03.070
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
स नदीः पर्वतांश्चैव वनानि च सरांसि च। अचिरेणातिचक्राम खेचरः खे चरन्निव ॥०३-७०-१॥
He quickly passed over rivers, mountains, forests, and lakes, just like a sky-goer moving through the sky. (03-70-1)
तथा प्रयाते तु रथे तदा भाङ्गस्वरिर्नृपः। उत्तरीयमथापश्यद्भ्रष्टं परपुरञ्जयः ॥०३-७०-२॥
Thus, after the chariot had departed, King Bhāṅgasvari then saw the upper garment had fallen, O conqueror of cities. (03-70-2)
ततः स त्वरमाणस्तु पटे निपतिते तदा। ग्रहीष्यामीति तं राजा नलमाह महामनाः ॥०३-७०-३॥
Then, as the cloth had fallen, he who was hastening, the great-minded king said to Nala, "I will seize him." (03-70-3)
निगृह्णीष्व महाबुद्धे हयानेतान्महाजवान्। वार्ष्णेयो यावदेतं मे पटमानयतामिति ॥०३-७०-४॥
O great-wise one, restrain these swift horses until the descendant of Vṛṣṇi brings me this standard (or cloth), thus. (03-70-4)
नलस्तं प्रत्युवाचाथ दूरे भ्रष्टः पटस्तव। योजनं समतिक्रान्तो न स शक्यस्त्वया पुनः ॥०३-७०-५॥
Then Nala replied to him, "Your cloth has fallen far away—having crossed a yojana in distance; it is no longer possible for you to recover it." (03-70-5)
एवमुक्ते नलेनाथ तदा भाङ्गस्वरिर्नृपः। आससाद वने राजन्फलवन्तं बिभीतकम् ॥०३-७०-६॥
When Nala had thus spoken, then the king, his voice broken, approached, O king, a fruit-bearing bibhītaka tree in the forest. (03-70-6)
तं दृष्ट्वा बाहुकं राजा त्वरमाणोऽभ्यभाषत। ममापि सूत पश्य त्वं सङ्ख्याने परमं बलम् ॥०३-७०-७॥
Seeing Bāhuka, the king hurriedly said: "O charioteer, you also behold my supreme strength in the contest." (03-70-7)
सर्वः सर्वं न जानाति सर्वज्ञो नास्ति कश्चन। नैकत्र परिनिष्ठास्ति ज्ञानस्य पुरुषे क्वचित् ॥०३-७०-८॥
No one knows everything; there is no one who is omniscient. Nowhere is perfect knowledge established in any one man. (03-70-8)
वृक्षेऽस्मिन्यानि पर्णानि फलान्यपि च बाहुक। पतितानि च यान्यत्र तत्रैकमधिकं शतम् ॥ एकपत्राधिकं पत्रं फलमेकं च बाहुक ॥०३-७०-९॥
O Bāhuka, on this tree, the number of leaves and fruits, whether fallen or present elsewhere, is one more than a hundred. O Bāhuka, (there is) one leaf in excess (and) one fruit.
पञ्च कोट्योऽथ पत्राणां द्वयोरपि च शाखयोः। प्रचिनुह्यस्य शाखे द्वे याश्चाप्यन्याः प्रशाखिकाः ॥ आभ्यां फलसहस्रे द्वे पञ्चोनं शतमेव च ॥०३-७०-१०॥
There are then five crores of leaves on both of its branches; count two branches here and also the other sub-branches. From these two, (each yields) two thousand fruits, but just five short of a hundred as well. (03-70-10)
ततो रथादवप्लुत्य राजानं बाहुकोऽब्रवीत्। परोक्षमिव मे राजन्कत्थसे शत्रुकर्शन ॥०३-७०-११॥
Then, having leapt from the chariot, Bāhuka spoke to the king: “O king, destroyer of enemies, do you boast as if you were speaking in secret to me?” (03-70-11)
अथ ते गणिते राजन्विद्यते न परोक्षता। प्रत्यक्षं ते महाराज गणयिष्ये बिभीतकम् ॥०३-७०-१२॥
Now, O king, in the calculation for you, there is no obscurity. Directly, O great king, I shall count the Bibhitaka fruits for you. (03-70-12)
अहं हि नाभिजानामि भवेदेवं न वेति च। सङ्ख्यास्यामि फलान्यस्य पश्यतस्ते जनाधिप ॥ मुहूर्तमिव वार्ष्णेयो रश्मीन्यच्छतु वाजिनाम् ॥०३-७०-१३॥
I truly do not know whether it may be thus or not. I will count the fruits of this as you watch, O lord of men. For a moment, let the son of Vṛṣṇi hold the reins of the horses. (3-70-13)
तमब्रवीन्नृपः सूतं नायं कालो विलम्बितुम्। बाहुकस्त्वब्रवीदेनं परं यत्नं समास्थितः ॥०३-७०-१४॥
The king spoke to the charioteer, "This is not the time to delay." But Bāhuka said to him, "The utmost effort has been undertaken." (03-70-14)
प्रतीक्षस्व मुहूर्तं त्वमथ वा त्वरते भवान्। एष याति शिवः पन्था याहि वार्ष्णेयसारथिः ॥०३-७०-१५॥
Wait for a moment, or if you are in a hurry, go ahead. This is the auspicious path—go, O charioteer of the descendant of Vṛṣṇi (Krishna). (03-70-15)
अब्रवीदृतुपर्णस्तं सान्त्वयन्कुरुनन्दन। त्वमेव यन्ता नान्योऽस्ति पृथिव्यामपि बाहुक ॥०३-७०-१६॥
Ṛtuparṇa, consoling him, said, "O joy of the Kurus, O Bāhuka, you alone are the charioteer; there is no one else like you on earth." (03-70-16)
त्वत्कृते यातुमिच्छामि विदर्भान्हयकोविद। शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नोऽस्मि न विघ्नं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥०३-७०-१७॥
O horse-expert, I wish to go to the Vidarbhas for your sake. I have taken refuge in you; you should not cause any obstacle. (03-70-17)
कामं च ते करिष्यामि यन्मां वक्ष्यसि बाहुक। विदर्भान्यदि यात्वाद्य सूर्यं दर्शयितासि मे ॥०३-७०-१८॥
I will happily do whatever you ask of me, O Bāhuka, if today, after reaching Vidarbha, you show me the sun. (03-70-18)
अथाब्रवीद्बाहुकस्तं सङ्ख्यायेमं बिभीतकम्। ततो विदर्भान्यास्यामि कुरुष्वेदं वचो मम ॥०३-७०-१९॥
Then Bāhuka said to him, "After counting this Bibhītaka fruit, I will go to the Vidarbha country; therefore, follow my words." (03-70-19)
अकाम इव तं राजा गणयस्वेत्युवाच ह। सोऽवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं शातयामास तं द्रुमम् ॥०३-७०-२०॥
The king said to him, "Consider him as if without desire." Then he, having quickly descended from the chariot, broke that tree. (03-70-20)
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो राजानमिदमब्रवीत्। गणयित्वा यथोक्तानि तावन्त्येव फलानि च ॥०३-७०-२१॥
Then, filled with wonder, he said to the king: "Having counted, there are just as many fruits as were mentioned." (03-70-21)
अत्यद्भुतमिदं राजन्दृष्टवानस्मि ते बलम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तां विद्यां यथैतज्ज्ञायते नृप ॥०३-७०-२२॥
O king, I have witnessed this very wonderful strength of yours. I wish to hear about that knowledge by which this is understood, O king. (03-70-22)
तमुवाच ततो राजा त्वरितो गमने तदा। विद्ध्यक्षहृदयज्ञं मां सङ्ख्याने च विशारदम् ॥०३-७०-२३॥
Then the king, being quick to go, spoke to him: "Know me to be one acquainted with the secrets of dice and skilled in calculation." (03-70-23)
बाहुकस्तमुवाचाथ देहि विद्यामिमां मम। मत्तोऽपि चाश्वहृदयं गृहाण पुरुषर्षभ ॥०३-७०-२४॥
Bāhuka then said to him, "Grant me this knowledge of mine. Also, from me accept the Aśvahṛdaya, O best of men." (03-70-24)
ऋतुपर्णस्ततो राजा बाहुकं कार्यगौरवात्। हयज्ञानस्य लोभाच्च तथेत्येवाब्रवीद्वचः ॥०३-७०-२५॥
Then King Rtuparna, compelled by the importance of the task and also out of desire for knowledge of horses, said only the words 'So be it.' (03-70-25)
यथेष्टं त्वं गृहाणेदमक्षाणां हृदयं परम्। निक्षेपो मेऽश्वहृदयं त्वयि तिष्ठतु बाहुक ॥ एवमुक्त्वा ददौ विद्यामृतुपर्णो नलाय वै ॥०३-७०-२६॥
Take, as you wish, this supreme heart of dice. Let my deposit, the horse's heart, remain within you, O Bāhuka. Having said this, Ṛtuparṇa gave the knowledge to Nala. (03-70-26)
तस्याक्षहृदयज्ञस्य शरीरान्निःसृतः कलिः। कर्कोटकविषं तीक्ष्णं मुखात्सततमुद्वमन् ॥०३-७०-२७॥
From the body of the one who understands the heart of dice, Kali emerged; and he continuously spewed sharp poison of Karkotaka from his mouth. (03-70-27)
कलेस्तस्य तदार्तस्य शापाग्निः स विनिःसृतः। स तेन कर्शितो राजा दीर्घकालमनात्मवान् ॥०३-७०-२८॥
Then, from that afflicted one, the curse-fire of Kali went forth. By that, the king became emaciated and dispirited for a long time. (03-70-28)
ततो विषविमुक्तात्मा स्वरूपमकरोत्कलिः। तं शप्तुमैच्छत्कुपितो निषधाधिपतिर्नलः ॥०३-७०-२९॥
Then, after being freed from the poison, Kali took on his own form. Nala, the enraged lord of Niṣadha, desired to curse him. (03-70-29)
तमुवाच कलिर्भीतो वेपमानः कृताञ्जलिः। कोपं संयच्छ नृपते कीर्तिं दास्यामि ते पराम् ॥०३-७०-३०॥
Kali, trembling with fear and with folded hands, said to him: "O king, restrain your anger, I will grant you supreme glory." (03-70-30)
इन्द्रसेनस्य जननी कुपिता माशपत्पुरा। यदा त्वया परित्यक्ता ततोऽहं भृशपीडितः ॥०३-७०-३१॥
Indrasena's mother became angry, O ruler of Māśapatpura; when she was abandoned by you, I was greatly afflicted. (03-70-31)
अवसं त्वयि राजेन्द्र सुदुःखमपराजित। विषेण नागराजस्य दह्यमानो दिवानिशम् ॥०३-७०-३२॥
O unconquered one, O king, being helpless in you and greatly distressed, I am being burned by the poison of the king of serpents day and night. (03-70-32)
ये च त्वां मनुजा लोके कीर्तयिष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिताः। मत्प्रसूतं भयं तेषां न कदाचिद्भविष्यति ॥०३-७०-३३॥
Whoever, among humans in the world, will praise you unceasingly, for them there will never be any fear produced by me. (03-70-33)
एवमुक्तो नलो राजा न्ययच्छत्कोपमात्मनः। ततो भीतः कलिः क्षिप्रं प्रविवेश बिभीतकम् ॥ कलिस्त्वन्येन नादृश्यत्कथयन्नैषधेन वै ॥०३-७०-३४॥
Thus addressed, King Nala restrained his own anger. Then, terrified, Kali quickly entered the Bibhītaka tree. But Kali was not seen by anyone else as he was speaking with Nala. (03-70-34)
ततो गतज्वरो राजा नैषधः परवीरहा। सम्प्रनष्टे कलौ राजन्सङ्ख्यायाथ फलान्युत ॥०३-७०-३५॥
Then, King Nala, the Naishadha, destroyer of enemy heroes, after recovering from his fever, when everything was lost in the dice-game, O king, then counted the results. (03-70-35)
मुदा परमया युक्तस्तेजसा च परेण ह। रथमारुह्य तेजस्वी प्रययौ जवनैर्हयैः ॥ बिभीतकश्चाप्रशस्तः संवृत्तः कलिसंश्रयात् ॥०३-७०-३६॥
Filled with great joy and exceeding brilliance, he mounted his chariot and departed swiftly with his vigorous horses. The bibhītaka tree, too, has become disreputable due to the influence of the Kali age. (03-70-36)
हयोत्तमानुत्पततो द्विजानिव पुनः पुनः। नलः सञ्चोदयामास प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना ॥०३-७०-३७॥
Nala, with a delighted heart, urged the excellent horses forward again and again, as they leapt like birds. (3-70-37)
विदर्भाभिमुखो राजा प्रययौ स महामनाः। नले तु समतिक्रान्ते कलिरप्यगमद्गृहान्॥०३-७०-३८॥
The king, directing himself toward Vidarbha, that great-minded one departed. But when Nala had departed, Kali also went to the house. (03-70-38)
ततो गतज्वरो राजा नलोऽभूत्पृथिवीपते। विमुक्तः कलिना राजन्रूपमात्रवियोजितः ॥०३-७०-३९॥
Then king Nala, with the fever gone, O lord of the earth, became freed from Kali, O king, remaining deprived only of his original form. (03-70-39)
