अनुभुक्तफलाहाराः सर्व एव मिताशनाः। न्यवसन्पाण्डवास्तत्रकृष्णया सह भार्यया
There, all the Pandavas, together with their wife Krishna, lived, sustaining themselves on the fruits they gathered, eating in moderation.
वसन्द्वैतवने राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। भीमसेनोऽर्जुनश्चैव माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ
Dwelling in the Dvaita forest were King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, Bhimasena, Arjuna, and the two sons of Madri, the Pandavas.
ब्राह्मणार्थे पराक्रान्ता धर्मात्मानो यतव्रताः। क्लेशमार्च्छन्त विपुलं सुखोदर्कं परंतपाः
Devoted to righteousness, steadfast in their vows, and striving for the sake of the Brahmanas, those tormentors of foes endured great hardship, which would ultimately lead to happiness.
तस्मिन्प्रतिवसन्तस्ते यत्प्रापुः कुरुसत्तमाः। वने क्लेशं सुखोदर्कं तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि ते शृणु
While they were residing there, O best of the Kurus, I will tell you of the hardship, which would bring happiness, that they encountered in the forest—listen.
अरणीसहितं भाण्डं ब्राह्मणस्य तपस्विनः। मृगस् घर्षणस्य विपाणे समसज्जत
A deer, swift and powerful, seized the fire-making apparatus of a Brahmana ascetic, which included the aranis, and quickly fled into the forest.
तदादाय गतो राजंस्त्वरमाणो महामृगः। आश्रमान्तरितः शीघ्रं प्लवमानो महाजवः
Taking that, the great deer, moving swiftly, hurried away, leaping rapidly, and disappeared into the depths of the forest.
ह्रियमाणं तु तं दृष्ट्वा स विप्रः कुरुसत्तम। त्वरितोऽभ्यागमत्तत्रअग्निहोत्रपरीप्सया। `तेषां तु वसतां तत्र पाण्डवानां महारथम्
Seeing his fire-making tools being carried off, the Brahmana, eager to perform his sacrificial rites, hastily approached the Pandavas, who were then residing in the forest.
अजातशत्रुमासीनं भ्रातृभिः सहितं वने। आगम्य ब्राह्मणस्तूर्णं संतप्तश्चेदमब्रवीत्
Coming quickly, the Brahmana, distressed, spoke these words to Ajatashatru, who was seated in the forest with his brothers.
अरणीसहितं भाण्डं समासक्तं वनस्पतौ। मृगस्य घऱ्षमाणस्य विषाणे समसज्जत
The fire-making sticks, together with their container, which had become entangled in the tree, were caught on the horn of the rubbing deer.
तमादाय गतो राजंस्त्वरमाणो महामृगः। आश्रमात्त्वरितः शीघ्रं प्लवमानो महाजवः
Seizing it, the great deer swiftly departed from the hermitage, moving quickly with great speed.
तस्य गत्वा पदं राजन्नासाद्य च महामृगम्। अग्निहोत्रं न लुप्येत तदानयत पाण्डवाः
Having followed its tracks, O King, and not yet catching the great deer, the Pandavas brought it back so that the sacrificial fire would not be lost.
ब्राह्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सन्तप्तोऽथ युधिष्ठिरः। धनुरादाय कौन्तेयः प्राद्रवद्भ्रातृभिः सह
Hearing the words of the Brahmin, Yudhishthira was distressed; the son of Kunti took up his bow and rushed forth with his brothers.
सन्नद्धा धन्विनः सर्वे प्राद्रवन्नरपुङ्गवाः। ब्राह्मणार्थे यतन्तस्ते शीघ्रमन्वगमन्मृगम्
All the foremost of warriors, armed with bows and fully equipped, hurried after the deer for the sake of the Brahmin, striving quickly.
कर्णिनालीकनाराचानुत्सृजन्तो महारथाः। नाविध्यन्पाण्डवास्तत्र पश्यन्तो मृगमन्तिकात्
The mighty chariot-warriors released arrows, broad-headed, barbed, and sharp, but the Pandavas, though seeing the deer nearby, could not strike it.
तेषां प्रयतमानानां नादृश्यत महामृगः। अपश्यन्तोमृगं श्रान्ता दुःखं प्राप्ता मनस्विनः
Though they exerted themselves, the great deer was not seen by them; exhausted and sorrowful, unable to see the deer, the high-minded ones were afflicted.
शीतलच्छायमागमय् न्यग्रोधं गहने वने। क्षुत्पिपासापरीताङ्गाः पाण्डवाः समुपाविशन्
Seeking cool shade, the Pandavas sat down beneath a banyan tree in the dense forest, their bodies overcome by hunger and thirst.
तेषां समुपविष्टानां नकुलो दुःखितस्तदा। अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं श्रेष्ठममर्षात्कुरुनन्दनम्
As they sat together, Nakula, distressed, spoke out of impatience to his eldest brother, the best of the Kurus.
नास्मिन्कुले जातु ममज्ज धर्मो न चालस्यादर्थलोपो बभूव। अनुत्तराः सर्वभूतेषु भूप संप्राप्ताः स्मः संशयं किंनु राजन्
In our lineage, righteousness has never been submerged, nor has loss arisen from laziness; O King, we have always been unsurpassed among all beings—how then have we come to this uncertainty?
नापदामस्ति मर्यादा न निमित्तं न कारणम्। धर्मस्तु विभजत्यर्थमुभयोः पुण्यपापयोः
There is no fixed rule, no cause, no reason for calamities; it is righteousness that apportions fortune between both virtue and sin.
प्रातिकाम्यनयत्कृष्णां सभायां प्रेष्यवत्तदा। न मया निहतस्तत्रतेन प्राप्ताः स्म संशयम्
When Draupadi was led into the assembly and treated like a servant, I did not kill the one responsible; because of that, we have come to this uncertainty.
वाचस्तीक्ष्णास्थिभेदिन्यः सूतपुत्रेण भाषिताः। अतितीव्रा मया क्षान्तास्तेन प्राप्ताः स्म संशयं
Harsh words, piercing as bone-splinters, were spoken by the son of the charioteer; I endured them though they were exceedingly severe—because of that, we have come to this uncertainty.
शकुनिस्त्वां यदाऽजैषीदक्षद्यूतेन भारत। स मया न हतस्तत्रतेन प्राप्ताः स्म संशयम्
When Shakuni defeated you, O Bharata, by cunning dice-play, I did not kill him then; because of that, we have come to this uncertainty.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा नकुलं वाक्यमब्रवीत्। आरुह्य वृक्षं माद्रेय निरीक्षस्व दिशो दश
Then King Yudhishthira spoke to Nakula: 'Climb a tree, son of Madri, and look in all ten directions.'
पानीयमन्तिके पश्य वृक्षान्वाप्युदकाश्रयान्। एते हि भ्रातरः श्रान्तास्तव तात पिपासिताः
'Look for water nearby, for trees or pools where water may be found; your brothers are weary and thirsty, dear one.'
नकुलस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा भ्रातुर्ज्येऽष्ठस्य शासनात्। तत उत्थाय मतिमाञ्शीघ्रमारुह्य पादपम्। अब्रवीद्धांतरं ज्येष्मभिवीक्ष्य समन्ततः
Nakula replied, 'So be it,' and at his elder brother's command, quickly rose and climbed a tree, intelligently surveying the surroundings in all directions.
पश्यामि बहुलान्राजन्वृक्षानुदकसंश्रयान्। सारसानां च निर्ह्रादस्तत्रोदकमसंशयम्
'I see many trees, O King, near water; and the cries of cranes are heard there—surely there is water.'
ततोऽब्रवीत्सत्यधृतिः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। गच्छ सौम्य ततः शीघ्रं तूणैः रपानीयमानय
Then Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, steadfast in truth, said: 'Go, gentle one, quickly from here and bring water in the quivers.'
नकुलस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य शासनात्। प्राद्रवद्यत्र पानीयं शीघ्रं चैवान्वपद्यत
Nakulā, having replied 'So be it,' at the command of his elder brother, hurried to where there was water and swiftly proceeded there.
स दृष्ट्वा विमलं तोयं सारसैः परिवारितम्। पातुकामस्ततो वाचमन्तरिक्षात्स शुश्रुवे
Seeing the pure water surrounded by cranes, desiring to drink, he then heard a voice from the sky.
मा तात साहसं कार्षीर्मम पूर्वपरिग्रहः। प्रश्नानुक्त्वा तु माद्रेय ततः पिब हरस्व च
'Do not act rashly, dear child; this is under my prior claim. Only after answering my questions, son of Madri, may you drink and take as you wish.'