03.063
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
उत्सृज्य दमयन्तीं तु नलो राजा विशां पते। ददर्श दावं दह्यन्तं महान्तं गहने वने ॥०३-६३-१॥
But having abandoned Damayantī, Nala the king, O lord of people, saw a great forest fire burning in the dense woods. (03-63-1)
तत्र शुश्राव मध्येऽग्नौ शब्दं भूतस्य कस्यचित्। अभिधाव नलेत्युच्चैः पुण्यश्लोकेति चासकृत् ॥०३-६३-२॥
There, in the midst of the fire, he heard the sound of some being, calling out loudly and repeatedly: "Run, Nala! O virtuous one!" (03-63-2)
मा भैरिति नलश्चोक्त्वा मध्यमग्नेः प्रविश्य तम्। ददर्श नागराजानं शयानं कुण्डलीकृतम् ॥०३-६३-३॥
After saying "Do not fear," Nala, having entered the middle fire, saw the king of serpents lying coiled. (03-63-3)
स नागः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वेपमानो नलं तदा। उवाच विद्धि मां राजन्नागं कर्कोटकं नृप ॥०३-६३-४॥
That serpent, trembling, with folded hands, then said to Nala: "Know me, O King, I am the serpent Karkotaka, O ruler." (03-63-4)
मया प्रलब्धो ब्रह्मर्षिरनागाः सुमहातपाः। तेन मन्युपरीतेन शप्तोऽस्मि मनुजाधिप ॥०३-६३-५॥
O ruler of men, I insulted the Brāhmaṇa sage, who was blameless and possessed of great penance. Because he was overcome by anger, I am cursed by him. (03-63-5)
तस्य शापान्न शक्नोमि पदाद्विचलितुं पदम्। उपदेक्ष्यामि ते श्रेयस्त्रातुमर्हति मां भवान् ॥०३-६३-६॥
Because of his curse, I am not able to move a single step from this position. I shall instruct you (about) what is good, as you deserve to protect me. (03-63-6)
सखा च ते भविष्यामि मत्समो नास्ति पन्नगः। लघुश्च ते भविष्यामि शीघ्रमादाय गच्छ माम् ॥०३-६३-७॥
I will become your friend, and there is no serpent equal to me. I will also become light for you; take me quickly and go. (03-63-7)
एवमुक्त्वा स नागेन्द्रो बभूवाङ्गुष्ठमात्रकः। तं गृहीत्वा नलः प्रायादुद्देशं दाववर्जितम् ॥०३-६३-८॥
After saying this, the king of serpents became as small as a thumb. Taking him, Nala went to a place that was free from fire. (03-63-8)
आकाशदेशमासाद्य विमुक्तं कृष्णवर्त्मना। उत्स्रष्टुकामं तं नागः पुनः कर्कोटकोऽब्रवीत् ॥०३-६३-९॥
Having reached the sky-region, once he was released from the black path and wished to let go, the serpent Karṭoṭaka spoke again. (03-63-9)
पदानि गणयन्गच्छ स्वानि नैषध कानिचित्। तत्र तेऽहं महाराज श्रेयो धास्यामि यत्परम् ॥०३-६३-१०॥
O Naiṣadha, count your steps and proceed a little further. There, O great king, I will grant you the greatest good, which is supreme. (03-63-10)
ततः सङ्ख्यातुमारब्धमदशद्दशमे पदे। तस्य दष्टस्य तद्रूपं क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत ॥०३-६३-११॥
Then, when counting had begun, he bit the tenth (person) in his place. The form of the one who was bitten quickly disappeared. (03-63-11)
स दृष्ट्वा विस्मितस्तस्थावात्मानं विकृतं नलः। स्वरूपधारिणं नागं ददर्श च महीपतिः ॥०३-६३-१२॥
Upon seeing himself transformed, Nala stood astonished; and the king saw the serpent assuming his own form. (03-63-12)
ततः कर्कोटको नागः सान्त्वयन्नलमब्रवीत्। मया तेऽन्तर्हितं रूपं न त्वा विद्युर्जना इति ॥०३-६३-१३॥
Then Karkaṭaka the nāga soothed him and said, "Enough. I have hidden your form; people will not recognize you." (03-63-13)
यत्कृते चासि विकृतो दुःखेन महता नल। विषेण स मदीयेन त्वयि दुःखं निवत्स्यति ॥०३-६३-१४॥
O Nala, for whose sake you are afflicted by great sorrow, by my own poison, that sorrow will reside upon you. (03-63-14)
विषेण संवृतैर्गात्रैर्यावत्त्वां न विमोक्ष्यति। तावत्त्वयि महाराज दुःखं वै स निवत्स्यति ॥०३-६३-१५॥
O great king, so long as his limbs, filled with poison, do not release you, that suffering will surely remain with you. (03-63-15)
अनागा येन निकृतस्त्वमनर्हो जनाधिप। क्रोधादसूययित्वा तं रक्षा मे भवतः कृता ॥०३-६३-१६॥
O king, you, being unworthy, were affronted by one who was not guilty; having envied him out of anger, you have granted me protection. (03-63-16)
न ते भयं नरव्याघ्र दंष्ट्रिभ्यः शत्रुतोऽपि वा। ब्रह्मविद्भ्यश्च भविता मत्प्रसादान्नराधिप ॥०३-६३-१७॥
O king, by my favor, there will be no fear for you from fanged beings, from enemies, or even from knowers of Brahman. (03-63-17)
राजन् विष निमित्ताः च न ते पीडा भविष्यति। सङ्ग्रामेषु च राजेन्द्र शश्वत् जयम् अवाप्स्यसि ॥०३-६३-१८॥
O king, there will not be pain for you arising from poison. And in battles, O chief of kings, you will always gain victory. (03-63-18)
गच्छ राजन्नितः सूतो बाहुकोऽहमिति ब्रुवन्। समीपमृतुपर्णस्य स हि वेदाक्षनैपुणम् ॥ अयोध्यां नगरीं रम्यामद्यैव निषधेश्वर ॥०३-६३-१९॥
Go, O king, with the charioteer Bāhuka who will claim, 'I am Bāhuka,' and speaking thus, proceed near Ṛtuparṇa, for he indeed knows the skill of dice. O lord of Niṣadha, go to the beautiful city of Ayodhyā today itself. (03-63-19)
स तेऽक्षहृदयं दाता राजाश्वहृदयेन वै। इक्ष्वाकुकुलजः श्रीमान्मित्रं चैव भविष्यति ॥०३-६३-२०॥
He, the prosperous prince born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, who gives you the heart of dice with a royal horse's spirit, will truly become your friend. (03-63-20)
भविष्यसि यदाक्षज्ञः श्रेयसा योक्ष्यसे तदा। समेष्यसि च दारैस्त्वं मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः ॥ राज्येन तनयाभ्यां च सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥०३-६३-२१॥
You will become (prosperous); when you are wise, you will enjoy prosperity; then you will be reunited with your wives. Do not let your mind dwell in grief. Along with the kingdom and your two sons as well—this is truth, I tell you. (03-63-21)
स्वरूपं च यदा द्रष्टुमिच्छेथास्त्वं नराधिप। संस्मर्तव्यस्तदा तेऽहं वासश्चेदं निवासयेः ॥०३-६३-२२॥
O king, when you wish to see my true form, then you must remember me and cause this dwelling to abide. (03-63-22)
अनेन वाससाच्छन्नः स्वरूपं प्रतिपत्स्यसे। इत्युक्त्वा प्रददावस्मै दिव्यं वासोयुगं तदा ॥०३-६३-२३॥
"Covered with this garment, you will regain your true form." Saying thus, he then gave him the divine pair of garments. (03-63-23)
एवं नलं समादिश्य वासो दत्त्वा च कौरव। नागराजस्ततो राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥०३-६३-२४॥
Thus, having properly instructed Nala and given him garments, the king of the nāgas then disappeared right there, O Kaurava. (03-63-24)
