03.070
Bṛhadaśva said.
He quickly passed over rivers, mountains, forests, and lakes, just like a sky-goer moving through the sky. (03-70-1)
Thus, after the chariot had departed, King Bhāṅgasvari then saw the upper garment had fallen, O conqueror of cities. (03-70-2)
Then, as the cloth had fallen, he who was hastening, the great-minded king said to Nala, "I will seize him." (03-70-3)
O great-wise one, restrain these swift horses until the descendant of Vṛṣṇi brings me this standard (or cloth), thus. (03-70-4)
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)
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)
Seeing Bāhuka, the king hurriedly said: "O charioteer, you also behold my supreme strength in the contest." (03-70-7)
No one knows everything; there is no one who is omniscient. Nowhere is perfect knowledge established in any one man. (03-70-8)
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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
I will happily do whatever you ask of me, O Bāhuka, if today, after reaching Vidarbha, you show me the sun. (03-70-18)
Then Bāhuka said to him, "After counting this Bibhītaka fruit, I will go to the Vidarbha country; therefore, follow my words." (03-70-19)
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)
Then, filled with wonder, he said to the king: "Having counted, there are just as many fruits as were mentioned." (03-70-21)
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)
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)
Bāhuka then said to him, "Grant me this knowledge of mine. Also, from me accept the Aśvahṛdaya, O best of men." (03-70-24)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Indrasena's mother became angry, O ruler of Māśapatpura; when she was abandoned by you, I was greatly afflicted. (03-70-31)
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)
Whoever, among humans in the world, will praise you unceasingly, for them there will never be any fear produced by me. (03-70-33)
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)
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)
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)
Nala, with a delighted heart, urged the excellent horses forward again and again, as they leapt like birds. (3-70-37)
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)
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)
