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.
बृहत्सेने पुनर्गच्छ वार्ष्णेयं नलशासनात्। सूतमानय कल्याणि महत्कार्यमुपस्थितम्
O Bṛhatsene, go again and summon Vārṣṇeya at Nala's command; bring the charioteer, dear one, for a great task is at hand.
बृहत्सेना तु सा श्रुत्वा दमयन्त्याः प्रभाषितम्। वार्ष्णेयमानयामास पुरुषैराप्तकारिभिः
Hearing Damayantī's words, Bṛhatsenā brought Vārṣṇeya with trustworthy attendants.
वार्ष्णेयं तु ततो भैमी सान्त्वयञ्छ्लक्ष्णया गिरा। उवाच देशकालज्ञा प्राप्तकालमनिन्दिता
Then Bhīma's daughter, skilled in time and place, blameless and gentle in speech, comforted Vārṣṇeya and spoke at the proper moment.
जानषे त्वं यथा राजा सम्यग्वृत्तः सदा त्वयि। तस्य त्वं विपमस्थस्य साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि
You know well how the king has always acted rightly toward you; now that he is in misfortune, you ought to help him.
यथायथा हि नृपतिः पुष्करेणैव जीयते। तथातथाऽस्य वै द्यूते रागो भूयोऽभिवर्धते
Just as the king is defeated again and again by Puṣkara at dice, so too his passion for gambling only grows stronger.
यथा च पुष्करस्याक्षाः पतन्ति वशवर्तिनः। तथा विपर्ययश्चापि नलस्याक्षेषु दृश्यते
As the dice always fall under Puṣkara's control, so the opposite is seen for Nala in the game.
सुहृत्स्वजनवाक्यानि यथाऽयं न शृणोति च। ममापि च तथा वाक्यं नाभिनन्दति नैषध
He does not listen to the words of friends and relatives, nor does the king of Niṣadha heed my words.
यथा राज्ञः प्रदीप्तानां भाग्यानामद्य सारथे। नूनं मन्ये न शेषोस्ति नैषधस्य महात्मनः
O charioteer, as the king's blazing fortunes are now spent, I believe there is nothing left for the great-souled Niṣadha.
यत्तु मे वचनं राजा नाभिनन्दति मोहितः। शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नाऽस्मि सारथे कुरु मद्वचः। न हि मे शुध्ते भावो विनाशं प्रति सारथे
Since the king, deluded, does not accept my counsel, I take refuge in you, charioteer; do as I say. My heart harbors no ill intent toward his destruction, charioteer.
नलस्य दयितानश्वान्योजयित्वा मनोजवान्। रथमारोप्य मिथुनं कुण्डिनं यातुर्महसि
Harness Nala's beloved, swift horses to the chariot, and take the pair to Kuṇḍina, the great city.