03.076
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
अथ तां व्युषितो रात्रिं नलो राजा स्वलङ्कृतः। वैदर्भ्या सहितः काल्यं ददर्श वसुधाधिपम् ॥०३-७६-१॥
Then, after passing the night, King Nala, well-adorned and together with Vaidarbhi (Damayantī), saw the lord of the earth in the morning. (03-76-1)
ततोऽभिवादयामास प्रयतः श्वशुरं नलः। तस्यानु दमयन्ती च ववन्दे पितरं शुभा ॥०३-७६-२॥
Then Nala, reverently, saluted his father-in-law; after him, Damayanti, the auspicious one, bowed to her own father. (03-76-2)
तं भीमः प्रतिजग्राह पुत्रवत्परया मुदा। यथार्हं पूजयित्वा तु समाश्वासयत प्रभुः ॥ नलेन सहितां तत्र दमयन्तीं पतिव्रताम् ॥०३-७६-३॥
Bhima received him like a son, with great joy. After honoring him appropriately, the lord consoled Damayanti, the chaste wife, who was there accompanied by Nala. (3-76-3)
तामर्हणां नलो राजा प्रतिगृह्य यथाविधि। परिचर्यां स्वकां तस्मै यथावत्प्रत्यवेदयत् ॥०३-७६-४॥
King Nala, having received her honors as prescribed, duly made known to him his own service. (03-76-4)
ततो बभूव नगरे सुमहान्हर्षनिस्वनः। जनस्य सम्प्रहृष्टस्य नलं दृष्ट्वा तथागतम् ॥०३-७६-५॥
Then, in the city, a very great joyful sound arose from the exceedingly delighted people upon seeing Nala arrive in this manner. (03-76-5)
अशोभयच्च नगरं पताकाध्वजमालिनम्। सिक्तसंमृष्टपुष्पाढ्या राजमार्गाः कृतास्तदा ॥०३-७६-६॥
At that time, the city adorned with rows of banners and flags was made resplendent, and the royal roads, sprinkled, well-cleaned, and richly decorated with flowers, were prepared. (03-76-6)
द्वारि द्वारि च पौराणां पुष्पभङ्गः प्रकल्पितः। अर्चितानि च सर्वाणि देवतायतनानि च ॥०३-७६-७॥
At every door of the townspeople, flower arrangements were set up; all the shrines of the deities were also worshipped. (03-76-7)
ऋतुपर्णोऽपि शुश्राव बाहुकच्छद्मिनं नलम्। दमयन्त्या समायुक्तं जहृषे च नराधिपः ॥०३-७६-८॥
King Ṛtuparṇa too heard that Nala, disguised as Bāhuka, had been reunited with Damayantī, and the king rejoiced. (03-76-8)
तमानाय्य नलो राजा क्षमयामास पार्थिवम्। स च तं क्षमयामास हेतुभिर्बुद्धिसंमतः ॥०३-७६-९॥
After bringing him, King Nala forgave the king. In turn, he also forgave Nala, in accordance with reasons sanctioned by intelligence. (03-76-9)
स सत्कृतो महीपालो नैषधं विस्मयान्वितः। दिष्ट्या समेतो दारैः स्वैर्भवानित्यभ्यनन्दत ॥०३-७६-१०॥
The honored king, filled with wonder, rejoiced to Nala, saying, 'By good fortune, you are reunited with your own wives.' (03-76-10)
कच्चित्तु नापराधं ते कृतवानस्मि नैषध। अज्ञातवासं वसतो मद्गृहे निषधाधिप ॥०३-७६-११॥
But I hope I have not done any offense to you, O Naiṣadha, while you were dwelling incognito in my house, O lord of the Niṣadhas. (03-76-11)
यदि वा बुद्धिपूर्वाणि यद्यबुद्धानि कानिचित्। मया कृतान्यकार्याणि तानि मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥०३-७६-१२॥
If I have done any wrong deeds, whether intentionally or unintentionally, you ought to forgive those of mine. (03-76-12)
नल उवाच॥
Nala said.
न मेऽपराधं कृतवांस्त्वं स्वल्पमपि पार्थिव। कृतेऽपि च न मे कोपः क्षन्तव्यं हि मया तव ॥०३-७६-१३॥
O king, you have not committed even the slightest offence against me. Even if any were done, I have no anger toward you; indeed, whatever needs to be forgiven by me is forgiven. (03-76-13)
पूर्वं ह्यसि सखा मेऽसि सम्बन्धी च नराधिप। अत ऊर्ध्वं तु भूयस्त्वं प्रीतिमाहर्तुमर्हसि ॥०३-७६-१४॥
Before, you have indeed been my friend and my relative, O king. But from now on, you ought to win even more of my affection. (03-76-14)
सर्वकामैः सुविहितः सुखमस्म्युषितस्त्वयि। न तथा स्वगृहे राजन्यथा तव गृहे सदा ॥०३-७६-१५॥
O King, all my desires have been well-fulfilled, and I have lived happily with you; I am not so in my own house as I always am in your house. (03-76-15)
इदं चैव हयज्ञानं त्वदीयं मयि तिष्ठति। तदुपाकर्तुमिच्छामि मन्यसे यदि पार्थिव ॥०३-७६-१६॥
This very knowledge of horses belonging to you abides in me. If you think it proper, O king, I wish to return that favour. (03-76-16)
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said;
एवमुक्त्वा ददौ विद्यामृतुपर्णाय नैषधः। स च तां प्रतिजग्राह विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥०३-७६-१७॥
Thus having spoken, the king of Niṣadha (Nala) gave the knowledge to Ṛtuparṇa, and he in turn accepted it through the proper prescribed ritual. (03-76-17)
ततो गृह्याश्वहृदयं तदा भाङ्गस्वरिर्नृपः। सूतमन्यमुपादाय ययौ स्वपुरमेव हि ॥०३-७६-१८॥
Then, having taken the horse's heart, the king, whose voice was broken, took another charioteer and surely went to his own city. (03-76-18)
ऋतुपर्णे प्रतिगते नलो राजा विशां पते। नगरे कुण्डिने कालं नातिदीर्घमिवावसत् ॥०३-७६-१९॥
When Ṛtuparṇa had gone back, King Nala, O lord of the people, stayed in the city of Kuṇḍina for what seemed not a very long time. (03-76-19)
