Shloka 41
बलात् तोयं जिहीर्षन्तस्ततो वै मृदिता मया | न पेयमुदकं राजन् प्राणानिह परीप्सता,यक्षने कहा--राजन्! तुम्हारे इन भाइयोंको मैंने बार-बार रोका था; फिर भी ये बलपूर्वक जल ले जाना चाहते थे; इसीसे मैंने इन्हें मार डाला। महाराज युधिष्छिर! यदि तुम्हें अपने प्राण बचानेकी इच्छा हो, तो वहाँ जल नहीं पीना चाहिये। पार्थ! तुम पानी पीनेका साहस न करना, यह पहलेसे ही मेरे अधिकारकी वस्तु है। कुन्तीनन्दन! पहले मेरे प्रश्नोंका उत्तर दो, उसके बाद जल पीओ और ले भी जाओ
yakṣa uvāca | balāt toyaṃ jihīrṣantas tato vai mṛditā mayā | na peyam udakaṃ rājan prāṇān iha parīpsatā |
The Yaksha said: “Because they tried to take the water by force, I struck them down. O King, if you wish to preserve your life here, you must not drink this water. First answer my questions; only then may you drink and take the water.”
यक्ष उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power or urgency does not justify taking what is not rightfully permitted; restraint and adherence to a moral test (answering questions truthfully) are presented as the path to preserving life and dharma.
At the forest lake, the Yaksha explains that Yudhiṣṭhira’s brothers were struck down because they tried to take the water forcibly despite warnings. The Yaksha now warns Yudhiṣṭhira not to drink unless he first answers the Yaksha’s questions.