03.058
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
ततस्तु याते वार्ष्णेये पुण्यश्लोकस्य दीव्यतः। पुष्करेण हृतं राज्यं यच्चान्यद्वसु किञ्चन ॥०३-५८-१॥
But then, after the Vārṣṇeya had departed, as the virtuous-famed one was sporting, Puṣkara took away his kingdom and whatever other wealth there was. (03-58-1)
हृतराज्यं नलं राजन्प्रहसन्पुष्करोऽब्रवीत्। द्यूतं प्रवर्ततां भूयः प्रतिपाणोऽस्ति कस्तव ॥०३-५८-२॥
Having won away the kingdom from Nala, O King, the smiling Puṣkara said: 'Let the dice game proceed again. What stake do you have?' (03-58-2)
शिष्टा ते दमयन्त्येका सर्वमन्यद्धृतं मया। दमयन्त्याः पणः साधु वर्ततां यदि मन्यसे ॥३-५८-३॥
Only Damayantī remains for you, all the others have been taken by me. Let Damayantī's wager proceed, if you think it proper. (3-58-3)
पुष्करेणैवमुक्तस्य पुण्यश्लोकस्य मन्युना। व्यदीर्यतेव हृदयं न चैनं किञ्चिदब्रवीत् ॥०३-५८-४॥
When thus addressed by Puṣkara, the heart of Puṇyaśloka felt as if torn apart by anger, yet he did not say anything to him. (03-58-4)
ततः पुष्करमालोक्य नलः परममन्युमान्। उत्सृज्य सर्वगात्रेभ्यो भूषणानि महायशाः ॥०३-५८-५॥
Then, having seen Puṣkara, the greatly renowned Nala, full of intense anger, discarded all ornaments from his limbs. (03-58-5)
एकवासा असंवीतः सुहृच्छोकविवर्धनः। निश्चक्राम तदा राजा त्यक्त्वा सुविपुलां श्रियम् ॥०३-५८-६॥
Wearing only one garment, and uncovered, thus increasing the grief of his friends, the king then departed, having abandoned his vast prosperity. (03-58-6)
दमयन्त्येकवस्त्रा तं गच्छन्तं पृष्ठतोऽन्वियात्। स तया बाह्यतः सार्धं त्रिरात्रं नैषधोऽवसत् ॥०३-५८-७॥
Damayantī, dressed in a single garment, followed him as he was going, from behind. Together with her, Naiṣadha (Nala) stayed outside for three nights. (03-58-7)
पुष्करस्तु महाराज घोषयामास वै पुरे। नले यः सम्यगातिष्ठेत्स गच्छेद्वध्यतां मम ॥०३-५८-८॥
But, O great king, Puṣkara had it proclaimed throughout the city: Whoever supports Nala shall be put to death by my order. (03-58-8)
पुष्करस्य तु वाक्येन तस्य विद्वेषणेन च। पौरा न तस्मिन्सत्कारं कृतवन्तो युधिष्ठिर ॥०३-५८-९॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, however, because of Puṣkara's words and hostile acts, the townspeople did not show him any respect. (03-58-9)
स तथा नगराभ्याशे सत्कारार्हो न सत्कृतः। त्रिरात्रमुषितो राजा जलमात्रेण वर्तयन् ॥०३-५८-१०॥
Thus, near the city, the king, though worthy of honor, was not honored. For three nights he remained there, subsisting only on water. (03-58-10)
क्षुधा सम्पीड्यमानस्तु नलो बहुतिथेऽहनि। अपश्यच्छकुनान्कांश्चिद्धिरण्यसदृशच्छदान् ॥०३-५८-११॥
But Nala, afflicted by hunger, on a day having many tithis, saw some birds with plumage like gold. (03-58-11)
स चिन्तयामास तदा निषधाधिपतिर्बली। अस्ति भक्षो ममाद्यायं वसु चेदं भविष्यति ॥०३-५८-१२॥
Then the powerful king of Niṣadha thought, "Today there is food for me; this wealth too will be mine." (03-58-12)
ततस्तानन्तरीयेण वाससा समवास्तृणोत्। तस्यान्तरीयमादाय जग्मुः सर्वे विहायसा ॥०३-५८-१३॥
Then he fully covered them with his undergarment. Taking his undergarment, all of them departed through the sky. (03-58-13)
उपतन्तः खगास्ते तु वाक्यमाहुस्तदा नलम्। दृष्ट्वा दिग्वाससं भूमौ स्थितं दीनमधोमुखम् ॥०३-५८-१४॥
The birds came near and then spoke to Nala, seeing him standing on the ground, dejected, naked, and with his face cast down. (03-58-14)
वयमक्षाः सुदुर्बुद्धे तव वासो जिहीर्षवः। आगता न हि नः प्रीतिः सवाससि गते त्वयि ॥०३-५८-१५॥
O very unintelligent one, we gamblers came wishing to take over your dwelling, but our affection does not remain when the dweller (you) is gone. (03-58-15)
तान्समीक्ष्य गतानक्षानात्मानं च विवाससम्। पुण्यश्लोकस्ततो राजा दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत् ॥०३-५८-१६॥
Having examined them—the played-out dice, and himself deprived of his garment—the virtuous king then addressed Damayantī. (03-58-16)
येषां प्रकोपादैश्वर्यात्प्रच्युतोऽहमनिन्दिते। प्राणयात्रां न विन्दे च दुःखितः क्षुधयार्दितः ॥०३-५८-१७॥
O blameless one, by the anger of those whose power I have been deprived of, I do not find a means of sustenance and I am suffering, tormented by hunger. (03-58-17)
येषां कृते न सत्कारमकुर्वन्मयि नैषधाः। त इमे शकुना भूत्वा वासोऽप्यपहरन्ति मे ॥०३-५८-१८॥
Because the people of Naishadha did not honor me, these—having become birds—are even carrying off my clothing. (03-58-18)
वैषम्यं परमं प्राप्तो दुःखितो गतचेतनः। भर्ता तेऽहं निबोधेदं वचनं हितमात्मनः ॥०३-५८-१९॥
I, your husband—having reached supreme distress, afflicted and insensible—tell you these words for your own benefit. (03-58-19)
एते गच्छन्ति बहवः पन्थानो दक्षिणापथम्। अवन्तीमृक्षवन्तं च समतिक्रम्य पर्वतम् ॥०३-५८-२०॥
These many paths lead to the southern route, passing through Avanti and the Ṛikṣavanta mountain after crossing the mountain. (03-58-20)
एष विन्ध्यो महाशैलः पयोष्णी च समुद्रगा। आश्रमाश्च महर्षीणाममी पुष्पफलान्विताः ॥०३-५८-२१॥
Here is the Vindhya, the great mountain; Payoshni, which flows to the ocean; and these hermitages of the great sages, full of flowers and fruits. (03-58-21)
एष पन्था विदर्भाणामयं गच्छति कोसलान्। अतः परं च देशोऽयं दक्षिणे दक्षिणापथः ॥०३-५८-२२॥
This is the road of the Vidarbhas; it leads to Kosala. Beyond this point, the country to the south is called Dakṣiṇāpatha (the southern region). (03-58-22)
ततः सा बाष्पकलया वाचा दुःखेन कर्शिता। उवाच दमयन्ती तं नैषधं करुणं वचः ॥०३-५८-२३॥
Then Damayanti, worn thin with sorrow, spoke piteous words to Nala of Nishadha with a voice choked by tears. (03-58-23)
उद्वेपते मे हृदयं सीदन्त्यङ्गानि सर्वशः। तव पार्थिव सङ्कल्पं चिन्तयन्त्याः पुनः पुनः ॥०३-५८-२४॥
My heart is agitated, and all my limbs collapse completely, as I reflect again and again on your resolve, O king. (03-58-24)
हृतराज्यं हृतधनं विवस्त्रं क्षुच्छ्रमान्वितम्। कथमुत्सृज्य गच्छेयमहं त्वां विजने वने ॥०३-५८-२५॥
How could I abandon you, who have lost your kingdom and wealth, are deprived of garments, afflicted by hunger and hardship, and go alone in a lonely forest? (03-58-25)
श्रान्तस्य ते क्षुधार्तस्य चिन्तयानस्य तत्सुखम्। वने घोरे महाराज नाशयिष्यामि ते क्लमम् ॥०३-५८-२६॥
O great king, in this terrible forest, I shall remove your fatigue born of weariness, hunger, and anxious thought, and bring you happiness. (03-58-26)
न च भार्यासमं किञ्चिद्विद्यते भिषजां मतम्। औषधं सर्वदुःखेषु सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥०३-५८-२७॥
There is nothing equal to a wife in the opinion of physicians. Medicine is a remedy for all sorrows — this is true, I say to you. (03-58-27)
नल उवाच॥
Nala said.
एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वं दमयन्ति सुमध्यमे। नास्ति भार्यासमं मित्रं नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम् ॥०३-५८-२८॥
It is exactly as you have said, O Damayanti, O slender-waisted one. For an afflicted man, there is no friend or remedy equal to a wife. (03-58-28)
न चाहं त्यक्तुकामस्त्वां किमर्थं भीरु शङ्कसे। त्यजेयमहमात्मानं न त्वेव त्वामनिन्दिते ॥०३-५८-२९॥
I am not at all desirous of leaving you, so why, timid one, do you have doubts? I might abandon myself, but certainly not you, O blameless one. (03-58-29)
दमयन्त्युवाच॥
Damayanti said.
यदि मां त्वं महाराज न विहातुमिहेच्छसि। तत्किमर्थं विदर्भाणां पन्थाः समुपदिश्यते ॥०३-५८-३०॥
If, O great king, you do not wish to abandon me here, then why are you telling me the way to the land of the Vidarbhas? (03-58-30)
अवैमि चाहं नृपते न त्वं मां त्यक्तुमर्हसि। चेतसा त्वपकृष्टेन मां त्यजेथा महापते ॥०३-५८-३१॥
I understand, O king, and you should not abandon me. If your mind is disturbed, O great lord, you might forsake me. (03-58-31)
पन्थानं हि ममाभीक्ष्णमाख्यासि नरसत्तम। अतोनिमित्तं शोकं मे वर्धयस्यमरप्रभ ॥०३-५८-३२॥
O best of men, you indeed keep telling me the path repeatedly; therefore, for this reason, you increase my grief, O lord among immortals. (03-58-32)
यदि चायमभिप्रायस्तव राजन्व्रजेदिति। सहितावेव गच्छावो विदर्भान्यदि मन्यसे ॥०३-५८-३३॥
O king, if this is indeed your intention that we should go, then let us both together proceed to Vidarbha, if you think so. (03-58-33)
विदर्भराजस्तत्र त्वां पूजयिष्यति मानद। तेन त्वं पूजितो राजन्सुखं वत्स्यसि नो गृहे ॥०३-५८-३४॥
There, the king of Vidarbha will honor you, O bestower of honor. Being honored by him, O king, you will happily dwell in our house. (03-58-34)
