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.
दमयन्ती ततो दृष्ट्वा पुण्यश्लोकं नराधिपम्। उन्मत्तवदनुन्मत्ता देवने कृतचेतसम्
Then Damayanti, seeing the renowned king looking mad, herself appearing distraught, fixed her mind on the gods.
भयशोकसमाविष्टा राजन्भीमसुता ततः। चिन्तयामास तत्कार्यं सुमहत्पार्थिवं प्रति
Overcome by fear and sorrow, Bhīma’s daughter then began to ponder the great matter concerning the king.
सा शङ्कमाना तत्पापं चिकीर्षन्ती च तत्प्रियम्। नलं च हृतसर्वस्वमुपलभ्येदमब्रवीत्
Suspecting some evil and wishing to do what was dear to him, she saw Nala deprived of all his wealth and spoke thus.
बृहत्सेनामतियशां तां धात्रीं परिचारिकाम्। हितां सर्वार्थकुशलामनुरक्तां सुभाषिताम्
She addressed Bṛhatsena, the highly renowned nurse and attendant, skilled in all duties, devoted, and well-spoken.
बृहत्सेने व्रजामात्यानानाय्य नलशासनात्। आचक्ष्व यद्धृतं द्रव्यमवशिष्टं च यद्वसु
Bṛhatsena, go and summon the ministers at Nala’s command; tell them what wealth has been lost and what remains.
इत्येवं सा समादिष्टा बृहत्सेना नरेश्वर। उवाच देव्या वचनं मन्त्रिणां सा समीपत
Thus instructed, O king, Bṛhatsena conveyed the queen’s words to the ministers nearby.
ततस्ते मन्त्रिणः सर्वे विज्ञाय नलशासनम्। अपि नो भागधेयं स्यादित्युक्त्वा पुनराव्रजन्
Then all the ministers, understanding Nala’s command, said, 'Perhaps some share remains for us,' and returned again.
तास्तु सर्वाः प्रकृतयो द्वितीयं समुपस्थिताः। न्यवेदयद्भीमसुता न च तत्प्रत्यनन्दत
All the people came together a second time, and Bhīma’s daughter informed them, but he did not welcome them.
वाक्यमप्रतिनन्दन्तं भर्तारमभिवीक्ष्य सा। दमयन्ती पुनर्वेश्म व्रीडिता प्रविवेश ह
Seeing her husband not responding to their words, Damayanti, ashamed, entered her chamber again.
निशाम्य सततं चाक्षान्पुण्यश्लोकपराङ्युखान्। नलं च हृतसर्वस्वं धात्रीं पुनरुवाच ह
Noticing that the renowned one always turned his face away from the dice, and that Nala had lost everything, the nurse again spoke to her.