03.069
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
śrutvā vacaḥ sudevasya ṛtuparṇo narādhipaḥ। sāntvayañ ślakṣṇayā vācā bāhukaṃ pratyabhāṣata ॥03-69-1॥
King Ṛtuparṇa, having heard Sudeva's words, consoled Bāhuka with gentle speech and spoke to him. (03-69-1)
vidarbhān yātum icchāmi damadantyāḥ svayaṃvaram। ekāhnā haya-tattva-jña manyase yadi bāhuka ॥03-69-2॥
I wish to go to Vidarbha for Damayantī's svayamvara. If you consider it possible, O Bāhuka, can the journey be completed in one day, O knower of horses? (03-69-2)
evam uktasya kaunteya tena rājñā nalasya ha। vyadīryata mano duḥkhāt pradadhyau ca mahā-manāḥ॥03-69-3॥
O son of Kunti, thus addressed by King Nala, his mind broke from sorrow, and the great-minded one brooded. (3-69-3)
damayantī bhaved etat kuryād duḥkhena mohitā। asmadarthe bhavet vā ayam upāyaḥ cintito mahān॥03-69-4॥
Damayantī, being deluded by grief, may do this; for our sake, either this may happen, or this great means has been considered. (03-69-4)
nṛśaṁsaṁ bata vaidarbhī kartukāmā tapasvinī। mayā kṣudreṇa nikṛtā pāpenākṛtabuddhinā॥03-69-5॥
Indeed, the ascetic princess of Vidarbha, desirous to act, has been offended by me, who am low, sinful, and lacking understanding. (03-69-5)
strīsvabhāvaś calo loke mama doṣaś ca dāruṇaḥ। syād evam api kuryāt sā vivaśā gata-sauhṛdā॥ mama śokena saṁvignā nairāśyāt tanumadhyamā॥03-69-6॥
The nature of women is fickle in this world, and my fault is severe; even so, she might act in this manner, being helpless and having lost affection. The slender-waisted lady, distressed by my sorrow and overcome by hopelessness. (03-69-6)
na caivaṃ karhicit kuryāt sāpatyā ca viśeṣataḥ। yad atra tathyaṃ pathyaṃ ca gatvā vetsyāmi niścayam॥ ṛtuparṇasya vai kāmam ātmārthaṃ ca karomy aham॥03-69-7॥
One should never act thus, especially when children are involved; I will go and find out for certain what is true and proper here. For Ṛtuparṇa's desire and for myself, I am doing this. (03-69-7)
iti niścitya manasā bāhuko dīnamānasaḥ. kṛtāñjaliruvācedam ṛtuparṇaṃ narādhipam ॥03-69-8॥
Having thus resolved in his mind, Bāhuka, with a dejected heart and joined palms, spoke these words to King Ṛtuparṇa. (03-69-8)
pratijānāmi te satyaṁ gamiṣyasi narādhipa। ekāhnā puruṣavyāghra vidarbhanagarīṁ nṛpa॥03-69-9॥
I truly promise you, O king, that in one day, O tiger among men, you will reach the city of Vidarbha. (03-69-9)
tataḥ parīkṣāmaśvānāṃ cakre rājans bāhukaḥ। aśvaśālāmupāgamya bhāṅgasvarinṛpājñayā ॥03-69-10॥
Then, O king, Bāhuka examined the horses by going to the stable as ordered by the king with a broken voice. (03-69-10)
sa tvaryamāṇo bahuśa ṛtuparṇena bāhukaḥ। adhyagacchat kṛśānaśvān samarthān adhvani kṣamān॥03-69-11॥
Bāhuka, repeatedly urged on by Ṛtuparṇa, drove the lean but capable horses, enduring along the road. (03-69-11)
tejobalasamāyuktāṅkulāśīlasamanvitān। varjitāṃllakṣaṇairhīnaiḥ pṛthuprothānmahāhanūn ॥ śuddhāndaśabhirāvartaiḥ sindhujānvātaraṃhasaḥ ॥03-69-12॥
They were possessed of brilliance and strength, noble in lineage and character, lacking any with defective marks, having broad jaws and great chins; faultless, with ten whorls, born from the river, and possessing the speed of the wind. (03-69-12)
dṛṣṭvā tān abravīd rājā kiñcit-kopa-samanvitaḥ। kim idaṃ prārthitaṃ kartuṃ pralabdhavyā hi te vayam ॥03-69-13॥
Seeing them, the king, with some anger, said: 'What is this request? Do you think we are to be easily obtained by you?' (03-69-13)
katham-alpa-bala-prāṇāḥ vakṣyanti ime hayā mama। mahān adhvā ca turagaiḥ gantavyaḥ katham īdṛśaiḥ ॥03-69-14॥
How will these horses of mine, who have little strength and vitality, be able to carry (me)? The journey is long and must be made by horses—how can it be done with animals like these? (3-69-14)
bāhuka uvāca॥
Bāhuka said.
ete hayā gamiṣyanti vidarbhān nātra saṁśayaḥ। athānyān manyase rājan brūhi kān yojayāmi te ॥03-69-15॥
These horses will reach Vidarbha; there is no doubt here. But if you wish others, O King, tell me which ones I shall yoke for you. (03-69-15)
ṛtuparṇa uvāca॥
Rituparṇa said.
tvam eva haya-tattva-jñaḥ kuśalaś ca asi bāhuka। yān manyase samarthān tvam kṣipram tān eva yojaya ॥03-69-16॥
You alone are the expert and knower of the nature of horses, O Bāhuka. Whomever you consider capable, yoke only those quickly. (03-69-16)
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
tataḥ sadaśvāṃś caturaḥ kulaśīlasamanvitān | yojayāmāsa kuśalo javayuktān rathe naraḥ ॥03-69-17॥
Then, the skillful man harnessed to the chariot four good horses of noble lineage, good character, and great speed. (03-69-17)
tato yuktaṃ rathaṃ rājā samārohat-tvarānvitaḥ। atha paryapatan-bhūmau jānubhis-te hayottamāḥ॥03-69-18॥
Then, the king yoked the chariot and, full of urgency, mounted it. Thereafter, those excellent horses circled about on the ground with their knees. (03-69-18)
tato naravaraḥ śrīmān nalo rājā viśāṃ pate। sāntvayāmāsa tān aśvān tejobala-samanvitān ॥03-69-19॥
Then the noble Nala, best among men and prosperous king, O lord of the people, consoled those horses endowed with vigor and strength. (03-69-19)
raśmibhiś ca samudyamya nalo yātum iyeṣa saḥ। sūtam āropya vārṣṇeyaṃ javam āsthāya vai param ॥03-69-20॥
Harnessing the reins and preparing thoroughly, Nala wished to depart; after seating the charioteer Vārṣṇeya and adopting the greatest speed, he set out. (03-69-20)
te codyamānā vidhinā bāhukeṇa hayottamāḥ। samutpetur ivākāśaṃ rathinaṃ mohayann iva॥03-69-21॥
Urged skillfully by Bāhuka, the excellent steeds seemed to leap into the sky, as if bewildering the charioteer. (03-69-21)
tathā tu dṛṣṭvā tānaśvān vahato vātaraṃhasaḥ। ayodhyādhipatīr dhīmān vismayaṃ paramaṃ yayau ॥03-69-22॥
But when he saw those horses moving at wind-like speed, the wise lord of Ayodhyā was filled with utmost wonder. (03-69-22)
rathaghoṣaṃ tu taṃ śrutvā hayasangrahaṇaṃ ca tat। vārṣṇeyaścintayāmāsa bāhukhasya hayajñatām ॥03-69-23॥
But when he heard the sound of the chariot and the horse-mustering, the descendant of Vṛṣṇi considered Bāhuka's skill with horses. (03-69-23)
kiṁ nu syān mātalir ayaṁ devarājasya sārathiḥ। tathā hi lakṣaṇaṁ vīre bāhuke dṛśyate mahat॥03-69-24॥
Is this person perhaps Mātali, the charioteer of the king of gods? For such a great mark is seen in the hero Bāhuka. (03-69-24)
śālihotro-'tha kiṃ nu syād-dhayānāṃ kulatattvavit। mānuṣaṃ samanuprāpto vapuḥ paramaśobhanam ॥03-69-25॥
Is it then that Śalihotra, the knower of the essence of the horse lineage, has assumed a most beautiful human form? (03-69-25)
utāho svidbhavedrājā nalaḥ parapurañjayaḥ। so'yaṃ nṛpatirāyāta ityevaṃ samacintayat॥03-69-26॥
Or perhaps it may be King Nala, the conqueror of enemy cities; thus he thought, 'This king has arrived.' (03-69-26)
atha vā yāṃ nalo veda vidyāṃ tām eva bāhukaḥ। tulyaṃ hi lakṣaye jñānaṃ bāhukasya nalasya ca॥03-69-27॥
Now, the knowledge that Nala possesses, that same knowledge is possessed by Bāhuka. Indeed, I perceive the knowledge of Bāhuka and Nala as equal. (03-69-27)
api cedam vayastulyam asya manye nalasya ca। nāyaṃ nalo mahāvīryaḥ tad-vidyaḥ tu bhaviṣyati॥03-69-28॥
Indeed, I think this one is of equal age to Nala; but this is not the Nala of great strength—rather, he will be one possessing his knowledge. (03-69-28)
pracchannā hi mahātmānaś caranti pṛthivīm imām। daivena vidhinā yuktāḥ śāstroktaiś ca virūpaṇaiḥ ॥03-69-29॥
Truly, great souls wander this earth in disguise, endowed by divine ordinance and with marks of deformation as prescribed by the scriptures. (03-69-29)
bhavettu matibhedo me gātravairūpyatāṃ prati। pramāṇātparihīnastu bhavediti hi me matiḥ॥03-69-30॥
But let there be for me a difference of opinion concerning bodily deformity; however, it is my opinion that to lack the proper standard is worse. (03-69-30)
vayaḥ-pramāṇaṃ tat-tulyaṃ rūpeṇa tu viparyayaḥ। nalaṃ sarva-guṇair-yuktaṃ manye bāhuka-m-antataḥ॥03-69-31॥
The measure of age is the same, but there is a difference in form. I think Bāhuka is inwardly Nala, endowed with all virtues. (03-69-31)
evaṃ vicārya bahuśo vārṣṇeyaḥ paryacintayat। hṛdayena mahārāja puṇyaślokasya sārathiḥ ॥03-69-32॥
Thus, O great king, the descendant of Vṛṣṇi, who was the charioteer of the illustrious one, repeatedly pondered in his heart. (03-69-32)
ṛtuparṇas tu rājeṃdra bāhukasya hayajñatām। cintayan mumude rājā sahavārṣṇeya-sārathiḥ ॥03-69-33॥
But King Rituparna, O king, contemplating Bāhuka's expertise with horses, felt delight, together with his charioteer Vārṣṇeya. (03-69-33)
balaṃ vīryaṃ tathotsāhaṃ hayasaṅgrahaṇaṃ ca tat। paraṃ yatnaṃ ca samprekṣya parāṃ mudam avāpa ha॥03-69-34॥
Having seen that strength, energy, eagerness, skill in horse management, and supreme effort, he became filled with great joy. (03-69-34)
