03.056
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
एवं स समयं कृत्वा द्वापरेण कलिः सह। आजगाम ततस्तत्र यत्र राजा स नैषधः ॥०३-५६-१॥
Thus, after agreeing upon the time with Dvāpara, Kali, together with him, went to the place where King Nala (Naiṣadha) was. (03-56-1)
स नित्यमन्तरप्रेक्षी निषधेष्ववसच्चिरम्। अथास्य द्वादशे वर्षे ददर्श कलिरन्तरम् ॥०३-५६-२॥
He, who was always introspective, resided in the Niṣadha mountains for a long time. Then, in his twelfth year, Kali saw an opportunity. (03-56-2)
कृत्वा मूत्रमुपस्पृश्य सन्ध्यामास्ते स्म नैषधः। अकृत्वा पादयोः शौचं तत्रैनं कलिराविशत् ॥०३-५६-३॥
After urinating, Nala washed and performed the twilight ritual; but since he did not cleanse his feet, there Kali entered him. (03-56-3)
स समाविश्य तु नलं समीपं पुष्करस्य ह। गत्वा पुष्करमाहेदमेहि दीव्य नलेन वै ॥०३-५६-४॥
He, having come near Nala with Puṣkara, went to Puṣkara and said: "Come, play dice with Nala." (03-56-4)
अक्षद्यूते नलं जेता भवान्हि सहितो मया। निषधान्प्रतिपद्यस्व जित्वा राजन्नलं नृपम् ॥०३-५६-५॥
At the dice game, you will indeed be the victor over Nala together with me; having conquered him, O king, take possession of the Niṣadha kingdom—let that be enough for the king. (03-56-5)
एवमुक्तस्तु कलिना पुष्करो नलमभ्ययात्। कलिश्चैव वृषो भूत्वा गवां पुष्करमभ्ययात् ॥०३-५६-६॥
Thus addressed by Kali, Puṣkara went to Nala. And Kali, becoming a bull among the cows, approached Puṣkara. (03-56-6)
आसाद्य तु नलं वीरं पुष्करः परवीरहा। दीव्यावेत्यब्रवीद्भ्राता वृषेणेति मुहुर्मुहुः ॥०३-५६-७॥
But having approached the heroic Nala, Puṣkara, the destroyer of enemy heroes, repeatedly invited his brother with the words 'Let us play dice for stakes.' (03-56-7)
न चक्षमे ततो राजा समाह्वानं महामनाः। वैदर्भ्याः प्रेक्षमाणायाः पणकालममन्यत ॥०३-५६-८॥
The great-minded king did not endure afterwards the summoning; while he watched Vaidarbhi, he thought it was the time of the competition. (03-56-8)
हिरण्यस्य सुवर्णस्य यानयुग्यस्य वाससाम्। आविष्टः कलिना द्यूते जीयते स्म नलस्तदा ॥०३-५६-९॥
At that time, Nala, overpowered by Kali, lost in gambling all his gold, refined gold, chariots with yokes, and garments. (03-56-9)
तमक्षमदसंमत्तं सुहृदां न तु कश्चन। निवारणेऽभवच्छक्तो दीव्यमानमचेतसम् ॥०३-५६-१०॥
None of his friends, however, was able to restrain him, intoxicated by the pride from dice, while he was heedless in play. (03-56-10)
ततः पौरजनः सर्वो मन्त्रिभिः सह भारत। राजानं द्रष्टुमागच्छन्निवारयितुमातुरम् ॥०३-५६-११॥
Then all the townspeople, along with the ministers, O Bhārata, came eagerly to see the king and dissuade him. (03-56-11)
ततः सूत उपागम्य दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत्। एष पौरजनः सर्वो द्वारि तिष्ठति कार्यवान् ॥०३-५६-१२॥
Then the charioteer approached Damayantī and informed her: "All these people of the city are standing at the door with some business." (03-56-12)
निवेद्यतां नैषधाय सर्वाः प्रकृतयः स्थिताः। अमृष्यमाणा व्यसनं राज्ञो धर्मार्थदर्शिनः ॥०३-५६-१३॥
Let all the assembled ministers, who see to righteousness and duty and cannot tolerate the king's misfortune, inform the king of Niṣadha. (03-56-13)
ततः सा बाष्पकलया वाचा दुःखेन कर्शिता। उवाच नैषधं भैमी शोकोपहतचेतना ॥०३-५६-१४॥
Then Damayantī, her mind overcome by grief, emaciated by suffering, spoke to Nala with a voice choked with tears. (03-56-14)
राजन्पौरजनो द्वारि त्वां दिदृक्षुरवस्थितः। मन्त्रिभिः सहितः सर्वै राजभक्तिपुरस्कृतः ॥ तं द्रष्टुमर्हसीत्येवं पुनः पुनरभाषत ॥०३-५६-१५॥
O King, the townspeople, accompanied by all the ministers and devoted to the royal authority, are waiting at the gate, desiring to see you. Again and again, he spoke thus, saying, "You ought to see him." (03-56-15)
तां तथा रुचिरापाङ्गीं विलपन्तीं सुमध्यमाम्। आविष्टः कलिना राजा नाभ्यभाषत किञ्चन ॥०३-५६-१६॥
The king, possessed by Kali, did not say anything to her, who had beautiful eyes, a slender waist, and was weeping thus. (03-56-16)
ततस्ते मन्त्रिणः सर्वे ते चैव पुरवासिनः। नायमस्तीति दुःखार्ता व्रीडिता जग्मुरालयान् ॥०३-५६-१७॥
Then all the ministers and the city-dwellers, saying "This one is no more," afflicted with grief and shame, went to their homes. (03-56-17)
तथा तदभवद्द्यूतं पुष्करस्य नलस्य च। युधिष्ठिर बहून्मासान्पुण्यश्लोकस्त्वजीयत ॥०३-५६-१८॥
Thus, that dice-game between Puṣkara and Nala took place; Yudhiṣṭhira, the virtuous one, was also defeated for many months. (03-56-18)
