Shloka 25
भवेदिति महाबुद्धिर्बहुधा तदचिन्तयत् | तस्यासीन्न विषेणेदमुदकं दूषितं यथा,धर्मपुत्रो महाबाहुर्विललाप सुविस्तरम् । अर्जुन मरे पड़े थे; उनके धनुष-बाण इधर-उधर बिखरे थे। भीमसेन और नकुल-सहदेव भी प्राणरहित हो निश्रेष्ट हो गये थे। इन सबको देखकर युधिष्ठिर गरम-गरम लंबी साँसें खींचने लगे। उनके नेत्रोंसे शोकके आँसू उमड़कर उन्हें भिगो रहे थे। अपने समस्त भ्राताओंको इस प्रकार धराशायी हुए देख महाबाह धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिर गहरी चिन्तामें डूब गये और देरतक विलाप करते रहे-- इस प्रकार परम बुद्धिमान् युधिष्ठिर भाँति-भाँतिकी चिन्ता करने लगे। (परीक्षा करनेपर) उन्हें इस बातका निश्चय हो गया था कि इस सरोवरके जलमें जहर नहीं मिलाया गया है
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | bhaved iti mahābuddhir bahudhā tad acintayat | tasyāsīn na viṣeṇedam udakaṃ dūṣitaṃ yathā | dharmaputro mahābāhur vilalāpa suvistaram |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: The great-minded (Yudhiṣṭhira) reflected on it in many ways—‘How could this have happened?’ After examining the matter, he became certain that the water here had not been tainted with poison. Yet the mighty-armed Dharmaputra, seeing his brothers fallen, lamented at length—his grief pouring forth as he struggled to understand the cause and to hold fast to discernment amid calamity.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in overwhelming grief, Yudhiṣṭhira models disciplined inquiry: he does not accept an easy explanation (poisoned water) without examination. The passage highlights dharmic steadiness—reasoned assessment and self-control—before action.
After seeing his brothers collapsed near the water, Yudhiṣṭhira thinks through possible causes. He concludes the water is not poisoned, yet he laments deeply—setting the stage for discovering the true cause and the ensuing ethical trial.