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.'
अनादृत्य तु तद्वाक्यं नकुलः सुपिपासितः। अपिबच्छीतलं तोयं पीत्वा च निपपात ह
But disregarding those words, Nakula, extremely thirsty, drank the cool water, and having drunk, fell down.
चिरायमाणे नकुले कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अब्रवीद्ध्रातरं वीरं सहदेवमरिंदमम्
As Nakula delayed for a long time, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, spoke to his heroic brother Sahadeva, subduer of enemies.
भ्राता चिरायते तात सहदेव तवाग्रजः। तं चैवानय सोदर्यं पानीयं च त्वमानय
'Your elder brother, Sahadeva, is taking a long time, dear one. Go and bring him, your full brother, and fetch water as well.'
सहदेवस्तथेत्युक्त्वा तां दिशं प्रत्यपद्यत। ददर्श च हतं भूमौ भ्रातरं नकुलं तदा
Sahadeva, saying 'So be it,' set out in that direction and then saw his brother Nakula lying dead on the ground.
भ्रातृशोकाभिसंतप्तस्तृषया च प्रपीडितः। अभिदुद्राव रपानीयं ततो वागभ्यभाषत
Tormented by grief for his brother and oppressed by thirst, he rushed toward the water, and then a voice addressed him.
मा तात साहसं कार्षीर्मम पूर्वपरिग्रहः। प्रश्नानुक्त्वा यथाकामं पिबस्व च हरस्व च
'Do not act rashly, dear child; this is under my prior claim. Only after answering my questions, drink and take as you wish.'
अनादृत्य तु तद्वाक्यं सहदेवः पिपासितः। अपिबच्छीतलं तोयं पीत्वा च निपपात ह
But disregarding those words, Sahadeva, being thirsty, drank the cool water, and having drunk, fell down.
अथाब्रवीत्स विजयं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। भ्रातरौ ते चिरगतौ बीभत्सो शत्रुकर्शन
Then Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, said to Vijaya: 'Your two brothers have been gone a long time, Bhimasena, subduer of foes.'
तौ चैवानय भद्रं ते पानीयं च त्वमानय। त्वं हि नस्तात सर्वेषां दुःखितानामपाश्रयः
'Go and bring them both, and fetch water as well. For you, dear one, are the refuge for all of us in distress.'
एवमुक्तो गुडाकेशः प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः। आमुक्तखङ्गो मेधावी तत्सरः प्रत्यपद्यत
Thus addressed, Guḍākeśa, grasping his bow with arrows and his sword fastened on, the wise one set out toward that lake.