03.077
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
sa māsam uṣya kaunteya bhīmam āmantrya naiṣadhaḥ। purād alpaparīvāraḥ jagāma niṣadhān prati ॥03-77-1॥
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)
rathenaikena śubhreṇa dantibhiḥ pariṣoḍaśaiḥ. pañcāśadbhir hayaś caiva ṣaṭśataiś ca padātibhiḥ ॥03-77-2॥
With one chariot, sixteen beautiful white elephants, fifty horses, and six hundred foot-soldiers. (03-77-2)
sa kampayann iva mahīṁ tvaramāṇo mahīpatiḥ। praviveśātisaṁrabdhas tarasāiva mahāmanāḥ॥03-77-3॥
He, the king, greatly enraged and of lofty mind, hurriedly entered as if shaking the earth itself with his force. (03-77-3)
tataḥ puṣkaram āsādya vīrasenasuto nalaḥ। uvāca dīvyāv punar bahu vittaṃ mayārjitam॥03-77-4॥
Then Nala, the son of Vīrasena, went to Puṣkara and said, "Let us play dice again; I have acquired much wealth." (03-77-4)
damayantī ca yaccānyanmaya vasu samarjitam। eṣa vai mama saṃnyāsastava rājyaṃ tu puṣkara ॥03-77-5॥
Damayanti and whatever other wealth I have acquired, this indeed is my renunciation; but the kingdom is yours, Pushkara. (03-77-5)
punaḥ pravartatāṁ dyūtam iti me niścitā matiḥ। ekapāṇena bhadraṁ te prāṇayoś ca paṇāvahe ॥03-77-6॥
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)
jitvā parasvam āhṛtya rājyaṁ vā yadi vā vasu। pratipāṇaḥ pradātavyaḥ paraṁ hi dhanam ucyate॥03-77-7॥
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)
na ced vāñchasi tad dyūtaṃ yuddhadyūtaṃ pravartatām। dvairathenāstu vai śāntis tava vā mama vā nṛpa ॥03-77-8॥
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)
vaṃśabhojyam idaṃ rājyaṃ mārgitavyaṃ yathā tathā। yena tenāpy upāyena vṛddhānām iti śāsanam ॥03-77-9॥
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)
dvayorekatare buddhiḥ kriyatām adya puṣkara। kaitavena akṣavatyāṃ vā yuddhe vā namyatāṃ dhanuḥ ॥03-77-10॥
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)
naiṣadhenaivam-uktas tu puṣkaraḥ prahasan niva। dhruvam ātma-jayam matvā pratyāha pṛthivī-patim ॥03-77-11॥
But when addressed thus by Naiṣadha, Puṣkara, as if smiling and assuming his own victory was certain, replied to the king. (03-77-11)
diṣṭyā tvayārjitaṃ vittaṃ pratipāṇāya naiṣadha. diṣṭyā ca duṣkṛtaṃ karma damayantyāḥ kṣayaṃ gatam. diṣṭyā ca dhriyase rājansadāro'rinibarhaṇa. 03-77-12
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)
dhanenānena vaidarbhī jitena samalaṅkṛtā। māmupasthāsyati vyaktaṃ divi śakramivāpsarāḥ ॥03-77-13॥
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)
nityaśo hi smarāmi tvāṃ pratīkṣāmi ca naiṣadha। devane ca mama prītir na bhavaty asuhṛd-gaṇaiḥ॥03-77-14॥
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)
jitvā tvadya varārohāṃ damayantīmaninditām। kṛtakṛtyo bhaviṣyāmi sā hi me nityaśo hṛdi ॥03-77-15॥
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)
śrutvā tu tasya tā vāco bahv-abaddha-pralāpinaḥ। iyeṣa sa śiraś-chedtuṃ khaḍgena kupito nalaḥ ॥03-77-16॥
But having heard his many incoherent ramblings, Nala, angered, sought to cut off his head with a sword. (3-77-16)
smayaṁstu roṣatāmrākṣastamuvāca tato nṛpaḥ। paṇāvaḥ kiṁ vyāharase jitvā vai vyāhariṣyasi॥03-77-17॥
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)
tataḥ prāvartata dyūtaṃ puṣkarasya nalasya ca। ekapāṇena bhadraṃ te nalena sa parājitaḥ ॥ saratnakośanicayaḥ prāṇena paṇito'pi ca ॥03-77-18॥
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)
jitvā ca puṣkaraṃ rājā prahasann idam abravīt। mama sarvam idaṃ rājyam avyagraṃ hatakaṇṭakam ॥03-77-19॥
After conquering Puṣkara, the king smiled and said, "Now all this kingdom of mine is calm and with all thorns removed." (03-77-19)
vaidarbhi na tvayā śakyā rājāpasada vīkṣitum. tasyāstvaṃ saparīvāro mūḍha dāsatvamāgataḥ ॥03-77-20॥
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)
na tattvayā kṛtaṁ karma yenāhaṁ nirjitaḥ purā। kalinā tatkṛtaṁ karma tvaṁ tu mūḍha na budhyase॥ nāhaṁ parakṛtaṁ doṣaṁ tvayyādhāsye kathañcana॥03-77-21॥
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)
yathāsukhaṁ tvaṁ jīvasva prāṇān abhyutsṛjāmi te। tathaiva ca mama prītis tvayi vīra na saṁśayaḥ॥03-77-22॥
Live as you wish; I set your life free. Likewise, my affection for you, O hero, is without doubt. (03-77-22)
saubhrātraṃ caiva me tvatto na kadācitprahāsyati। puṣkara tvaṃ hi me bhrātā sañjīvasva śataṃ samāḥ॥03-77-23॥
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)
evaṁ nalaḥ sāntvayitvā bhrātaraṁ satyavikramaḥ। svapuraṁ preṣayāmāsa pariṣvajya punaḥ punaḥ॥03-77-24॥
Thus, Nala, who was truly valiant, soothed his brother, embraced him repeatedly, and sent him back to his own city. (03-77-24)
sāntvito naiṣadhenaivaṁ puṣkaraḥ pratyuvāca tam। puṇyaślokaṁ tadā rājannabhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ॥03-77-25॥
Thus consoled by Nala, Puṣkara replied to him—having bowed with joined hands, the illustrious king then spoke. (03-77-25)
kīrtirastu tavākṣayyā jīva varṣāyutaṃ sukhī। yo me vitarasi prāṇānadhiṣṭhānaṃ ca pārthiva ॥03-77-26॥
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)
sa tathā satkṛto rājñā māsamuṣya tadā nṛpaḥ। prayayau svapuraṃ hṛṣṭaḥ puṣkaraḥ svajanāvṛtaḥ॥03-77-27॥
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)
mahatyā senayā rājanvinītaiḥ paricārakaiḥ। bhrājamāna ivādityo vapuṣā puruṣarṣabha ॥03-77-28॥
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)
prasthāpya puṣkaraṃ rājā vittavantamanāmayam। praviveśa puraṃ śrīmānatyarthamupaśobhitam॥ praviśya sāntvayāmāsa paurāṃśca niṣadhādhipaḥ॥03-77-29॥
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)
