Shloka 27
कौन्तेय यदि प्रश्नांस्तान् मयोक्तान् प्रतिपत्स्यसे । ततः पास्यसि पानीयं हरिष्यसि च भारत,दौड़ते समय उन्हें आकाशकी ओरसे आती हुई वाणी सुनायी दी--“कुन्तीनन्दन! क्यों पानीके निकट जा रहे हो? तुम जबरदस्ती यह जल नहीं पी सकते। भारत! यदि मेरे उन प्रश्नोंका उत्तर दे सको, तो यहाँका पानी पीओ और साथ ले भी जाओ'
kaunteya yadi praśnāṁs tān mayoktān pratipatsyase | tataḥ pāsyasi pānīyaṁ hariṣyasi ca bhārata ||
The Yaksha said: “O son of Kuntī, why are you going toward the water? You cannot drink this water by force. O Bhārata, if you can correctly respond to the questions I have asked, then you may drink this water—and you may also take it away.”
यक्ष उवाच
Educational Q&A
Access to what one desires (even something as basic as water) is framed as conditional upon dharmic conduct—humility, restraint, and truthful, thoughtful answers—rather than force. The verse sets up a moral test: wisdom and right response are prerequisites for rightful enjoyment.
As the Pāṇḍava approaches the water, an unseen voice (the Yaksha) warns that the water cannot be taken by force. The Yaksha establishes a condition: answer the posed questions correctly, and only then may the hero drink and carry the water.