03.077
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
स मासमुष्य कौन्तेय भीममामन्त्र्य नैषधः। पुरादल्पपरीवारो जगाम निषधान्प्रति ॥०३-७७-१॥
Having spent a month, O son of Kunti, and having bid farewell to Bhīma, the prince of Niṣadha departed from the city for Niṣadha with a small retinue. (03-77-1)
रथेनैकेन शुभ्रेण दन्तिभिः परिषोडशैः। पञ्चाशद्भिर्हयैश्चैव षट्शतैश्च पदातिभिः ॥०३-७७-२॥
With one chariot, sixteen beautiful white elephants, fifty horses, and six hundred foot-soldiers. (03-77-2)
स कम्पयन्निव महीं त्वरमाणो महीपतिः। प्रविवेशातिसंरब्धस्तरसैव महामनाः ॥०३-७७-३॥
He, the king, greatly enraged and of lofty mind, hurriedly entered as if shaking the earth itself with his force. (03-77-3)
ततः पुष्करमासाद्य वीरसेनसुतो नलः। उवाच दीव्याव पुनर्बहु वित्तं मयार्जितम् ॥०३-७७-४॥
Then Nala, the son of Vīrasena, went to Puṣkara and said, "Let us play dice again; I have acquired much wealth." (03-77-4)
दमयन्ती च यच्चान्यन्मया वसु समर्जितम्। एष वै मम संन्यासस्तव राज्यं तु पुष्कर ॥०३-७७-५॥
Damayanti and whatever other wealth I have acquired, this indeed is my renunciation; but the kingdom is yours, Pushkara. (03-77-5)
पुनः प्रवर्ततां द्यूतमिति मे निश्चिता मतिः। एकपाणेन भद्रं ते प्राणयोश्च पणावहे ॥०३-७७-६॥
My mind is resolved: "Let dice be played again." With one stake—good for you—let us wager even our very lives. (03-77-6)
जित्वा परस्वमाहृत्य राज्यं वा यदि वा वसु। प्रतिपाणः प्रदातव्यः परं हि धनमुच्यते ॥०३-७७-७॥
If one conquers and takes away another's wealth or kingdom, compensation should be provided; for another's wealth is indeed called so. (03-77-7)
न चेद्वाञ्छसि तद्द्यूतं युद्धद्यूतं प्रवर्तताम्। द्वैरथेनास्तु वै शान्तिस्तव वा मम वा नृप ॥०३-७७-८॥
If you do not desire that game of dice, let the battle-casting begin. Let there indeed be peace by a chariot duel, either for you or for me, O king. (03-77-8)
वंशभोज्यमिदं राज्यं मार्गितव्यं यथा तथा। येन तेनाप्युपायेन वृद्धानामिति शासनम् ॥०३-७७-९॥
This kingdom, to be enjoyed by the lineage, should be sought by any means whatsoever; by whatever method it is obtained, thus is the command of the elders. (03-77-9)
द्वयोरेकतरे बुद्धिः क्रियतामद्य पुष्कर। कैतवेनाक्षवत्यां वा युद्धे वा नम्यतां धनुः ॥०३-७७-१०॥
Let the decision between the two be made today, Puṣkara: either let it be settled by deceit in dice-play or let the bow be bent in battle. (03-77-10)
नैषधेनैवमुक्तस्तु पुष्करः प्रहसन्निव। ध्रुवमात्मजयं मत्वा प्रत्याह पृथिवीपतिम् ॥०३-७७-११॥
But when addressed thus by Naiṣadha, Puṣkara, as if smiling and assuming his own victory was certain, replied to the king. (03-77-11)
दिष्ट्या त्वयार्जितं वित्तं प्रतिपाणाय नैषध। दिष्ट्या च दुष्कृतं कर्म दमयन्त्याः क्षयं गतम् ॥ दिष्ट्या च ध्रियसे राजन्सदारोऽरिनिबर्हण ॥०३-७७-१२॥
Fortunately, the wealth acquired by you has been recovered, O prince of Nala. And fortunately, the wicked deed affecting Damayantī has come to an end. Also, by fortune, you are now supported, O king, together with your wife, O destroyer of enemies. (03-77-12)
धनेनानेन वैदर्भी जितेन समलङ्कृता। मामुपस्थास्यति व्यक्तं दिवि शक्रमिवाप्सराः ॥०३-७७-१३॥
With this wealth, Vaidarbhi, having been won and beautifully adorned, will certainly serve me just as the apsarās serve Indra in heaven. (03-77-13)
नित्यशो हि स्मरामि त्वां प्रतीक्षामि च नैषध। देवने च मम प्रीतिर्न भवत्यसुहृद्गणैः ॥०३-७७-१४॥
I always remember you and constantly wait for you, O Naiṣadha. Even during games, I do not feel affection for those who are not my friends. (03-77-14)
जित्वा त्वद्य वरारोहां दमयन्तीमनिन्दिताम्। कृतकृत्यो भविष्यामि सा हि मे नित्यशो हृदि ॥०३-७७-१५॥
Having won today Damayantī of beautiful hips, who is blameless, I will have accomplished my purpose; for she is indeed always in my heart. (03-77-15)
श्रुत्वा तु तस्य ता वाचो बह्वबद्धप्रलापिनः। इयेष स शिरश्छेत्तुं खड्गेन कुपितो नलः ॥०३-७७-१६॥
But having heard his many incoherent ramblings, Nala, angered, sought to cut off his head with a sword. (3-77-16)
स्मयंस्तु रोषताम्राक्षस्तमुवाच ततो नृपः। पणावः किं व्याहरसे जित्वा वै व्याहरिष्यसि ॥०३-७७-१७॥
But smiling, with his eyes red with anger, the king then said to him: "Why are you boasting about the stakes? You will speak only when you win indeed." (03-77-17)
ततः प्रावर्तत द्यूतं पुष्करस्य नलस्य च। एकपाणेन भद्रं ते नलेन स पराजितः ॥ सरत्नकोशनिचयः प्राणेन पणितोऽपि च ॥०३-७७-१८॥
Then, the game of dice between Puṣkara and Nala began. With a single stake, O fortunate one, he was defeated by Nala; he staked his collection of jewels, treasures, and even his very life. (03-77-18)
जित्वा च पुष्करं राजा प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत्। मम सर्वमिदं राज्यमव्यग्रं हतकण्टकम् ॥०३-७७-१९॥
After conquering Puṣkara, the king smiled and said, "Now all this kingdom of mine is calm and with all thorns removed." (03-77-19)
वैदर्भी न त्वया शक्या राजापसद वीक्षितुम्। तस्यास्त्वं सपरीवारो मूढ दासत्वमागतः ॥०३-७७-२०॥
The princess of Vidarbha cannot be looked upon by you, a king's lackey. You and your whole family, O fool, have come to be slaves to her. (03-77-20)
न तत्त्वया कृतं कर्म येनाहं निर्जितः पुरा। कलिना तत्कृतं कर्म त्वं तु मूढ न बुध्यसे ॥ नाहं परकृतं दोषं त्वय्याधास्ये कथञ्चन ॥०३-७७-२१॥
That action by which I was previously defeated was not done by you. It was done by Kali, but you, O fool, do not understand. I will never lay the fault committed by another upon you. (03-77-21)
यथासुखं त्वं जीवस्व प्राणानभ्युत्सृजामि ते। तथैव च मम प्रीतिस्त्वयि वीर न संशयः ॥०३-७७-२२॥
Live as you wish; I set your life free. Likewise, my affection for you, O hero, is without doubt. (03-77-22)
सौभ्रात्रं चैव मे त्वत्तो न कदाचित्प्रहास्यति। पुष्कर त्वं हि मे भ्राता सञ्जीवस्व शतं समाः ॥०३-७७-२३॥
The brotherhood between us will surely never be abandoned by me because of you. Puṣkara, you are indeed my brother—may you live for a hundred years. (03-77-23)
एवं नलः सान्त्वयित्वा भ्रातरं सत्यविक्रमः। स्वपुरं प्रेषयामास परिष्वज्य पुनः पुनः ॥०३-७७-२४॥
Thus, Nala, who was truly valiant, soothed his brother, embraced him repeatedly, and sent him back to his own city. (03-77-24)
सान्त्वितो नैषधेनैवं पुष्करः प्रत्युवाच तम्। पुण्यश्लोकं तदा राजन्नभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः ॥०३-७७-२५॥
Thus consoled by Nala, Puṣkara replied to him—having bowed with joined hands, the illustrious king then spoke. (03-77-25)
कीर्तिरस्तु तवाक्षय्या जीव वर्षायुतं सुखी। यो मे वितरसि प्राणानधिष्ठानं च पार्थिव ॥०३-७७-२६॥
May your fame be imperishable; may you live happily for ten thousand years. O king, you are the one who grants me life and support. (03-77-26)
स तथा सत्कृतो राज्ञा मासमुष्य तदा नृपः। प्रययौ स्वपुरं हृष्टः पुष्करः स्वजनावृतः ॥०३-७७-२७॥
Thus, after being honored by the king and having stayed a month, Puṣkara, delighted and accompanied by his family, departed for his own city. (03-77-27)
महत्या सेनया राजन्विनीतैः परिचारकैः। भ्राजमान इवादित्यो वपुषा पुरुषर्षभ ॥०३-७७-२८॥
O bull among men, O king, (he was) attended by a great army of well-trained attendants, shining in appearance like the sun. (03-77-28)
प्रस्थाप्य पुष्करं राजा वित्तवन्तमनामयम्। प्रविवेश पुरं श्रीमानत्यर्थमुपशोभितम् ॥ प्रविश्य सान्त्वयामास पौरांश्च निषधाधिपः ॥०३-७७-२९॥
After sending Puṣkara, the wealthy and healthy king entered the greatly adorned city. Having entered, the lord of Niṣadha comforted the citizens. (03-77-29)
