आरणेय पर्व — मृग की खोज

Janamejaya said : Krishna being thus abducted the Pandavas experienced very great sorrow. What did they next do after having rescued her?

Vaishampayana said : Having felt great distress for the abduction of Krishna, the undeteriorating king Yudhishthira together with his brothers leaving Kamayaka returned to the charming and delightful Dvaiytvana, full of fruits and roots of delicious taste and abounding in various picturesque trees.

And all the Pandavas together with their wife Krishna began to dwell there observant of vows, living on fruits and partaking of frugal fares.

And while king Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, Bhimasena, Arjuna and the other two Pandavas, the sons of Madri, were dwelling in Dvaiytvana, those powerful and virtuous observers of vows, those tormentors of foes, experienced, for the sake of a Brahmana a great trouble which resulted in their (ultimate) happiness.

I will now tell you of the trouble, which those most exalted of the Kurus went through and which led to their ultimate happiness. Listen to it.

Once, the two sticks for making fire together with a churning rod of an ascetic Brahmana stuck fast to the horns of a deer as it was butting about.

And O monarch, taking those (articles) away that great deer of exceeding fleetness, with great leaps very soon distanced itself (a great way) from the hermitage.

O best of the Kurus, beholding those (articles) carried away, that Brahmana desirous of preserving his Agnihotra speedily came there,

Where Ajatashatru together with his brothers was seated in the forest. And the Brahmana quickly approaching spoke (thus) sorrowfully.

"My fire-sticks together with the churning rod placed against a large tree were stuck to the horns of a deer as it was butting about.

And, O king, that great deer endued with great speed, soon distanced itself (a great way) from the hermitage with long leaps.

And following the foot-prints of that great deer, O king, O Pandavas, bring those (articles) to me so that my Agnihotra may not be stopped.”

Hearing the words of the Brahmana, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, became very sorry and taking his bow sallied out together with his brothers.

Taking great care for the sake of the Brahmana, all those foremost of men, taking up their bows and doing their corslets speedily went out in pursuit of the deer.

Beholding that deer at a short distance, those mighty car-warriors the Pandavas hurled barbed darts, javelins and arrows (at it) but they could not pierce it.

When they were thus exerting (their utmost to slay it) that great deer went out of sight. That deer disappearing (from sight) those highsouled ones became fatigued and disappointed.

And afflicted with hunger and thirst, the Pandavas coming to a banian tree in that forest sat down in its cool shade.

When they were seated, Nakula with a heavy heart and through impatience addressed his (eldest) brother, the best of the sons of the Kuru race, (thus)

"In our race virtue has never been sacrificed nor there has been any loss of wealth through idleness. Again, we have never refused anything to any creature. How is it, then, O king, that this disaster has befallen us?"