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.
यतः पुरुषशार्दूलौ पानीयहरणे गतौ। तौ ददर्श हतौ तत्रभ्रातरौ श्वेतवाहनः
Where those tiger-like men had gone to fetch water, there the white-horsed one saw his two brothers lying dead.
विगतासू नरव्याघ्रौ शयानौ वसुधातले'। प्रसुप्ताविव तौ दृष्ट्वा नरसिंहः सुदुःखितः। धनुरुद्यम्य कौन्तेयो व्यलोकयत तद्वनम्
Those tiger-men, their life departed, lay on the earth as if asleep; seeing them, the lion among men was deeply distressed. Raising his bow, the son of Kunti surveyed that forest.
नापश्यत्तत्रकिंचित्स भूतमस्मिन्महावने। सव्यसाची पिपासार्तः पानीयं सोभ्यधावत
He saw nothing there, no being, in that great forest. Parched with thirst, Savyasācin rushed toward the water.
अभिधावंस्ततो वाचमन्तरिक्षात्स शुश्रुवे। यत्त्वमिच्छसि पानीयं नैतच्छक्यं बलात्त्वया
As he ran, he heard a voice from the sky: 'If you desire this water, it cannot be taken by force by you.'
कौन्तेय यदि वै प्रश्नान्मयोक्तान्प्रतिवक्ष्यसि। ततः पास्यसि पानीयं हरिष्यसि च भारत
O son of Kunti, if you answer the questions I have put to you, then you may drink the water and take it, O descendant of Bharata.
वारितस्त्वब्रवीत्पार्थो दृश्यमानो निवारय। यावद्बाणैर्विनिर्भिन्नः पुनर्नैवं वदिष्यसि
Though forbidden and clearly warned, Partha replied, 'Restrain yourself! Once you are pierced by my arrows, you will not speak so again.'
एवमुक्त्वा ततः पार्थः शरैरस्त्रानुमन्त्रितैः। प्रववर्ष रदिशः कृत्स्नाः शब्दवेधं च दर्शयन्। कर्णिनालीकनाराचानुत्सृजन्भरतर्षभः
Having spoken thus, Partha then showered all directions with arrows empowered by mantras, displaying his skill in aiming by sound, releasing arrows with broadheads, shafts, and iron-tipped darts, O bull among the Bharatas.
स त्वमोघानिषून्मुक्त्वा तृष्णयाऽभिप्रपीडितः। अनेकैरिषुसंघातैरन्तरिक्षे ववर्ष ह
He, tormented by thirst, released countless unfailing arrows, raining volleys of shafts into the sky.
किं विधानेन ते पार्थ प्रश्नानुक्त्वा पयः पिब। अनुक्त्वा च पिबन्प्रश्नान्पीत्वैव नभविष्यसि
By what means, O Partha, will you drink the water after answering the questions? If you drink without answering, you will not survive even after drinking.
स च मोघानिषून्दृष्ट्वातृष्णया च प्रपीडितः। अवज्ञायैव तां वाचं पीत्वैव निपपात् ह
But seeing his arrows rendered useless and oppressed by thirst, disregarding that voice, he drank and immediately fell down.