03.078
bṛhādaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
praśānte tu pure hṛṣṭe sampravṛtte mahotsave। mahatyā senayā rājā damayantīm upānayat ॥03-78-1॥
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)
damayantīm api pitā satkṛtya paravīrahā। prasthāpayad ameyātmā bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ॥03-78-2॥
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)
āgatāyāṃ tu vaidarbhyāṃ saputrāyāṃ nalo nṛpaḥ। vartayāmāsa mudito devarāḍiva nandane॥03-78-3॥
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)
tathā prakāśatāṃ yāto jambūdvīpe'tha rājasu। punaḥ sve cāvasad rājye pratyāhṛtya mahāyaśāḥ॥03-78-4॥
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)
īje ca vividhair yajñair vidhivatsv-āpta-dakṣiṇaiḥ। tathā tvam api rājendra sa-suhṛd vakṣyase'cirāt॥03-78-5॥
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)
duḥkham etādṛśaṃ prāpto nalaḥ parapurañjayaḥ। devenena naraśreṣṭha sabhāryo bharatarṣabha ॥03-78-6॥
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)
ekākinaiva sumahannalena pṛthivīpate। duḥkham āsāditaṃ ghoraṃ prāptaś cābhyudayaḥ punaḥ ॥03-78-7॥
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)
tvaṃ punar-bhrātṛ-sahitaḥ kṛṣṇayā caiva pāṇḍava। ramase'smin-mahāraṇye dharmam-evānucintayan ॥03-78-8॥
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)
brāhmaṇaiśca mahābhāgairveda-vedāṅga-pāragaiḥ। nityamanvāsyase rājaṃstatra kā paridevanā॥03-78-9॥
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)
itihāsam imaṁ cāpi kalināśanam ucyate। śakyam āśvāsituṁ śrutvā tvadvidhena viśāṁ pate ॥03-78-10॥
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)
asthiratvaṁ ca sañcintya puruṣārthasya nityadā। tasyāye ca vyaye caiva samāśvasihi mā śucaḥ॥ 03-78-11॥
Always considering the impermanence of human pursuits, whether there is gain or loss, be consoled and do not grieve. (03-78-11)
ye cedam kathayiṣyanti nalasya caritaṃ mahat। śroṣyanti cāpyabhīkṣṇaṃ vai nālakṣmīstānbhajiṣyati ॥ arthāstasyo-papatsyante dhanyatāṃ ca gamiṣyati ॥03-78-12॥
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)
itihāsam imaṃ śrutvā purāṇaṃ śaśvat uttamam। putrān pautrān paśūṃś ca eva vetsyate nṛṣu ca agryatām॥ arogah prītimān ca eva bhaviṣyati na saṃśayah॥03-78-13॥
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)
bhayaṃ paśyasi yac ca tvam āhvayiṣyati māṃ punaḥ। akṣajña iti tat te'haṃ nāśayiṣyāmi pārthiva॥03-78-14॥
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)
vedākṣahṛdayaṃ kṛtsnamahaṃ satyaparākrama। upapadyasva kaunteya prasanno'haṃ bravīmi te ॥03-78-15॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tato hṛṣṭamanā rājā bṛhadaśvam uvāca ha। bhagavan nakṣa-hṛdayaṃ jñātum icchāmi tattvataḥ॥03-78-16॥
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)
tato'kṣa-hṛdayaṃ prādāt pāṇḍavāya mahātmane। dattvā ca aśva-śiraḥ agacchat upaspraṣṭuṃ mahātapāḥ ॥03-78-17॥
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)
bṛhadaśve gate pārtham aśrauṣīt savyasācinam। vartamānaṁ tapasy ugre vāyubhakṣaṁ manīṣiṇam॥03-78-18॥
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)
brāhmaṇebhyastapasvibhyaḥ sampatadbhyaḥ tatastataḥ। tīrthaśailavarebhyaśca sametebhyo dṛḍhavrataḥ॥03-78-19॥
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)
iti pārtho mahābāhur durāpaṃ tapa āsthitaḥ। na tathā dṛṣṭapūrvo'nyaḥ kaścid ugratapā iti ॥03-78-20॥
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)
yathā dhanañjayaḥ pārthas tapasvī niyatavrataḥ। munir ekacaraḥ śrīmān dharmo vigrahavān iva॥03-78-21॥
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)
taṃ śrutvā pāṇḍavo rājaṃstapyamānaṃ mahāvane। anvaśocata kaunteyaḥ priyaṃ vai bhrātaraṃ jayam ॥03-78-22॥
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)
dahyamānena tu hṛdā śaraṇārthī mahāvane। brāhmaṇān vividhajñānān paryapṛcchad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥03-78-23॥
But in the great forest, Yudhiṣṭhira, his heart burning and seeking refuge, questioned the Brāhmaṇas who possessed various knowledge. (03-78-23)
