Vana Parva 192.16
Rahular Itihasa / M. N. Dutt · Vana Parva Chapter 192 · Verse 16
Sanskrit Original
अपूर्वमिव पश्याम उदकं नात्र नीयत इत्यथामात्योऽनुदकं वनं कारयित्वोदारवृक्षं। बहुपुष्पफलमूलं तस्य मध्ये मुक्ताजालमायीं पार्श्वे वापी गूढां सुधासलिललिप्तां स रहस्युपगम्य राजान-मब्रवीत्॥ वनमिदमुदारकं साध्वत्र रम्यतामिति॥
“We see here a matchlessly beautiful damsel and the king has married her giving her a pledge, namely that he would never show her any water." Having heard all this, he (the minister) made an artificial forest containing many trees with numerous fruits and flowers. He excavated a large and deep tank within that forest in one of its corners. He covered it with a net of pearls and its water looked like ambrosia. One day he spoke thus to the king in private. “This is a beautiful forest having no water any where. Sport here in joy."