Shloka 27
कौन्तेय यदि प्रश्नांस्तान् मयोक्तान् प्रतिपत्स्यसे । ततः पास्यसि पानीयं हरिष्यसि च भारत
kaunteya yadi praśnāṁs tān mayoktān pratipatsyase | tataḥ pāsyasi pānīyaṁ hariṣyasi ca bhārata ||
Le Yakṣa dit : « Ô fils de Kuntī, pourquoi vas-tu vers l’eau ? Tu ne peux boire cette eau par la force. Ô Bhārata, si tu peux répondre correctement aux questions que je t’ai posées, alors tu pourras boire cette eau—et tu pourras aussi l’emporter. »
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.