त्रितैः। प्रववर्ष दिशः कृत्स्ना: शब्दवेधं च दर्शयन्॥
Saying this, Partha displaying his skill in hitting at an invisible object by sound alone, entirely covered all the sides by discharges of arrows inspired with the mantras,
कर्णिनालीकनाराचानुत्सृजन् भरतर्षभ। स त्वमोघानिषून मुक्त्वा तृष्णायाभिप्रपीडितः॥
O best of the Bharatas, oppressed with thirst, he began to hurl barbed darts, javelins, Narachas and numerous infallible arrows.
अनेकैरिषुसङ्घातैरन्तरिक्षे ववर्ष ह।
And he discharged at the firmament innumerable darts.
यक्ष उवाच किं विघातेन ते पार्थ प्रश्नानुक्त्वा ततः पिब॥
The Yaksha said: Partha, your exertions are to no purpose, (First) answer my questions and then drink
अनुक्त्वा च पिबन् प्रश्नान् पीत्वैव न भविष्यसि। एवमुक्तस्ततः पार्थः सव्यसाची धनंजयः॥ अवज्ञायैव तां वाचं पीत्वैव निपपात ह।
If however you drink before answering my questions, you will die as soon as you will drink. Thus addressed, the son of Pritha, Dhananjaya who could draw his bow by his left hand. Disregarding those words, as he drank, fell dead.
अथाब्रवीद् भीमसेनं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिः॥ नकुलः सहदेवश्च बीभत्सुश्च परंतप! चिरं गतास्तोयहेतोर्न चागच्छन्ति भारत॥ तांश्चैवानय भद्रं ते पानीयं च त्वमानय।
Then, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti spoke to Bhimsena, “O tormentor of foes, O Bhimasena Nakula, Sahadeva and Vivatsu have been long out to fetch water and they have not come as yet. You are to bring them as well as water.
भीमसेनस्तथेत्युक्त्वा तं देशं प्रत्यपद्यत॥ यत्र ते पुरुषव्याघ्रा भ्रातरोऽस्य निपातिताः। तान् दृष्ट्वा दुःखितो भीमस्तृषया च प्रपीडितः॥
May you be blessed.” Saying “be it so" Bhimasena proceeded towards that place, where his brothers, those most valiant of men, lay dead. Afflicted at seeing them (dead) and oppressed with thirst.
अमन्यत महाबाहुः कर्म तद् यक्षरक्षसाम्। स चिन्तयामास तदा योद्धव्यं ध्रुवमद्य वै॥
That mighty-armed one considered (within himself). “This act must have been done by some Yaksha or Rakshasa." And he thought (further) “I will have surely to fight today.
पास्यामि तावत् पानीयमिति पार्थो वृकोदरः। ततोऽभ्यधावत् पानीयं पिपासुः पुरुषर्षभः॥
Let me therefore, (first) drink water.” Then, Vrikodara, the son of Pritha and the best of the Bharatas, desirous of drinking, rushed towards the water.
यक्ष उवाच मा तात साहसं कार्मिम पूर्वपरिग्रहः। प्रश्नानुक्त्वा तु कौन्तेय ततः पिब हरस्व च॥
The Yaksha said: O child, do not attempt it. It has already been in my possession, (first) answer my questions and then drink water and carry it away (for your brother).
एवमुक्तस्तदा भीमो यक्षेणामिततेजसा। अनुक्त्वैव तु तान् प्रश्नान् पीत्वैव निपपात ह॥
Thus addressed by that Yaksha of unrivalled energy, soon as Bhima without answering his questions, drank of it, he fell down dead.
ततः कुन्तीसुतो राजा प्रचिन्त्य पुरुषर्षभः। समुत्थाय महाबाहुर्दह्यमानेन चेतमा॥ व्यपेतजननिर्घोषं प्रविवेश महावनम्। रुरुभिश्च वराहैश्च पक्षिभिश्च निषेवितम्॥
Then that best of men, the royal son of Kunti of mighty arms, whose heart was burning in grief, after much deliberation rose up and entered that mighty forest where no sound of human voice could be heard. It was inhabited by rurus, boars and birds.
नीलभास्वरवर्णश्च पादैपरुपशोभितम्। भ्रमरैरुपगीतं च पक्षिभिश्च महायशाः॥
Adorned with trees of blue and bright colours and ringing with the hum of bees and warbling of birds. And that highly renowned.
स गच्छन् कानने तस्मिन् हेमजालपरिष्कृतम्। ददर्श तत् सरः श्रीमान् विश्वकर्मकृतं यथा॥
And illustrious one, entering into the forest saw that lake beautified with gold-coloured filaments, looking as if it had been made by the Architect of the universe.
उपेतं नलिनीजालैः सिन्धुवारैः सवेतसैः। केतकैः करवीरैश्च पिप्पलैश्चैव संवृतम्। श्रमार्तस्तदुपागम्य सरो दृष्ट्वाथ विस्मितः॥
Adorned with rows of lotuses, Sindhuvara flowers together with cane trees and covered all over with Ketakas, Karaviras and Pippalas. Oppressed with fatigue, he approached that lake and was wonder-struck at what he saw.