03.244
An occurrence involving the fear of a deer in a dream.
Janamejaya said.
Having released Duryodhana, what did the mighty sons of Pāṇḍu do in that forest? You ought to tell me that. (03-244-1)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, as Kunti's son Yudhishthira slept in the Dvaita forest at night, the deer—throats choked with tears—appeared to him at the end of his dream. (03-244-2)
The king of kings addressed them, who were trembling with joined palms, saying: "Say whatever it is you wish to say. Who are you, and what is desired?" (03-244-3)
Having thus been addressed by the famous son of Pāṇḍu, the son of Kuntī, the surviving deer there replied to Yudhiṣṭhira. (03-244-4)
O Bhārata, we deer who have survived the slaughter in the Dvaita forest—let us not perish, O great king; let a change of residence be arranged. (03-244-5)
You, valiant brothers, all indeed skilled in weapons, have left only a few clans of the forest-dwelling people. (03-244-6)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, O king, O great-minded one, we, the few remaining ones who are as seeds, may grow by your grace. (03-244-7)
Seeing those deer, who were trembling, frightened, and reduced to subsisting only on seeds, Yudhiṣṭhira, the King of Dharma, was overwhelmed with great sorrow. (03-244-8)
The king, engaged in the welfare of all beings, replied to them, 'So be it. You speak the truth; I shall do that as you have said.' (03-244-9)
Thus, at the end of the night, the excellent king, having awakened, spoke together with his brothers, being filled with compassion towards the deer. (03-244-10)
At night, I was addressed by the deer that survived after being killed, at the end of a dream, having become emaciated: 'Good fortune to you—may compassion be shown to us.' (03-244-11)
They have truly said that we must show compassion to the forest-dwellers. We are now undertaking this eighth month of our year here. (03-244-12)
Let us again go to the beautiful Kāmyaka forest, rich in many animals, the foremost of forests, lying at the head of the desert and famous for the Tṛṇabindu lake; there, let us enjoy ourselves moving among these remaining dwellings. (03-244-13)
Then the Pāṇḍavas, learned in dharma, quickly departed, accompanied by Brāhmaṇas, and having stayed there with the princes; at that time, they were followed by Indrasena and the other servants. (03-244-14)
After proceeding by their own well-trodden paths supplied with pure water, they saw the sacred Kāmyaka hermitage inhabited by ascetics. (03-244-15)
O best of Bharatas, at that time, the Kauravas, accompanied by eminent Brāhmaṇas, entered that forest, just as the virtuous enter heaven. (03-244-16)
