03.076
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
atha tāṃ vyuṣito rātriṃ nalo rājā svalaṅkṛtaḥ। vaidarbhyā sahitaḥ kālyaṃ dadarśa vasudhādhipam॥03-76-1॥
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)
tato'bhivādayāmāsa prayataḥ śvaśuraṃ nalaḥ। tasyānu damayantī ca vavande pitaraṃ śubhā ॥03-76-2॥
Then Nala, reverently, saluted his father-in-law; after him, Damayanti, the auspicious one, bowed to her own father. (03-76-2)
taṁ bhīmaḥ pratijagrāha putravat parayā mudā। yathārhaṁ pūjayitvā tu samāśvāsayata prabhuḥ॥ nalena sahitāṁ tatra damayantīṁ pativratām॥03-76-3॥
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)
tāmarhaṇāṁ nalo rājā pratigṛhya yathāvidhi। paricaryāṁ svakāṁ tasmai yathāvatpratyavedayat ॥03-76-4॥
King Nala, having received her honors as prescribed, duly made known to him his own service. (03-76-4)
tato babhūva nagare sumahān harṣanisvanaḥ। janasya samprahṛṣṭasya nalaṃ dṛṣṭvā tathāgatam ॥03-76-5॥
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)
aśobhaya ca nagaraṃ patākā-dhvajamālinam। sikta-saṃmṛṣṭa-puṣpāḍhyā rāja-mārgāḥ kṛtās tadā॥03-76-6॥
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)
dvāri dvāri ca paurāṇāṃ puṣpabhaṅgaḥ prakalpitaḥ. arcitāni ca sarvāṇi devatāyatanāni ca ॥03-76-7॥
At every door of the townspeople, flower arrangements were set up; all the shrines of the deities were also worshipped. (03-76-7)
ṛtuparṇo'pi śuśrāva bāhuka-cchadminaṃ nalam। damayantyā samāyuktaṃ jahṛṣe ca narādhipaḥ ॥03-76-8॥
King Ṛtuparṇa too heard that Nala, disguised as Bāhuka, had been reunited with Damayantī, and the king rejoiced. (03-76-8)
tam ānāyya nalo rājā kṣamayāmāsa pārthivam। sa ca taṃ kṣamayāmāsa hetubhir buddhisaṃmataḥ॥03-76-9॥
After bringing him, King Nala forgave the king. In turn, he also forgave Nala, in accordance with reasons sanctioned by intelligence. (03-76-9)
sa satkṛto mahīpālo naiṣadhaṃ vismayānvitaḥ। diṣṭyā sameto dāraiḥ svairbhavānityabhyanandata ॥03-76-10॥
The honored king, filled with wonder, rejoiced to Nala, saying, 'By good fortune, you are reunited with your own wives.' (03-76-10)
kaccittu nāparādhaṃ te kṛtavānasmi naiṣadha। ajñātavāsaṃ vasato madgṛhe niṣadhādhipa ॥03-76-11॥
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)
yadi vā buddhi-pūrvāṇi yady abuddhāni kānicit। mayā kṛtāny akāryāṇi tāni me kṣantum arhasi ॥03-76-12॥
If I have done any wrong deeds, whether intentionally or unintentionally, you ought to forgive those of mine. (03-76-12)
nala uvāca॥
Nala said.
na me'parādhaṁ kṛtavāṁstvaṁ svalpamapi pārthiva। kṛte'pi ca na me kopaḥ kṣantavyaṁ hi mayā tava ॥03-76-13॥
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)
pūrvaṃ hy asi sakhā me 'si sambandhī ca narādhipa। ata ūrdhvaṃ tu bhūyas tvaṃ prītim āhartum arhasi ॥03-76-14॥
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)
sarvakāmaiḥ suvihitaḥ sukham asmy uṣitas tvayi. na tathā svagṛhe rājan yathā tava gṛhe sadā ॥03-76-15॥
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)
idaṁ caiva hayajñānaṁ tvadīyaṁ mayi tiṣṭhati। tad-upākartum icchāmi manyase yadi pārthiva ॥03-76-16॥
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)
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said;
evam-uktvā dadau vidyām ṛtuparṇāya naiṣadhaḥ। sa ca tām pratijagrāha vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā॥ 03-76-17॥
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)
tato gṛhyāśvahṛdayaṃ tadā bhāṅgasvarirnṛpaḥ। sūtamanyamupādāya yayau svapurameva hi ॥03-76-18॥
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)
ṛtuparṇe pratigate nalo rājā viśāṃ pate। nagare kuṇḍine kālaṃ nātidīrgham ivāvasat॥03-76-19॥
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)
