शल्य पर्व — दुर्योधन सरोवर में छिपता है; कृपाचार्य और अश्वत्थामा वहाँ उससे मिलते हैं; व्याधों से पाण्डवों को उसका पता चलता है; वे सरोवर पर जाकर उसे ललकारते हैं

Dhritarashtra said After all the Kaurava soldiers had been killed by the sons of Pandu on the field of battle, what did those survivors of may party viz., Kritavarman and Kripa and the brave son of Drona do? What also did the wicked king Duryodhana them do?'

Sanjaya said After the flight of the ladies of those great Kshatriyas and after the Kaurava camp had become entirely empty, the three car-warriors were stricken with anxiety.

Hearing the shouts of the victorious sons of Pandu and beholding the camp empty in the evening, those three warriors of our side, desirous of rescuing the king and unable to stand on the field, proceeded towards the lake.

The virtuous Yudhishthira, with his brothers in that battle, felt great joy and wandered Over the field for killing Duryodhana.

Filled with anger the Pandavas, desirous of victory, searched for your son. Though however, they searched carefully for him, they could not discover the Kuru king.

With a mace in hand, he had fled quickly from the field of battle and entered into that lake, having by his power of illusion converted the water into a solid substance.

When at last the animals of the Pandavas were very much tired, the latter proceeded to their camp and took rest there along with their soldiers.

After the Parthas had gone to their camp, Kripa and Drona's son and Kritavarman of the Satwata race slowly went towards that lake.

Approaching the lake within which was the king, they addressed that invincible king of men asleep within the water, saying-"Arise, O king and fight with Yudhishthira. Either obtaining victory enjoy the Earth or killed proceed to heaven.

The force of the Pandavas also, O Duryodhana, have all been killed by you. The survivors have been greatly wounded.

They will not be able, O King, to withstand you specially when you will be protected by us. Arise therefore, O Bharata.

Duryodhana said By good luck, I see you, O foremost of men, come back alive from this destructive battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.

After we have taken rest for a while and removed our fatigue, we shall meet the enemy and defeat him. You also are tired and I myself am greatly wounded. The army of the Pandavas is increasing in strength. And therefore I do not like to fight now.

It is no wonder, O heroes, that you are extolling me thus for your hearts are noble. Your devotion to me is also great. This, however, is not the proper time for displaying power.

Taking rest for this one night, I shall in the morning join you and fight with the enemy. There is no doubt about it.

Sanjaya continued Thus addressed, the son of Drona replied to the king, who was invincible in battle, saying-"Rise up, O king, may you fare well. We shall yet defeat the enemy.

I swear by all my holy acts, by all the gifts I have made, by truth itself and by my meditations, O king, that I shall today kill the Somakas.

Indeed I shall not enjoy the pleasure of performing sacrifices, a pleasure which is enjoyed by all pious men, if this night passes away without my killing Pandavas in battle.

Without killing all the Panchalas, I will not, O lord, loosen my armour. I tell you this truly. Believe me, O king” While they were thus conversing, a number of hunters arrived there. Worn out with the weight of meat they carried, they came there not deliberately but for satisfying their thirst.

Those hunters, O king, used, every day, to procure basketfuls of meat for Bhimasena, O king.

As they sat concealed on the banks of that lake, those men heard every word of that conversation that took place between "Duryodhana and those warriors.

Finding the Kuru king reluctant to fight, those great bowmen, themselves desirous of fighting, began to urge him greatly to accept their advice.

Seeing those car-warriors of the Kaurava army and knowing that the king, reluctant to fight, was living within the waters and hearing that conversation between those heroes and their chief living within the depth of the lake, O king, they clearly understood that it was Duryodhana who was staying within the lake and was firm in his resolution.

Sometime before, the son of Pandu, while searching for the king, had met those men and asked them the whereabouts of Duryodhana.

Recollecting the words that the son of Pandu had said those hunters, O king, whispered to one another-"We will point out Duryodhana (unto the Pandavas). The son of Pandu will then give us riches. It is clear that the famous king Duryodhana is here.

Let us then go all of us where king Yudhishthira is, for telling him that the vindictive Duryodhana is living hidden within the waters of this lake.

Let us also, all of us, inform that great bowman, the intelligent Bhimasena, that the son of Dhritarashtra has hidden himself within the waters of this lake.

Pleased with us, he will give us immense riches. Why should we exhaust ourselves day after day, with procuring meat?" Having said these words, those hunters, filled with joy and longing for wealth, took up their baskets of meat and went towards the Pandava camp.

The Pandavas of pure aim and expert in fighting, O monarch, not seeing in battle Duryodhana who was then concealed, were taking rest in their camp.

Desirous of putting an end to that sinful man's evil policy, they had sent spies in all directions on the field of battle.

All the soldiers, however, that had been dispatched on that mission, returned to the camp together and informed the just king Yudhishthira that they could not find out the kind Duryodhana.

Hearing those words of the messengers who had come back. back. ( Bharata-chief, king Yudhishthira was stricken with great anxiety and began to sigh heavily.

While the Pandavas, O best of Bharata's race, were thus disappointed those hunters, O lord, came speedily from the banks of that lake and arrived at the camp filled with joy at having found out Duryodhana. Though forbidden, they still entered the camp, before the very presence of Bhimasena.

Having approached that powerful son of Pandu, Bhimasena, they described everything to him about what they had seen and heard.

Then Vrikodara, that scorcher of foes, O king, giving them immense wealth, described everything to the righteous king Yudhishthira saying.

"Duryodhana, O king, has been found out by the hunters that supply me with meat. He, O king, for whom you are sorry, now lies within a lake whose waters have been turned solid by him."

Hearing those pleasant words of Bhimasena, O king, Yudhishthira was, with all his brothers, filled with joy.

Having learnt that the great bowman Duryodhana had entered into the waters of a lake, the king went there quickly with Janarddana at the head.

Then a tumult arose, O king, from among the Pandavas and the Panchalas all of whom were filled with joy.

The warriors sent forth leonine roars, O foremost of Bharata's race and cried loudly. All the Kshatriyas, O king, went quickly towards that lake called Dvaipayana.

The Somakas rejoiced all around and exclaimed-"The sinful son of Dhritarashtra has been discovered.”

The noise made by the cars of those quickly-proceeding warriors became very loud, O king and touched the very sky.

Although their animals were exhausted all of them still proceeded quickly behind king Yudhishthira who was determined upon finding out Duryodhana.

Arjuna and Bhimasena, the two sons of Madri by Pandu, the Panchala prince Dhrishtadyumna, the invincible Shikhandin, Uttamaujas, Yudhamanyu, the great carwarrior Satyaki, the five sons of Draupadi and those amongst the Panchalas, O king, that were yet alive and all the Pandavas and all their elephants and infantry by hundreds all accompanied Yudhishthira.

Brave and righteous king Yudhishthira, O king, reached the lake Dvaipayana within which Duryodhana then was. Wide as the ocean itself, its view was delightful and its waters were cool and transparent.

Making the waters solid by means of his wonderful power of illusion, your son Duryodhana, O Bharata, lived within that lake.

Indeed, within those waters lay, O lord, that king, armed with his mace, who, could not be defeated by any man.

Living within the waters of that lake, king Duryodhana heard the tumult of the Pandava army which reseinbled the muttering of the clouds.

Yudhishthira then, O king, with his brothers, went to that lake for killing Duryodhana.

Raising a thick dust, that son of Pandu made the earth tremble with the sounds of his car-wheels and the loud blare of his conch.

Hearing the noise made by the army of Yudhishthira, those great car-warriors, viz., Kritavarman, Kripa and the son of Drona, said to the Kuru king:-"Elated with joy and desiring for victory the Pandavas are coining here, you know. We will, therefore, leave this place."

Hearing those words of those active heroes, he answered them, saying-"Let it be so," and remained as before within the waters, having, O lord, turned them solid by his power of illusion.

Those car-warriors, headed by Kripa, filled with grief, took leave of the king and went away to a remote place.

Having proceeded far, they beheld a banian tree under whose shade they stopped, greatly exhausted and exceedingly anxious about the king and thinking thus.

"Having solidified the waters of the lake, the powerful son of Dhritarashtra lives at tine bed. The Pandavas have reached there from desire of battle.

How will the battle take place? What will become of the king? How will the Pandavas discover the King?"

Thinking of these things, O king, those heroes, viz., Kripa and others, unyoked their horses from their cars and prepared to rest there for some time.