अपिचेदं वयस्तुल्यं बाहुकस्य नलस्य च। नायं नलो महावीर्यस्तद्विद्यश्च भविष्यति
Moreover, the age of Bahuka and Nala is the same; but this is not Nala, the mighty hero, though he will possess that knowledge.
प्रच्छन्ना हि महात्मानश्चरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम्। दैवेन विधिना युक्ताः शास्त्रोक्तैश्च निरूपणैः
Great souls wander this earth concealed, endowed by destiny and recognized by the marks described in the scriptures.
भवेन्न मतिभेदो मे गात्रवैरूप्यता प्रति। प्रमाणात्परिहीनस्तु भवेदिति मतिर्मम
Let there not be confusion in my mind regarding his altered appearance; my thought is that he is diminished only in form.
वयःप्रमाणं तत्तुल्यं रूपेण तु विपर्ययः। नलं सर्वगुणैर्युक्तं मन्ये बाहुकमन्ततः
Their age is equal, but their appearance is opposite; I consider Nala to be endowed with all virtues, and Bahuka to be so as well.
एवं विचार्य बहुशो वार्ष्णोयः पर्यचिन्तयत्। हृदयेन महाराज पुण्यश्लोकस्य सारथिः
Thus, pondering repeatedly, the Vrishni hero reflected in his heart upon the charioteer of the illustrious king.
ऋतुपर्णश्च राजेनद्रो बाहुकस्य हयज्ञताम्। चिन्तयन्मुमुदे राजा सहवार्ष्णेयसारथिः
King Rituparna, thinking about Bahuka’s mastery over horses, rejoiced together with the Vrishni charioteer.
ऐकाग्र्यं च तथोत्साहं हयसंग्रहणं च तत्। कौशलं चापि संप्रेक्ष्य परां सुदमवाप ह
Observing his concentration, enthusiasm, and skill in gathering the horses, Sudama attained supreme delight.
स नदीः पर्वतांश्चैव वनानि च सरांसि च। अचिरेणातिचक्राम स्वेचरः खे चरन्निव
He swiftly crossed rivers, mountains, forests, and lakes, moving freely as if traveling through the sky.
तथा प्रयाते तु रथे तदा भागस्वरिर्नृपः। उत्तरीयमधोपश्यद्धष्टं परपुरंजयः
As the chariot advanced, the king, Bhāgasvari, saw his upper garment fall, and the conqueror of cities noticed it.
ततः स त्वरमाणस्तु पटे निपतिते तदा। ग्रहीष्यामीति तं राजा नलमाह महामनाः
Then, as it fell quickly to the ground, the great-minded king said to Nala, 'I will retrieve it.'
निगृह्णीष्व महाबुद्धे हयानेतान्महाजवान्। वार्ष्णेयो यावदेनं मे पटमानयतामिह
Restrain these swift horses, O wise one, until Vārṣṇeya brings me back that cloth here.
नलस्तं प्रत्युवाचाथ दूरे भ्रष्टः पटस्तव। योजनं समतिक्रान्तो नाहर्तुं शक्यते पुनः
Then Nala replied to him: Your cloth has fallen far away, beyond a yojana; it cannot be retrieved again.
एवमुक्ते नलेनाथ नातिप्रीतमना नृपः। आससाद वने राजन्फलवन्तं बिभीतकम्
When Nala had spoken thus, the king, not very pleased in mind, approached in the forest a Bibhitaka tree bearing fruit.
तं दृष्ट्वा बाहुकं राजा त्वरमाणोऽभ्यभापत। ममापि सूत पश्य त्वं संख्याने परमं बलम्
Seeing Bahuka, the king hurried toward him and said: 'O charioteer, behold also my supreme skill in calculation.'
सर्वः सर्वं न जानाति सर्वज्ञो नास्ति कश्चन। नैकत्र परिनिष्ठाऽस्ति ज्ञानस्य पुरुषे क्वचित्
No one knows everything about everything; there is no one who is all-knowing. Nowhere in any person is knowledge found to be complete in all respects.
वृक्षेऽस्मिन्यानि पर्णानि फलामेकं च बाहुक। पतितान्यपि यान्यत्रतत्रैकमधिकं कृतम्
On this tree, O Bahuka, there are so many leaves and a single fruit; though many have fallen here and there, one more has been made.
एवपत्राधिकं चात्र फलमेकं च बाहुक। फलकोट्यपि पत्राणां द्वयोरपि च शाखयोः। `प्रवक्ष्यामि फलान्यत्र यानि संख्यास्यते भवान्
Here, there is one fruit more than the number of leaves, O Bahuka; and on both branches, the number of fruits exceeds the number of leaves by two. I will tell you, as you count, how many fruits there are.
प्रचिनुह्यस्य शाखे द्वे याश्चाप्यन्याः प्रशाखिकाः। आभ्यां फलसहस्रे द्वे पञ्चोनं शतमेव च
Count the two main branches of this tree, and also the other offshoots; on these, there are two thousand fruits, less by five hundred.
ततो रथादवप्लुत्य राजानं बाहुकोऽब्रवीत्। परोक्षमिव मे राजन्कत्थसे शत्रुकर्शन
Then, leaping down from the chariot, Bahuka spoke to the king: 'O subduer of foes, you boast as if indirectly before me.'
प्रत्यक्षमेतत्कर्ताऽस्मि शातयित्वा विभीतकम्। अथ ते गणिते राजन्द्विजामाम्यपरोक्षताम्
I will do this before your eyes, O king, by stripping the Bibhitaka tree; and when I have counted them, you shall know my directness.
प्रत्यक्षं ते महाराज् गणयिष्ये विभीतकम्। अहं हि नाभिजानामि भवेदेव नवेति वा
I will count the Bibhitaka fruits before you, O great king; for I do not know whether they are nine or not.
संख्यास्यामि फलान्यस्य पशय्तस्ते जनाधिप। मुहूर्तमपि वार्ष्णेयो रश्मीन्यच्छतु वाजिनाम्
I will count the fruits of this tree; let the king see for himself. For a moment, O Vārṣṇeya, restrain the reins of the horses.
तमब्रवीन्नृपः सूतं नायं कालो विलम्बितुम्। बाहुकस्त्वब्रवीदेनं परं यत्नं समास्थितः
The king said to the charioteer: 'This is not the time to delay.' But Bahuka replied to him, having taken up great effort:
प्रतीक्षस्व मुहूर्तं त्वमथवा त्वरते भवान्। एष याति शिवः पन्था याहि वार्ष्णेयसारथिः
Wait for a moment, or if you are in haste, proceed; this is a safe path—go, O charioteer of Vārṣṇeya.
अब्रवीदृतुपर्णस्तं सान्त्वयन्कुरुनन्दन। त्वभेव यन्ता नान्योस्ति पृथिव्यामपि बाहुक
Rituparna spoke to him, consoling him: 'You alone are the charioteer, O Bahuka; there is no other like you on earth.'
त्वत्कृतेयातुमिच्छामि विदर्भान्हयकोविद। शरणं त्वांप्रपन्नोस्मि न विघ्नं कर्तुमर्हसि
Because of you, O horse-expert, I wish to go to Vidarbha; I have taken refuge with you—do not cause any hindrance.
कामं च ते करिष्यामि यन्मां वक्ष्यसि बाहुक। विदर्भान्यदि यात्वाऽद्य सूर्यं दर्शयितासि मे
I will surely do whatever you ask of me, O Bahuka, if today, after reaching Vidarbha, you show me the sun.
अथाब्रवीद्बाहुकस्तं संख्यायच बिभीतकम्। ततो विदर्भान्यास्यामि कुरुष्वैवं वचो मम
Then Bahuka said to him, having counted the Bibhitaka fruits: 'After that, I will go to Vidarbha—do as I say.'
अकाम इव तं राजा गणयस्वेत्युवाच ह। एकदेशं च शाखायाः समादिष्टं मयाऽनघ
The king said to him, 'Count it as if you have no desire,' and, O faultless one, I instructed him to count only a single part of the branch.
गणयस्वाश्वतत्वज्ञ ततस्त्वंप्रीतिमावह। सोऽवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं शातयामास तं द्रुमम्
Count, O knower of horses, and bring me satisfaction.' Then, swiftly descending from the chariot, he began to count that tree.