03.298
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, following the Yakṣa's words, the Pāṇḍavas rose up, and in that very moment, everyone's hunger and thirst disappeared. (03-298-1)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Standing unconquered in the lake with one foot, I ask: Who are you, O revered one? I do not consider you to be a yaksha, but a god. (03-298-2)
You are either one of the Vasus, or one of the Rudras, or perhaps the foremost among the Maruts, the wielder of the thunderbolt, or the lord of the gods. (03-298-3)
Indeed, I do not see any means by which these brothers of mine, warriors in their hundreds and thousands, would be struck down. (03-298-4)
I perceive happiness in the senses of those who are especially awakened. You are our friend, or rather, You are our father. (03-298-5)
The Yakṣa said.
O best of the Bharatas, know me to be your father, dear child—Dharma, gentle in effort—who has come desiring to see you. (03-298-6)
Glory, truth, self-restraint, purity, honesty, modesty, absence of restlessness, charity, austerity, and celibacy—these are my forms. (03-298-7)
Know non-injury, equanimity, peace, austerity, purity, and absence of envy as my doors; you are always dear to me. (03-298-8)
By good fortune, you have become victorious in all five stages; by good fortune, you have won the game of six-staked dice. Two at the beginning, two in the middle, and two at the end in this contest. (03-298-9)
I am righteousness; good fortune to you! You have come here, seeking knowledge. Because of your compassion I am pleased; I shall grant you a boon, O sinless one. (03-298-10)
O king, choose a boon. I am indeed your giver, O sinless one. For those men devoted to me, there is no misfortune for them. (03-298-11)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
May the fires belonging to him from whom the deer goes carrying the fire-sticks not be lost; let this be my first boon. (03-298-12)
Dharma said;
The fire-sticks of that brāhmaṇa were taken by me together, in the form of a deer, O son of Kunti, for the purpose of testing you, O lord. (03-298-13)
Vaiśampāyana said.
‘I shall give’, thus indeed, the Lord accepted the reply. Choose another boon which will be auspicious for you, for the boon you have chosen is already equal to that of the immortals. (03-298-14)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
After twelve years in the forest, the thirteenth has arrived. There, no men should recognize us at any time while dwelling. (03-298-15)
Vaiśampāyana said.
The Lord accepted the reply, "I shall give," and again encouraged Kaunteya, who was of true valor. (03-298-16)
O Bhārata, although you will move upon this earth in your own form, no one in the three worlds will recognize you. (03-298-17)
O leaders of the Kuru, by my grace, in this thirteenth year, you will dwell hidden and unknown in the city of Virata. (03-298-18)
Whatever form each of you desires in your mind, such forms, all of you will be able to assume at will. (03-298-19)
Give these, along with the araṇi-sticks, to the Brāhmaṇa. It was indeed brought by me in the form of a deer for the sake of inquiry. (03-298-20)
O son, let the third, great and unequalled boon be accepted. For you, O king, are of my origin, and Vidura too partakes of my portion. (03-298-21)
Yudhishthira said.
O god of gods, you, the eternal one, have been seen directly by me. The boon which you offer me in your pleasure, that I shall accept, O father. (03-298-22)
O Lord, may I always conquer greed, delusion, and anger; may my mind ever remain in charity, austerity, and truth. (03-298-23)
Dharma said.
O Pāṇḍava, you are endowed with all qualities by your nature. You are indeed dharma itself, and, as has been declared, this will come to you again. (03-298-24)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having thus spoken, Dharma, the revered creator of the worlds, disappeared. The noble-minded Pāṇḍavas, all together, slept comfortably. (03-298-25)
Having come to the hermitage, all the heroes, their fatigue gone, gave the fire produced by friction of sticks to the ascetic Brahmin. (03-298-26)
This great union of auspicious ascent, increasing the fame of both father and son—whoever recites it, being self-controlled with mastered senses, may enjoy with sons and grandsons a lifespan of a hundred years. (03-298-27)
Let the mind never delight in unrighteousness, in creating disputes among friends, in seizing others' wealth, in coveting others' wives, or in a miserly spirit—this is the unchanging rule for the wise among men. (03-298-28)
