03.078
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
प्रशान्ते तु पुरे हृष्टे सम्प्रवृत्ते महोत्सवे। महत्या सेनया राजा दमयन्तीमुपानयत् ॥०३-७८-१॥
But when the city was peaceful and rejoicing in the midst of the great festival, the king led Damayanti forth with a large army. (03-78-1)
दमयन्तीमपि पिता सत्कृत्य परवीरहा। प्रस्थापयदमेयात्मा भीमो भीमपराक्रमः ॥०३-७८-२॥
Bhīma, the destroyer of enemy heroes, whose soul is immeasurable and who is of terrible valor, having honored Damayantī, also sent her forth. (03-78-2)
आगतायां तु वैदर्भ्यां सपुत्रायां नलो नृपः। वर्तयामास मुदितो देवराडिव नन्दने ॥०३-७८-३॥
But with the arrival of the princess of Vidarbha along with her son, King Nala lived joyfully, like the king of the gods in Nandana. (03-78-3)
तथा प्रकाशतां यातो जम्बूद्वीपेऽथ राजसु। पुनः स्वे चावसद्राज्ये प्रत्याहृत्य महायशाः ॥०३-७८-४॥
Thus, having become renowned among the kings of Jambudvīpa, he, the highly renowned one, returned and again dwelt in his own kingdom. (03-78-4)
ईजे च विविधैर्यज्ञैर्विधिवत्स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः। तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र ससुहृद्वक्ष्यसेऽचिरात् ॥०३-७८-५॥
He performed various sacrifices in accordance with the rules, offering properly acquired gifts. In the same way, O king, you too, along with your friends, will soon go. (03-78-5)
दुःखमेतादृशं प्राप्तो नलः परपुरञ्जयः। देवनेन नरश्रेष्ठ सभार्यो भरतर्षभ ॥०३-७८-६॥
O bull among the Bharatas, best of men, Nala, the conqueror of enemy cities, together with his wife, has undergone such suffering by the decree of the gods. (03-78-6)
एकाकिनैव सुमहन्नलेन पृथिवीपते। दुःखमासादितं घोरं प्राप्तश्चाभ्युदयः पुनः ॥०३-७८-७॥
O lord of the earth, by being alone and through very great distress, terrible suffering was experienced, but prosperity was subsequently achieved again. (03-78-7)
त्वं पुनर्भ्रातृसहितः कृष्णया चैव पाण्डव। रमसेऽस्मिन्महारण्ये धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन् ॥०३-७८-८॥
O son of Pāṇḍu, once again, together with your brothers and Kṛṣṇā, you remain in this great forest, devoted solely to thinking on dharma. (03-78-8)
ब्राह्मणैश्च महाभागैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः। नित्यमन्वास्यसे राजंस्तत्र का परिदेवना ॥०३-७८-९॥
O king, since you are always accompanied by Brāhmaṇas, greatly fortunate ones, and those who have mastered the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, what cause is there for lamentation there? (03-78-9)
इतिहासमिमं चापि कलिनाशनमुच्यते। शक्यमाश्वासितुं श्रुत्वा त्वद्विधेन विशां पते ॥०३-७८-१०॥
This story, too, is said to destroy the influence of Kali; it is possible for someone like you to be consoled upon hearing it, O lord of the people. (03-78-10)
अस्थिरत्वं च सञ्चिन्त्य पुरुषार्थस्य नित्यदा। तस्याये च व्यये चैव समाश्वसिहि मा शुचः ॥०३-७८-११॥
Always considering the impermanence of human pursuits, whether there is gain or loss, be consoled and do not grieve. (03-78-11)
ये चेदं कथयिष्यन्ति नलस्य चरितं महत्। श्रोष्यन्ति चाप्यभीक्ष्णं वै नालक्ष्मीस्तान्भजिष्यति ॥ अर्थास्तस्योपपत्स्यन्ते धन्यतां च गमिष्यति ॥०३-७८-१२॥
Those who narrate this great deed of Nala and those who repeatedly hear it—misfortune will not affect them. Wealth will come to them and they will attain prosperity. (03-78-12)
इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा पुराणं शश्वदुत्तमम्। पुत्रान्पौत्रान्पशूंश्चैव वेत्स्यते नृषु चाग्र्यताम् ॥ अरोगः प्रीतिमांश्चैव भविष्यति न संशयः ॥०३-७८-१३॥
Having heard this supreme eternal Purāṇa history, one will gain sons, grandsons, cattle, and distinction among men. He will be free from disease and full of joy—there is no doubt. (03-78-13)
भयं पश्यसि यच्च त्वमाह्वयिष्यति मां पुनः। अक्षज्ञ इति तत्तेऽहं नाशयिष्यामि पार्थिव ॥०३-७८-१४॥
You see fear, and if you summon me again, thinking me a 'knower of dice', I will destroy that for you, O king. (03-78-14)
वेदाक्षहृदयं कृत्स्नमहं सत्यपराक्रम। उपपद्यस्व कौन्तेय प्रसन्नोऽहं ब्रवीमि ते ॥०३-७८-१५॥
O son of Kunti, I know the entire heart of the dice; O truly valiant one, approach. I am pleased, and I say this to you. (03-78-15)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततो हृष्टमना राजा बृहदश्वमुवाच ह। भगवन्नक्षहृदयं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥०३-७८-१६॥
Then the king, his mind gladdened, indeed spoke to Bṛhadaśva: "O venerable one, I wish to know the true nature of dice." (03-78-16)
ततोऽक्षहृदयं प्रादात्पाण्डवाय महात्मने। दत्त्वा चाश्वशिरोऽगच्छदुपस्प्रष्टुं महातपाः ॥०३-७८-१७॥
Then he gave the heart of dice to Pāṇḍava, the great-souled one; and having done so, the great ascetic Aśvaśiras went to bathe. (03-78-17)
बृहदश्वे गते पार्थमश्रौषीत्सव्यसाचिनम्। वर्तमानं तपस्युग्रे वायुभक्षं मनीषिणम् ॥०३-७८-१८॥
When Bṛhadaśva departed, someone heard of Arjuna, the ambidextrous one, who was residing in severe austerity, subsisting on air, a man of wisdom. (03-78-18)
ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तपस्विभ्यः सम्पतद्भ्यस्ततस्ततः। तीर्थशैलवरेभ्यश्च समेतेभ्यो दृढव्रतः ॥०३-७८-१९॥
The one of firm vow received (respect) from the brāhmaṇas, ascetics, people gathered from all sides, the excellent holy places and mountains, as well as from all those who had assembled. (03-78-19)
इति पार्थो महाबाहुर्दुरापं तप आस्थितः। न तथा दृष्टपूर्वोऽन्यः कश्चिदुग्रतपा इति ॥०३-७८-२०॥
Thus Pārtha, the mighty-armed, undertook an austerity difficult to attain. No other severe ascetic has ever been seen like this before. (03-78-20)
यथा धनञ्जयः पार्थस्तपस्वी नियतव्रतः। मुनिरेकचरः श्रीमान्धर्मो विग्रहवानिव ॥०३-७८-२१॥
Just as Dhananjaya, Partha, the ascetic of firm vows, is like a sage who roams alone and is endowed with splendor, so Dharma himself seems to have taken form. (03-78-21)
तं श्रुत्वा पाण्डवो राजंस्तप्यमानं महावने। अन्वशोचत कौन्तेयः प्रियं वै भ्रातरं जयम् ॥०३-७८-२२॥
Hearing of his dear brother Jaya being tormented in the great forest, the son of Kunti (the Pāṇḍava), O king, deeply grieved for him. (03-78-22)
दह्यमानेन तु हृदा शरणार्थी महावने। ब्राह्मणान्विविधज्ञानान्पर्यपृच्छद्युधिष्ठिरः ॥०३-७८-२३॥
But in the great forest, Yudhiṣṭhira, his heart burning and seeking refuge, questioned the Brāhmaṇas who possessed various knowledge. (03-78-23)
