उत्सृज्य दमयन्तीं तु नलो राजा विशांपते। ददर्श दावं दह्यन्तं महान्तं गहने वने
Having abandoned Damayanti, King Nala, O lord of men, saw a great forest fire blazing in the dense woods.
तत्र सुश्राव शब्दंवै मध्ये भूतस्य कस्यचित्। अभिधाव नलेत्युच्चैः पुण्यश्लोकेति चासकृत्
There he clearly heard a sound in the midst of the fire, someone repeatedly calling out loudly, 'Nala! O famed one!'
मा भैरिति नलश्चोक्त्वा मध्यमग्नेः प्रविश्य तम्। दद्रश नागराजानं शयानं कुण्डलीकृतम्
Saying, 'Do not fear,' Nala entered the center of the fire, and there he saw the king of serpents lying coiled up.
स नागः प्रञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वेपमानो नलं तदा। उवाच मां विद्धिराजन्नागं कर्कोटकं नृप
That serpent, with joined palms and trembling, then said to Nala, 'Know me, O king, to be the serpent Karkotaka.'
मया प्रलब्धो ब्रह्मर्षिरनागाः सुमहातपाः। तेन मन्युपरीतेन शप्तोस्मि मनुजाधिप
I was deceived by the great ascetic Brahmarshi Narada, O king of men, and in his anger he cursed me.
तिष्ठ त्वं स्थावर इव यावदेति नलः क्वचित्। इतो नेतासि तत्स त्वं शापान्मोक्ष्यसि मत्कृतात्
'Remain here, unmoving as a post, until Nala comes; you shall not be led from here. Then, by my doing, you will be freed from the curse.'
तस्य शापान्न शक्नोमि पदाद्विचलितुं पदम्। उपदेक्ष्यामि ते श्रेयस्त्रातुमर्हति मां भवान्
Because of his curse, I am unable to move even a step from this place. I will instruct you in what is good; you ought to save me.
सखा च ते भविष्यामि मत्समो नास्ति पन्नगः। लघुश्च ते भविष्यामि शीघ्रमादाय गच्छ माम्
I shall also be your friend; there is no serpent equal to me. I shall become light for you—quickly take me and go.
एवमुक्त्वा स नागेन्द्रो बभूवाङ्गुष्ठमात्रकः। दं गृहीत्वा नलः प्रायाद्देशं दावविवर्जितम्
Having spoken thus, the king of serpents became the size of a thumb; taking him, Nala departed for a place free from fire.
आकाशदेशमासाद्य विमुक्तं कृष्णवर्त्मना। उत्स्रष्टुकामं तं नागः पुनः कर्कोटकोऽब्रवीत्
Reaching a place in the open, free from the blackened path, the serpent Karkotaka, as Nala was about to release him, spoke again:
पदानि गणयन्गच्छ स्वानि नैषध कानिचित्। तत्रतेऽहं महाबाहो श्रेयो धास्यामि यत्परम्
'Count your own steps as you go, O Niṣadha; at a certain step, O mighty-armed one, I shall bestow upon you the highest good.'
ततः संख्यातुमारब्धमदशद्दशमे पदे। तस्य दष्टस्य तद्रूपं क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत
Then, as he began to count, the serpent bit him on the tenth step, and at once Nala's former appearance quickly vanished.
स दृष्ट्वा विस्मितस्तस्थावात्मानं विकृतं नलः। स्वरूपधारिणं नागं ददर्श स महीपतिः
Seeing himself transformed, Nala stood astonished; that great king beheld the serpent in his true form.
ततः कर्कोटको नागः सान्त्वयन्नलमब्रवीत्। मया तेऽन्तर्हितं रूपं न त्वां विद्युर्जना इति
Then the serpent Karkotaka, consoling Nala, said: 'I have concealed your form, so that people will not recognize you.'
यत्कृते चासि निकृतो दुःखेन महता नल। विषेण स मदीयेन त्वयि दुःखं निवत्स्यति
Because you have been wronged and have suffered greatly, O Nala, my poison will now bring suffering to the one who caused your pain.
विषेण संवृतैर्गात्रैर्यावत्त्वां न विमोक्ष्यति। तावत्तु त्वां महाराज क्लेशेऽस्मिन्स नियोक्ष्यति
As long as your body is covered by my poison, that person will keep you in distress, O great king, until I release you.
अनागा येन निकृतस्त्वमनर्हो जनाधिप। क्रोधादसूययित्वा तं रक्षा मे भवतः कृता
You, a blameless king, were wronged by one undeserving; out of anger and envy, he harmed you, but I have now ensured your protection.
न ते भयं नरव्याघ्र दंष्ट्रिभ्यः शत्रुतोपि वा। ब्रह्मवित्त्वं च भविता मत्प्रसादान्नराधिप
O tiger among men, you need not fear fangs, enemies, or anything else; by my favor, O king, you will gain knowledge of the Brahman.
राजन्विषनिमित्ता च न ते पीडा भविष्यति। संग्रामेषु न राजेन्द्रशश्वज्जयमवाप्स्यसि
O king, you will not suffer any pain from this poison; and in battles, O ruler of kings, you will always attain victory.
गच्छ राजन्नितः सूतो बाहुकोऽहमिति ब्रुवन्। समीपमृतुपर्णस्य स हि वेदाक्षनैपुणम्
Go from here, O king, and say you are Bahuka the charioteer; approach Rituparna, for he is skilled in the science of dice.
अयोध्यां नगरीं रम्यामद्य वै निषधेश्वर। स तेऽक्षहृदयं दाता राजाऽश्वहृदयेन वै
Today, O lord of the Nishadhas, go to the beautiful city of Ayodhya; that king will give you the secret of dice in exchange for the secret of horses.
इक्ष्वाकुकुलजः श्रीमान्मित्रं चैव भविष्यति। भविष्यसि यदाऽक्षज्ञः श्रेयसा योक्ष्यसे तदा
He is a glorious descendant of the Ikshvaku line and will become your friend; when you master the science of dice, you will attain prosperity.
संयोक्ष्यसे स्वदारैस्त्वं मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः। राज्येन तनयाभ्यां च सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
You will be reunited with your wife; do not let your mind be troubled by sorrow. You will regain your kingdom and your sons—this I truly tell you.
स्वं रूपं च यदा द्रष्टुमिच्छेथास्त्वं नराधिप। संस्मर्तव्यस्तदा तेऽहंवासश्चदं विवासयेः
Whenever you wish to see your own form again, O king, remember me then and cast off this garment.
अनेन वाससाच्छन्नः स्वं रूपं प्रतिपत्स्यसे। इत्युक्त्वा प्रददौ तस्मै दिव्यं वासोयुगं तदा
Clothed in this garment, you will regain your true form; so saying, he then gave him a pair of divine garments.
एवं नलं च संदिश्य वासो दत्ताव च कौरव। नागराजस्ततो राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Having thus instructed Nala and given him the garment, the serpent king disappeared from that place, O Kaurava.
तस्मिन्नन्तर्हिते नागे प्रययौ नैषधो नलः। ऋतुपर्णस्य नगरं प्राविशद्दशमेऽहनि
When the serpent vanished, Nala of the Nishadhas departed and, on the tenth day, entered the city of Rituparna.
स राजानमुपातिष्ठद्बाहुकोऽहमिति ब्रुवन्। अश्वानां वाहने युक्तः पृथिव्यां नास्ति मत्समः
He approached the king, saying, 'I am Bahuka; in driving horses, there is no one on earth equal to me.'
अर्थकृच्छ्रेषु चैवाहं प्रष्टव्यो नैपुणेषु च। अन्नसंस्कारमपि च जानाम्यन्यैर्विशेषतः
'In times of difficulty and in matters of skill, you may question me; I also know the preparation of food, better than others.'
यानि शिल्पानि लोकेऽस्मिन्यच्चैवान्यत्सुदुष्करम्। सर्वं यतिष्ये तत्कर्तुमृतुपर्ण भरस्व माम्
'Whatever crafts exist in this world, and even what is most difficult, I will strive to accomplish all of it—O Rituparna, employ me.'