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.
मम ज्ञातिषु निक्षिप्य दारकौ स्यन्दनं तथा। अश्वांश्चेमान्यथाकामं वस वाऽन्यत्र गच्छवा
Leave the two children among my relatives, as well as the chariot; keep the horses as you wish, or go elsewhere if you desire.
दमयन्त्यास्तु तद्वाक्यं वार्ण्येयो नलसारथिः। न्यवेदयदशेषेण नलामात्येषु मुख्यशः
Vārṣṇeya, Nala's charioteer, faithfully reported Damayantī's words in full to Nala's chief ministers.
तैः समेत्य विनिश्चित्य सोऽनुज्ञातो महीपते। ययौ मिथुनमारोप्य विदर्भांस्तेन वाहिना
After meeting and deliberating, permitted by the king, he set out with the pair and went to the Vidarbhas with that force.
हयांस्तत्र विनिक्षिप्य सूतो रथवरं च तम्। इन्द्रसेनां च तां कन्यामिन्द्रसेनं च बालकम्
There the charioteer left the horses and that excellent chariot, as well as Indrasenā, the maiden, and Indrasena, the boy.
आमन्त्र्य भीमं राजानमार्तः शोचन्नलं नृपम्। क्व नु यास्यामि मनसा चिन्तयानो मुहुर्मुहुः। अटमानस्ततोऽयोध्यां जगाम नगरीं तदा
Taking leave of King Bhīma, grieving for King Nala, he wondered again and again, 'Where shall I go now?' and wandering, he then went to the city of Ayodhyā.
ऋतुपर्णं स राजानमुपतस्थे सुदुःखितः। भृतिं च स ददौ चास्य सारथ्येन नियोजितः
There, deeply distressed, he approached King Ṛtuparṇa, who employed him as a charioteer and gave him sustenance.
ततस्तु याते वार्ष्णेये पुण्यश्लोकस्य दीव्यतः। पुष्करेण हृतं राज्यं यच्चापि वसु किंचन
After Vārṣṇeya departed, as the virtuous Nala played dice, Puṣkara seized the kingdom and whatever wealth there was.
हृतराज्यं नलं राजन्प्रहसन्पुष्करोऽब्रवीत्। द्यूतं प्रवर्ततां भूयः प्रतिपाणोऽस्ति कस्तव
Puṣkara, laughing, said to Nala, who had lost his kingdom, 'Let the dice game continue, king; who will wager against you now?'
शिष्टा ते दमयन्त्येका सर्वमन्यद्धृतं मया। दमयन्त्याः पणः साधु वर्ततां यदि मन्यसे
Only Damayanti remains to you; all else has been taken by me. Let Damayanti be the stake, if you so wish.
पुष्रेणैवमुक्तस्य पुण्यश्लोकस्य मन्युना। व्यदीर्यतेव हृदयं न चैनं किंचिदब्रवीत्
When Puṣkara spoke thus to the renowned one, Nala's heart seemed to break with anger, yet he said nothing.