Finding the Kuru king unwilling to fight, those great
bowmen, themselves desirous of battle, began to urge
him greatly to adopt their counsels. Seeing those
car-warriors of the Kaurava army, and understanding
that the king, unwilling to fight, was staying within
the waters, and hearing that conversation between
those heroes and their master staying within the depths
of the lake, indeed, O monarch, the huntsmen, clearly
perceiving that it was Duryodhana who was staying
within the lake, formed a resolution. A little
while before, the son of Pandu, while searching for
the king, had met those men and asked them about the
whereabouts of Duryodhana. Recollecting the words
that the son of Pandu had said, those hunters, O king,
whisperingly said unto one another, “We will
discover Duryodhana (unto the Pandavas). The
son of Pandu will then give us wealth! It is
evident to us that the celebrated king Duryodhana is
here! Let us then, all of us, proceed to the
spot where king Yudhishthira is, for telling him that
the vindictive Duryodhana is concealed within the
waters of this lake! Let us also, all of us, inform
that great bowman, the intelligent Bhimasena, that
the son of Dhritarashtra is concealed here within
the waters of this lake! Gratified with us, he
will give us much wealth! What need of fatiguing
ourselves, day after day, with procuring meat and
weakening ourselves with such toil?” Having said
these words, those huntsmen, filled with joy and longing
for wealth, took up their baskets of meat and proceeded
towards the (Pandava) camp. Possessed of sure
aim and skilled in smiting, the Pandavas, O monarch,
not seeing in battle Duryodhana, who was then concealed,
(were resting in their camp). Desirous of reaching
the end of that sinful wight’s evil policy,
they had despatched spies in all directions on the
field of battle. All the soldiers, however, that
had been despatched on that mission returned to the
camp together and informed king Yudhishthira the just
that no trace could be found of king Duryodhana.
Hearing these words of the returned messengers, O
bull of Bharata’s race, king Yudhishthira became
filled with great anxiety and began to breathe heavily.
While the Pandavas, O bull of Bharata’s race,
were staying in such cheerlessness, those huntsmen,
O lord, having come with great speed from the banks
of that lake, arrived at the camp, filled with joy
at having discovered Duryodhana. Though forbidden,
they still entered the camp, in the very sight of
Bhimasena. Having approached that mighty son of
Pandu, Bhimasena, they represented everything unto
him about what they had seen and heard. Then
Vrikodara, that scorcher of foes, O king, giving them
much wealth, represented everything unto king Yudhishthira
the just, saying, “Duryodhana, O king, hath
been discovered by the huntsmen that supply me with
meat! He, O king, for whom thou grievest now lies
within a lake whose waters have been solidified by
him!’ Hearing these agreeable words of Bhimasena,


