03.295
The āraṇeya section.
Janamejaya said.
Thus, when Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) had been carried away and having suffered supreme affliction, after regaining Kṛṣṇā, what did the Pāṇḍavas then do? (03-295-1)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, after Kṛṣṇā had been carried away and he had experienced unsurpassed suffering, Acyuta the king, along with his brothers, left Kāmyaka. (03-295-2)
Yudhishthira again went to the delightful Dvaita forest, towards the pleasant Markandeya's hermitage, abounding in sweet roots and fruits. (03-295-3)
O Bhārata, the Pāṇḍavas, all protected and sustained on fruits and eating moderately, lived there together with Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī). (03-295-4)
While living in the Dvaita forest, King Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī, Bhīmasena, Arjuna, and the two sons of Mādrī, the Pāṇḍavas, were there. (03-295-5)
For the sake of brāhmaṇas, the righteous and self-controlled ones, firm in their vows and destroyers of foes, exert themselves and undergo great trouble that ultimately yields happiness. (03-295-6)
Ajātaśatru, sitting accompanied by his brothers in the forest; a brāhmaṇa, distressed, quickly approached and said this. (03-295-7)
The kindling sticks meant for me, clinging to the tree, became attached to the horn of the rubbing deer. (03-295-8)
O King, having taken that, the great deer swiftly departed from the hermitage, leaping quickly with great speed. (03-295-9)
Having quickly gone to that place and reached the great animal, so that the agnihotra would not be spoiled, the Pāṇḍavas then brought it. (03-295-10)
After hearing the speech of the brāhmaṇa, the distressed Yudhiṣṭhira, taking up his bow, rushed forward together with his brothers. (03-295-11)
All the leading men, armed with bows, rushed forward; striving for the sake of the Brāhmaṇa, they quickly pursued the deer. (03-295-12)
The great chariot-warriors, releasing ear-tipped and long-shafted arrows, did not hit the deer there, even though the Pāṇḍavas saw it from close by. (03-295-13)
Despite their efforts, the great animal was not seen by them. Unable to find the animal, the high-minded ones became exhausted and suffered. (03-295-14)
The Pāṇḍavas, their bodies overcome by hunger and thirst, reached a banyan tree in the dense forest that offered cool shade, and they sat down there together. (03-295-15)
As they were all seated together, Nakula, grieved, then spoke with indignation to his eldest brother, the best of the Kurus. (03-295-16)
In this lineage, dharma has never sunk at any time; nor has any loss of wealth occurred due to idleness. Yet again, for all beings, we have encountered a doubt that remains unanswered—by whom, O king? (03-295-17)
