ततः स्फाटिकतोयां वै स्फाटिकाम्बुजशोभिताम् ॥
वापीं मत्वा स्थलम् इति सवासाः प्रापतज् जले ॥
जले निपतितं दृष्ट्वा किंकरा जहसुर् भृशम् ॥
वासांसि च शुभान्य् अस्मै प्रददू राजशासनात् ॥
तथागतं तु तं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनो महाबलः ॥
अर्जुनश् च यमौ चोभौ सर्वे ते प्राहसंस् तदा ॥
tataḥ sphāṭikatoyāṃ vai sphāṭikāmbujaśobhitām ||
vāpīṃ matvā sthalam iti savāsāḥ prāpataj jale ||
jale nipatitaṃ dṛṣṭvā kiṃkarā jahasur bhṛśam ||
vāsāṃsi ca śubhāny asmai pradadū rājaśāsanāt ||
tathāgataṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ ||
arjunaś ca yamau cobhau sarve te prāhasaṃs tadā ||
Then, mistaking for solid ground a crystal pool of crystal water adorned with crystal lotuses, he fell into the water, clothed as he was. Seeing him fallen into the water, the servants burst into loud laughter; and by the king's command they brought him fine garments. Seeing him in such a state, the mighty Bhimasena, Arjuna, and both twins -- all of them laughed.
9bba6cb195d2 · published Jul 16, 2026, 3:49:22 PM UTC
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The Pandavas' laughter at their stumbling guest is the one carelessness of theirs in this chapter, and from it a great calamity will grow. It is telling how a trifling occasion fans a fire in a heart already full of envy: not the fall into the water but wounded pride will become the seed of war. The verse teaches caution even in small things: laughter at one humiliated, however innocent, wounds more than a blow strikes one already consumed by envy. Joy over one's own superiority, displayed before an envious man, is a spark near gunpowder. Wisdom counsels sparing the self-regard even of a foe; for great feuds are often born not of great injuries but of a jest tossed off in passing.