03.297
yakṣapraśnāḥ
Questions (put forth) by the yakṣa.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
sa dadarśa hatān bhrātṝ̐ lokapālān iva cyutān। yugānte samanup rāpte śakrapratimagauravān॥03-297-1॥
He saw his slain brothers, fallen like the guardians of the worlds at the end of an age, each equal in dignity to Indra. (03-297-1)
viprakīrṇadhanu-bāṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā nihata-marjunam। bhīmasenaṃ yamau cobhau nirviceṣṭān gatāyuṣaḥ ॥03-297-2॥
Having seen Arjuna, his bow and arrows scattered, slain, Bhimasena, and both the sons of Yama (Nakula and Sahadeva), all motionless and lifeless. (03-297-2)
sa dīrghamuṣṇaṃ niḥśvasya śokabāṣpapariplutaḥ. buddhyā vicintayāmāsa vīrāḥ kena nipātitāḥ ॥03-297-3॥
He, letting out a long, warm sigh and overwhelmed by tears of sorrow, pondered with his intellect: by whom have the heroes been slain? (03-297-3)
naiṣāṃ śastraprahāro'sti padaṃ nehāsti kasyacit. bhūtaṃ mahadidaṃ manye bhrātaro yena me hatāḥ ॥ ekāgraṃ cintayiṣyāmi pītvā vetsyāmi vā jalam ॥03-297-4॥
There is no influence of weapons on these; there is no place here for anyone. I think that this is a great calamity by which my brothers have been slain. I shall contemplate with one-pointed mind, or know (what has happened) after drinking water. (3-297-4)
syāttu duryodhanenedamupāṁśuvihitaṁ kṛtam। gāndhārarājaracitaṁ satataṁ jihmabuddhinā ॥03-297-5॥
But perhaps this was secretly done by Duryodhana; composed constantly by the king of Gandhara, who is of crooked mind. (03-297-5)
yasya kāryam akāryaṃ vā samam eva bhavatyuṭa। kas tasya viśvased vīro durmater akṛtātmanaḥ ॥03-297-6॥
Who would place trust in one, O hero, for whom what should be done and not done are the same indeed? In one with an undisciplined self and an evil mind, who could trust? (03-297-6)
atha vā puruṣair gūḍhaiḥ prayogo'yaṃ durātmanaḥ। bhaved iti mahābāhur bahudhā samacintayat ॥03-297-7॥
Now, the mighty-armed one considered in many ways, thinking, "Or perhaps this scheme of the wicked one might have been carried out in secret by men." (03-297-7)
tasyāsīn na viṣeṇedamudakaṃ dūṣitaṃ yathā। mukhavarṇāḥ prasannā me bhrātṝṇāmityacintayat ॥03-297-8॥
He thought, "Since my brothers' complexions are bright, this water was not polluted by poison." (03-297-8)
ekaikaśaś ca ughabalānimān puruṣasattamān। ko'nyaḥ pratisamāseta kālāntakayamādṛte॥03-297-9॥
Individually, who else except Kāla, Antaka, or Yama could match these foremost men of immense strength? (03-297-9)
etena adhyavasāyena tat toyam avagāḍhavān। gāhamānaś ca tat toyam antarikṣāt sa śuśruve ॥03-297-10॥
By means of this resolute effort, he entered that water; and while immersing himself in that water, he heard (something) from the sky. (03-297-10)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The Yakṣa said;
ahaṃ bakaḥ śaivalam-atsya-bhakṣaḥ; mayā nītāḥ pretavaśaṃ tavā-nujāḥ. tvaṃ pañcamaḥ bhavitā rājaputra; na cet praśnān pṛcchataḥ vyākaroṣi ॥03-297-11॥
I am the heron who eats moss and fish; your younger brothers have been led by me to the realm of the dead. Prince, you will be the fifth if you do not answer the questions I ask. (03-297-11)
mā tāta sāhasaṃ kārṣīr mama pūrvaparigrahaḥ। praśnān uktvā tu kaunteya tataḥ piba harasva ca ॥03-297-12॥
O dear one, do not act rashly; I have a prior claim. But, O son of Kunti, after asking questions, then drink and enjoy. (03-297-12)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira spoke.
rudrāṇāṃ vā vasūnāṃ vā marutāṃ vā pradhānabhāk। pṛcchāmi ko bhavān devo na etac chakunina kṛtam॥03-297-13॥
Are you the principal among the Rudras, the Vasus, or the Maruts? I ask, who are you, O divine one? This was not an act done by omen. (03-297-13)
himavānpāriyātraśca vindhyo malaya eva ca। catvāraḥ parvatāḥ kena pātitā bhuvi tejasā॥03-297-14॥
Who, by their splendor, cast down these four mountains—Himavat, Pāriyātra, Vindhya, and Malaya—upon the earth? (03-297-14)
atīva te mahatkarma kṛtaṃ balavatāṃ vara। yan na devā na gandharvā nāsurā na ca rākṣasāḥ ॥ viṣaheran mahāyuddhe kṛtaṃ te tan mahādbhutam ॥03-297-15॥
You have accomplished an extraordinarily great deed, O foremost of the mighty; that act which neither the gods, nor the gandharvas, nor the asuras, nor even the rākṣasas could withstand in the great battle—what you have done is truly extraordinary. (03-297-15)
na te jānāmi yat kāryam nābhijānāmi kāṅkṣitam। kautūhalam mahat jātam sādhvasam ca āgatam mama ॥03-297-16॥
I do not know what your purpose is, nor do I understand what is desired. Great curiosity has arisen, and fear has also come to me. (03-297-16)
yenāsm yudvigna-hṛdayaḥ samutpanna-śirojvaraḥ। pṛcchāmi bhagavaṃs tasmāt ko bhavān iha tiṣṭhati॥03-297-17॥
O venerable one, because I am agitated at heart and have developed a headache on account of someone, I ask you, who are you who is standing here? (03-297-17)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said.
yakṣo’hamasmi bhadraṁ te nāsmi pakṣī jale-caraḥ। mayā ete nihatāḥ sarve bhrātaraḥ te mahā-ojasāḥ ॥03-297-18॥
"I am a Yaksha; good fortune to you. I am not a bird nor a water-creature. By me, all your brothers of great energy were slain." (03-297-18)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tatastāmaśivāṁ śrutvā vācaṁ sa paruṣākṣarām। yakṣasya bruvato rājannupakramya tadā sthitaḥ॥03-297-19॥
Then, O king, having heard that inauspicious and harsh speech uttered by the Yakṣa, he approached and stood there. (03-297-19)
virūpākṣaṃ mahākāyaṃ yakṣaṃ tālasamucchrayam। jvalanārkapratīkāśam adhṛṣyaṃ parvatopamam ॥03-297-20॥
A yakṣa with deformed eyes, a great body, palmyra-tree-like height, the appearance of fire and the sun, unassailable, and mountain-like. (03-297-20)
setumāśritya tiṣṭhantaṃ dadarśa bharatarṣabhaḥ। meghagambhīrayā vāchā tarjayantaṃ mahābalam ॥03-297-21॥
The chief of the Bharata race saw the mighty one standing on the bridge, threatening with a voice as deep as a cloud. (03-297-21)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said.
ime te bhrātaro rājan vāryamāṇā mayāsakṛt। balāt toyaṃ jihīrṣantas tato vai sūditā mayā॥03-297-22॥
O king, these brothers of yours, though I repeatedly tried to restrain them, desired to take water by force, and therefore I killed them. (03-297-22)
na peyamudakaṃ rājan prāṇāniha parīpsatā. pārtha mā sāhasaṃ kārṣīrmama pūrvaparigrahaḥ ॥ praśnān uktvā tu kaunteya tataḥ piba harasva ca ॥03-297-23॥
O king, the water is not to be drunk by one here wishing to preserve life. O Pārtha, do not act rashly; this is my previous condition. But, O son of Kunti, after answering the questions, then drink and refresh yourself. (03-297-23)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
naivāhaṃ kāmaye yakṣa tava pūrvaparigraham। kāmaṃ naitatpraśaṃsanti santo hi puruṣāḥ sadā॥03-297-24॥
I do not wish, Yakṣa, for your former attachment. Truly, good people never praise such things, for men never approve this. (03-297-24)
yad-ātmanā svam-ātmānaṃ praśaṃset-puruṣaḥ prabho। yathā-prajñaṃ tu te praśnān-prativakṣyāmi pṛccha mām ॥03-297-25॥
O lord, a person should praise his own self through himself; but I shall answer your questions according to my knowledge—ask me. (03-297-25)
yakṣa uvāca॥
yakṣa said.
kiṁ svid ādityam unnayati ke ca tasya abhitaḥ carāḥ। kaś ca enam astaṁ nayati kasmiṁś ca pratitiṣṭhati ॥03-297-26॥
What truly raises the sun? Who circles around him? Who leads him to setting? And in what does he abide? (03-297-26)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
brahmādityam unnayati devās tasyābhitaś carāḥ। dharmaś cāstaṃ nayati ca satye ca pratitiṣṭhati॥03-297-27॥
The Veda raises the sun; the gods move around it. Dharma leads it to its setting and remains established in truth. (03-297-27)
yakṣa uvāca॥
yakṣa said.
kena svicchrotriyo bhavati kena svid vindate mahat। kena dvitīyavān bhavati rājan kena ca buddhimān॥03-297-28॥
By what means does one become learned in the Vedas? By what is greatness attained? By what does one gain a companion, O King? And by what does one become wise? (03-297-28)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
śrutena śrotriyo bhavati tapasā vindate mahat। dhṛtyā dvitīyavān bhavati buddhimān vṛddhasevayā ॥03-297-29॥
A person becomes learned through study, attains greatness through austerity, gains companionship through perseverance, and becomes wise by serving elders. (03-297-29)
yakṣa uvāca॥
Yakṣa said.
kiṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ devatvaṁ kaśca dharmaḥ satāmiva। kaścaiṣāṁ mānuṣo bhāvaḥ kimeṣāmasatāmiva ॥03-297-30॥
What is the divinity of brāhmaṇas? What is their duty, as if of the virtuous? What is their human nature? What, as if of these unvirtuous? (03-297-30)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
svādhyāya eṣāṃ devatvaṃ tapa eṣāṃ satām iva। maraṇaṃ mānuṣo bhāvaḥ parivādo'satām iva॥03-297-31॥
Self-study is their divinity, austerity is like that of the virtuous; death is their human nature, and reproach is like that of the wicked. (03-297-31)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said.
kiṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ devatvaṃ kaśca dharmaḥ satāmiva। kaśca eṣāṃ mānuṣo bhāvaḥ kim eṣām asatāmiva॥03-297-32॥
What is the divinity of the kṣatriyas, what is their duty as that of the virtuous? And what is their human nature, what is it like that of the unvirtuous? (03-297-32)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
iṣvastrameṣāṃ devatvaṃ yajña eṣāṃ satām iva। bhayaṃ vai mānuṣo bhāvaḥ parityāgo'satām iva॥03-297-33॥
For these, the bow and arrows are their divinity, and sacrifice is as for the virtuous; fear, indeed, is a human trait, and abandoning (these) is like that of the wicked. (03-297-33)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The Yakṣa said.
kim ekaṁ yajñiyaṁ sāma kim ekaṁ yajñiyaṁ yajuḥ। kā ca ekā vṛścate yajñam kāṁ yajño nātivartate ॥03-297-34॥
Which is the one Sāman fit for sacrifice? Which is the one Yajus fit for sacrifice? Which one (feminine) cuts the sacrifice, and which does the sacrifice not surpass? (03-297-34)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
prāṇo vai yajñiyaṃ sāma mano vai yajñiyaṃ yajuḥ। vāgekā vṛścate yajñaṃ tāṃ yajño nātivartate॥03-297-35॥
Breath truly is the Sāman fit for sacrifice; mind truly is the Yajus fit for sacrifice. Speech alone cuts the sacrifice, and the sacrifice does not surpass her. (03-297-35)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The Yakṣa spoke.
kiṁ svid āpatatāṁ śreṣṭhaṁ kiṁ svin nipatatāṁ varam। kiṁ svit pratiṣṭhamānānāṁ kiṁ svit pravadatāṁ varam॥03-297-36॥
What is the best among those who attack? What is excellent among those who fall? What is (praiseworthy) among those who stand firm? What is excellent among those who speak? (3-297-36)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
varṣam āpatatāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ bījaṃ nipatatāṃ varam. gāvaḥ pratiṣṭhamānānāṃ putraḥ pravadatāṃ varaḥ ॥03-297-37॥
Rain is the best of all things that fall; seed is the noblest of what drops; among those that stand firmly, the cow is best; and of those who speak, the son is the best. (03-297-37)
yakṣa uvāca॥
Yakṣa said.
indriyārthān anubhavann buddhi-mān loka-pūjitaḥ. saṁmataḥ sarva-bhūtānām ucchvasan ko na jīvati ॥03-297-38॥
Who does not live, experiencing sense-objects, being intelligent, honored by people, and respected by all beings, while breathing? (03-297-38)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
devatātithi-bhṛtyānāṃ pitṝṇām ātmanaś ca yaḥ। na nirvapati pañcānām uccihvasan na sa jīvati॥03-297-39॥
He who, breathing, does not make offerings to the five—deity, guest, servants, ancestors, and himself—does not truly live. (03-297-39)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said.
kiṁ svid gurutaraṁ bhūmeḥ kiṁ svid uccataraṁ ca khāt। kiṁ svit śīghrataraṁ vāyoḥ kiṁ svid bahutaraṁ nṛṇām ॥03-297-40॥
What, indeed, is heavier than the earth? What is higher than the sky? What is swifter than the wind? What is more numerous among men? (03-297-40)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
mātā gurutarā bhūmeḥ pitā uccataras ca khāt। manaḥ śīghrataraṃ vāyoḥ cintā bahutarī nṛṇām॥03-297-41॥
Mother is heavier than the earth; father is higher than the sky; the mind is swifter than the wind; and the thought of men is greater in quantity. (03-297-41)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said.
kiṁ svitsuptaṁ na nimiṣati kiṁ svijjātaṁ na copati. kasya sviddhṛdayaṁ nāsti kiṁ svidvegena vardhate ॥03-297-42॥
What is there that while sleeping does not close its eyes? What, being born, does not die? Whose is there no heart? What grows quickly? (03-297-42)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
matsyaḥ suptó na nimiṣaty aṇḍaṃ jātaṃ na copati. aśmano hṛdayaṃ nāsti nadī vegen vardhate ॥03-297-43॥
A fish does not blink when asleep; a newly born egg does not rush forward; stone does not have a heart; a river increases with speed. (03-297-43)
yakṣa uvāca॥
Yakṣa said.
kiṁ svit pravasato mitraṁ kiṁ svin mitraṁ gṛhe sataḥ। āturasya ca kiṁ mitraṁ kiṁ svin mitraṁ mariṣyataḥ॥03-297-44॥
Who indeed is a friend to a person living abroad, and who is a friend to one residing at home? For the afflicted, who is a friend? And for one about to die, who truly is a friend? (03-297-44)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
sārthaḥ pravasato mitraṁ bhāryā mitraṁ gṛhe sataḥ। āturasya bhiṣaṅmitraṁ dānaṁ mitraṁ mariṣyataḥ॥03-297-45॥
For one traveling abroad, a caravan is a friend; for one staying at home, the wife is a friend; for the distressed, a physician is a friend; for one dying, a gift is a friend. (03-297-45)
yakṣa uvāca॥
Yakṣa spoke.
kiṁ svid-eko vicarati jātaḥ ko jāyate punaḥ। kiṁ svid-dhimasya bhaiṣajyaṁ kiṁ svid-āvapanaṁ mahat ॥03-297-46॥
What truly moves alone, being born? Who is born again? What is, indeed, the remedy for the mind? What, indeed, is the great removal? (03-297-46)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
sūrya eko vicarati candramā jāyate punaḥ। agnir himasya bhaiṣajyaṃ bhūmir āvapanaṃ mahat ॥03-297-47॥
The sun traverses alone, while the moon returns again and again. Fire is the remedy for cold, and the earth is the great receiver. (03-297-47)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The Yakṣa said:
kiṁ svid eka-padaṁ dharmyaṁ kiṁ svid eka-padaṁ yaśaḥ। kiṁ svid eka-padaṁ svargyaṁ kiṁ svid eka-padaṁ sukham ॥03-297-48॥
What indeed is the single word which is righteousness? What indeed is the single word that is fame? What indeed is the single word that leads to heaven? What indeed is the single word that is happiness? (3-297-48)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
dākṣyam ekapadaṃ dharmyaṃ dānam ekapadaṃ yaśaḥ। satyam ekapadaṃ svargyaṃ śīlam ekapadaṃ sukham ॥03-297-49॥
Skillfulness has righteousness as its sole foundation; giving leads solely to fame; truthfulness alone brings heaven; good character alone leads to happiness. (03-297-49)
yakṣa uvāca॥
A Yakṣa said.
kiṁ svidātmā manuṣyasya kiṁ sviddaivakṛtaḥ sakhā। upajīvanaṁ kiṁ svidasya kiṁ svidasya parāyaṇam ॥03-297-50॥
What truly is the self of a man? What is a man’s friend, appointed by fate? What is his means of living, and what truly is his ultimate refuge? (03-297-50)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
putra ātmā manuṣyasya bhāryā daivakṛtaḥ sakhā। upajīvanaṃ ca parjanyo dānam asya parāyaṇam॥03-297-51॥
The son is a man's own self; the wife is given by fate; a friend is of divine making. Means of living and rain are his support, and charity is his last refuge. (03-297-51)
yakṣa uvāca॥
Yakṣa said.
dhanyānām uttamaṃ kiṃ svit dhanānāṃ kiṃ svit uttamam | lābhānām uttamaṃ kiṃ svit kiṃ sukhānāṃ tathottamam ||03-297-52||
What is truly the highest among the fortunate? What is the best among riches? What is the greatest among gains, and similarly, what is the highest among pleasures? (03-297-52)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
dhanyānām uttamaṁ dākṣyaṁ dhanānām uttamaṁ śrutam। lābhānāṁ śreṣṭham ārogyaṁ sukhānāṁ tuṣṭir uttamā ॥03-297-53॥
For the fortunate, ability is the highest; of riches, learning is the best; of all gains, health is the greatest; and among pleasures, contentment is supreme. (03-297-53)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said.
kaśca dharmaḥ paro loke kaśca dharmaḥ sadāphalaḥ। kiṃ niyamya na śocanti kaiśca sandhir na jīryate॥03-297-54॥
Which righteousness is supreme in the world, and which righteousness always bears fruit? What should one restrain so as not to grieve, and by what does a union never deteriorate? (03-297-54)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
ānṛśaṁsyaṁ paro dharmas trayī-dharmaḥ sadāphalaḥ। mano yamy na śocanti sadbhiḥ sandhir na jīryate ॥03-297-55॥
Non-cruelty is the highest duty; the Vedic duty always bears fruit. The good do not grieve when their minds are restrained; alliance with them does not wither. (03-297-55)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said.
kiṁ nu hitvā priyo bhavati kiṁ nu hitvā na śocati। kiṁ nu hitvā arthavān bhavati kiṁ nu hitvā sukhī bhavet ॥03-297-56॥
What, when abandoned, becomes dear? What, when abandoned, brings freedom from grief? What, when abandoned, makes one wealthy? What, when abandoned, brings happiness? (03-297-56)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
mānaṃ hitvā priyo bhavati krodhaṃ hitvā na śocati। kāmaṃ hitvārthavānbhavati lobhaṃ hitvā sukhī bhavet॥03-297-57॥
When one gives up pride, he becomes loved; when one relinquishes anger, he does not grieve. By abandoning desire, he becomes prosperous; and by giving up greed, he may become happy. (03-297-57)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said:
mṛtaḥ kathaṁ syātpuruṣaḥ kathaṁ rāṣṭraṁ mṛtaṁ bhavet। śrāddhaṁ mṛtaṁ kathaṁ ca syātkathaṁ yajño mṛto bhavet॥03-297-58॥
How could a man be dead? How could a kingdom die? How can a śrāddha be dead, and how could a sacrifice become dead? (03-297-58)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
mṛto daridraḥ puruṣo mṛtaṃ rāṣṭram-arājakam। mṛtam-aśrotriyaṃ śrāddhaṃ mṛto yajñas-tv-adakṣiṇaḥ॥03-297-59॥
A poor man is as good as dead; a kingdom without a king is dead; a śrāddha ceremony without a Śrotriya (Vedic scholar) is dead; a sacrifice without a gift is considered dead. (03-297-59)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said.
kā dik kimudakaṁ proktaṁ kim annaṁ pārtha kiṁ viṣam। śrāddhasya kālam ākhyāhi tataḥ piba harasva ca ॥03-297-60॥
O Pārtha, which is the direction, what is the water said (to be), what is the food, what is the poison? Tell the time of śrāddha; then drink and take (it). (03-297-60)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira spoke.
santo dig-jalam-ākāśaṃ gaur annaṃ prārthanā viṣam | śrāddhasya brāhmaṇaḥ kālaḥ kathaṃ vā yakṣa manyase ॥ 03-297-61 ॥
What do you think, Yakṣa: are good men, direction, water, sky, white food, request, and poison the time, Brāhmaṇa, for the śrāddha rite, or how do you see it? (03-297-61)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The Yakṣa said.
vyākhyātā me tvayā praśnā yāthātathyaṃ parantapa। puruṣaṃ tvidānīm ākhyāhi yaś ca sarvadhanī naraḥ॥03-297-62॥
The questions have been truly explained by you, O subduer of foes. Now tell me about the being, the man who possesses all wealth. (03-297-62)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
divaṃ spṛśati bhūmiṃ ca śabdaḥ puṇyasya karmaṇaḥ। yāvatsa śabdo bhavati tāvatpuruṣa ucyate ॥03-297-63॥
The sound of a meritorious deed reaches both heaven and earth; as long as that sound remains, a person is called a man. (03-297-63)
tulye priyāpriye yasya sukhaduḥkhe tathaiva ca। atītānāgate cobhe sa vai sarvadhanī naraḥ॥03-297-64॥
He whose attitude is equal towards what is dear and not dear, towards pleasure and pain, and towards both past and future—he indeed is the truly wealthy man. (03-297-64)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The yakṣa said.
vyākhyātaḥ puruṣo rājanyaś ca sarvadhanī naraḥ। tasmāt tava eko bhrātṝṇām yam icchasi sa jīvatu ॥03-297-65॥
The man, the noble, and the possessor of all wealth have been identified. Therefore, of your brothers, let that one whom you desire, live. (03-297-65)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
śyāmo ya eṣa raktākṣo bṛhaccāla ivodgataḥ। vyūḍhorasko mahābāhurnakulo yakṣa jīvatu॥03-297-66॥
May this dark-complexioned, red-eyed Nakula, standing tall like a great Śāla tree, broad-chested and mighty-armed, live, O Yaksha. (03-297-66)
yakṣa uvāca॥
Yakṣa said.
priyas te bhīmaseno 'yam arjuno vaḥ parāyaṇam. sa kasmān nakulaṃ rājan sāpatnaṃ jīvam icchasi ॥03-297-67॥
Bhimasena is dear to you; this Arjuna is your support. Then why, O King, do you wish for Nakula, your rival's son, to remain alive? (03-297-67)
yasya nāga-sahasreṇa daśa-saṅkhyena vai balam। tulyaṃ taṃ bhīmam utsṛjya nakulaṃ jīvam icchasi॥03-297-68॥
Abandoning Bhīma, whose strength is indeed equal to that of ten thousand elephants, you desire the life of Nakula. (03-297-68)
tathainaṃ manujāḥ prāhurbhīmasenaṃ priyaṃ tava। atha kenānubhāvena sāpatnaṃ jīvamicchasi ॥03-297-69॥
Thus, men said to Bhīmasena, who is dear to you, "So, by what power do you wish to live with a rival?" (3-297-69)
yasya bāhubalaṃ sarve pāṇḍavāḥ samupāśritāḥ। arjunaṃ tam apāhāya nakulaṃ jīvam icchasi॥03-297-70॥
Whose arm strength all the Pāṇḍavas have relied upon, having abandoned Arjuna, you seek to save Nakula's life. (03-297-70)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
ānṛśaṁsyaṁ paro dharmaḥ paramārthāc ca me matam। ānṛśaṁsyaṁ cikīrṣāmi nakulo yakṣa jīvatu॥03-297-71॥
Non-cruelty is the highest duty—this is my belief, superior even to the greatest good. I wish to act with compassion; O Yaksha, let Nakula live. (03-297-71)
dharmaśīlaḥ sadā rājā iti māṃ mānavā viduḥ। svadharmān na cariṣyāmi nakulo yakṣa jīvatu॥03-297-72॥
Men always know me as a king of righteous disposition. I will not turn away from my own duty, Nakula. Yaksha, may he live. (03-297-72)
yathā kuntī tathā mādrī viśeṣo nāsti me tayoḥ। mātṛbhyāṁ samam icchāmi nakulo yakṣa jīvatu ॥03-297-73॥
Just as there is no distinction for me between Kuntī and Mādrī, so among the two mothers I wish equally — Yakṣa, let Nakula live. (03-297-73)
yakṣa uvāca॥
The Yakṣa said;
yasya te'rthāc ca kāmāc ca ānṛśaṁsyaṁ paraṁ matam। tasmāt te bhrātaraḥ sarve jīvantu bharatarṣabha ॥03-297-74॥
For whom, to you, compassion is esteemed as supreme over wealth and desire; therefore, let all your brothers live, O best of the Bharatas. (03-297-74)
