देवानां मानुषं मध्ये यत्सा पतिमविन्दत। ननु तस्या भवेन्न्याय्यं विपुलं दण्डधारणम्
'Since she chose a mortal husband among the gods, surely she deserves to be severely punished.'
एवमुक्ते तु कलिना प्रत्यूचुस्ते दिवौकसः। अस्माभिः सभनुज्ञाते दमयन्त्या नलो वृतः
When Kali had spoken thus, the gods replied, 'Nala was chosen by Damayanti with our consent.'
का हि सर्वगुणोपेतं नाश्रयेत नलं नृपम्। यो वेद धर्मानखिलान्यथावच्चरितव्रतः
'For who would not choose King Nala, endowed with all virtues, who knows all the laws and observes them faithfully?'
योऽधीते चतुरो वेदान्सर्वानाख्यानपञ्चमान्। अहिंसानिरतो यश्च सत्यवादी दृढव्रतः
'He who has mastered the four Vedas and all the stories, who is devoted to non-violence, speaks the truth, and is firm in his vows.'
यस्मिन्दाक्ष्यं धृतिर्ज्ञानं तपः शौचं दमः शमः। ध्रुवाणि पुरुषव्याघ्रे लोकपालसमे नृपे
In whom reside skill, steadfastness, wisdom, austerity, purity, self-control, and tranquility—firmly established, O tiger among men, as in a king equal to the guardians of the world—
एवंरूपं नलं यो वै कामयेच्छपितुं कले। आत्मानं स शपेन्मूढो हन्यादात्मानमात्मना
Whoever, out of delusion, would wish to defeat such a Nala in dice, desires his own ruin and destroys himself by his own hand.
एवंगुणं नलं यो वै कामयेच्छपितुं कले। कृच्छ्रे स नरके मञ्जेदगाधे विपुले ह्रदे
Whoever would wish to overcome such a virtuous Nala in dice, would sink into a great and unfathomable hell.
एवमुक्त्वा कलिं देवा द्वापरं च दिवं ययुः। ततो गतेषु देवेषु कलिर्द्वापरमब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus to Kali and Dvapara, the gods returned to heaven; and when the gods had departed, Kali spoke to Dvapara.
संयन्तुं नोत्सहे कोपं नले वत्स्यामि द्वापर। भ्रंशयिष्यामि तं राज्यान्न भैम्या सह रंस्यते
I am not able to restrain my anger; I shall dwell with Nala, O Dvapara, and I will cause him to fall from his kingdom; he shall not enjoy happiness with Damayanti.
त्वमप्यक्षान्समाविश्य साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि। `मम प्रियकृते ह्यस्मन्कृतवांश्च भविष्यसि
You too, entering the dice, must assist me; for the sake of my pleasure, you will have done this for us.
एवं स समयं कृत्वा द्वापरेण कलिः सह। आजगाम ततस्तत्र यत्रराजा स नैषधः
Having thus made an agreement with Dvapara, Kali then went to the place where King Nala of the Nishadhas was.
स नित्यमन्तरप्रेक्षी निषधेष्ववसच्चिरम्। अथास्य द्वादशे वर्षे ददर्श कलिरन्तरम्
He remained there constantly, watching for a fault, and dwelled among the Nishadhas for a long time; then, in the twelfth year, Kali found an opening.
कृत्वा मूत्रमुपस्पृश्य संध्यामन्वास्त नैषधः। अकृत्वा पादयोः शौचं तत्रैनं कलिराविशत्
Having passed urine and performed purification, Nala attended to his evening rites; but without washing his feet, Kali entered him at that moment.
स समाविश्य च नलं समीपं पुष्करस्य च। गत्वा पुष्करमाहेदमेहि दीव्य नलेन वै
Having entered Nala, and also approaching Pushkara, Kali said to Pushkara: 'Come, let us play dice with Nala.'
अक्षद्यूते नलं जेता भवान्हि सहितो मया। निषधान्प्रतिपद्यस्व जित्वा राज्यं नलं नृपम्
With me at your side, you will defeat Nala in a game of dice; having conquered King Nala, reclaim the kingdom of the Nishadhas.
एवमुक्तस्तु कलिना पुष्करो नलमभ्ययात्। कलिश्चैव वृषो भूत्वा तं वै पुष्करमन्वयात्
Thus addressed by Kali, Pushkara approached Nala; and Kali, having taken the form of a dice, followed Pushkara.
आसाद्य तु नलं वीरं पुष्करः परवीरहा। दीव्यावेत्यब्रवीद्धाता वृषेणेति मुहुर्मुहुः
Having come before the heroic Nala, Pushkara, the subduer of foes, repeatedly challenged him to play dice, invoking the dice as witness.
न चक्षमे ततो राजा समाह्वानं महामनाः। वैदर्भ्याः प्रेक्षमाणायाः प्राप्तकालममन्यत
The great-minded king could not refuse the challenge, especially as Damayanti was watching; he considered the time had come.
ततः स राज्ञा सहसा देवितुं संप्रचक्रमे
Then, together with the king, he suddenly began to play dice.
भ्रात्रा देवाभिभूतेन दैवाविष्टो जनाधिपः।' हिरण्यस्य सुवर्णस्य यानयुग्यस् वाससाम्। आविष्टः कलिना द्यूते जीयते स्म नलस्तदा
Possessed by Kali in the game, the lord of men—overcome by fate through his brother, who was under the sway of the gods—staked gold, jewels, chariots, and garments, and Nala was defeated.
तमक्षमदसंमत्तं सुहृदां न तु कश्चन। निवारणेऽभवच्छक्तो दीव्यमानमरिंदमम्
No friend was able to restrain Nala, intoxicated and maddened by the dice, as he played on, subduer of enemies though he was.
ततः पौरजनाः सर्वे मन्त्रिभिः सह भारत। राजानं द्रष्टुमागच्छन्निवारयितुमातुरम्
Then all the citizens, together with the ministers, O Bharata, came to see the king, anxious to restrain him.
ततः सूत उपागम्य दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत्। एष पौरजनो देवि द्वारि तिष्ठति कार्यवान्
Then the charioteer approached Damayanti and informed her: 'O queen, the citizens stand at the gate, intent on business.'
निवेद्यतां नैषधाय सर्वाः प्रकृतयः स्थिताः। अमृष्यमाणा व्यसनं राज्ञो धर्मार्थदर्शिनः
Let it be conveyed to Nala that all the people are assembled, unable to endure the king’s misfortune, being devoted to righteousness and prosperity.
ततः सा बाष्पकलया वाचा दुःखेन कर्शिता। उवाच नैषधं भैमी शोकोपहतचेतना
Then, with a voice choked by tears, worn down by sorrow, Bhīma’s daughter, her mind afflicted by grief, spoke to Nala.
राजन्पौरजनो द्वारि त्वां दिदृक्षुरवस्थितः। `वृद्धैर्ब्राह्मणमुख्यैश्च वणिग्भिश्च समन्वितः
O king, the citizens are standing at the door, desiring to see you, accompanied by elders, foremost Brahmins, and merchants.
आगतं सहितं राजंस्त्वत्प्रसादावलम्बनम्।' तं द्रष्टुमर्हसीत्येवं पुनः पुनरभाषत
They have come together, O king, seeking your favor and support; she repeatedly said that you ought to see them.
तां तथा रुचिरापाङ्गीं विलपन्तीं तथाविधाम्। आविष्टः कलिना राजा नाभ्यभाषत किंचन
The king, possessed by Kali, did not reply at all to her, though she, with lovely eyes, lamented in such a manner.
ततस्ते मन्त्रिणः सर्वे ते चैव पुरवासिनः। नायमस्तीति दुःखार्ता व्रीडिता जग्मुरालयान्
Then all the ministers and the citizens, distressed and ashamed, thinking 'He will not come,' returned to their homes.
तथा तदभवद्द्यूतं पुष्करस्य नलस्य च। युधिष्ठिर बहून्मासान्पुण्यश्लोकस्त्वजीयत
Thus the game of dice between Puṣkara and Nala continued, O Yudhiṣṭhira, for many months, and the renowned one was defeated.