गृहे भीमस्य नृपतेः परस्परसुखैषिणौ। वसेतां हृष्टसंकल्पौ वैदर्भी च नलश् ह
In the house of King Bhīma, seeking each other's happiness, Nala and the Vidarbha princess dwelt, their hearts delighted.
स चतुर्थे ततो वर्षे संगम्य सह भार्यया। सर्वकामैः सुसिद्धार्थो लब्धवान्परमां मुदम्
Then, in the fourth year, united with his wife, he attained supreme joy, all his desires perfectly fulfilled.
दमयन्त्यपि भर्तारमासाद्याप्यायिता भृशम्। अर्धसंजातसस्येव तोयं प्राप्य वसुंधरा
Damayantī, too, upon regaining her husband, was greatly restored, like the earth, half-sown, receiving water.
सैवं समेत्य व्यपनीय तन्द्रां शान्तज्वरा हर्षविवृद्धसत्त्वा। रराज भैमी समवाप्तकामा शीतांशुना रात्रिरिवोदितेन
Thus, reunited and casting off her weariness, her fever calmed, her spirit uplifted with joy, Bhīmī shone, her desires fulfilled, like the night illumined by the rising moon.
अथ तां व्युषितो रात्रिं नलो राजा स्वलंकृतः। वैदर्भ्या सहितः काल्यं ददर्श वसुधाधिपम्
Then, after spending the night, King Nala, adorned, together with Vidarbha’s daughter, saw the lord of the earth at dawn.
ततोऽभिवादयामास प्रयतः श्वशुरं नलः। ततो नु दमयन्ती च ववन्दे पितरं शुभा
Then Nala, with reverence, greeted his father-in-law; and Damayantī, the auspicious one, bowed to her father.
तं भीमः प्रतिजग्राह पुत्रवत्परया मुदा। यथार्हं पूजयित्वा च समाश्वासयत प्रभुः
Bhīma received him with the utmost joy, as a son, and after honoring him as was proper, the lord comforted him.
नलेन सहितां तत्रदमयन्तीं पतिव्रताम्। `अनुजग्राह महता सत्कारेण क्षितीश्वरः
There, the lord of the earth welcomed Damayantī, devoted to her husband, with great honor, together with Nala.
तामर्हणां नलो राजा प्रतिगृह्य यथाविधि। परिचर्यां स्वकां तस्मै यथावत्प्रत्यवेदयत्
King Nala, having received the proper offerings, duly rendered his own service to him as was fitting.
ततो बभूव नमरे सुमहान्हर्षजः स्वनः। जनस्य संप्रहृष्टस्य नलं दृष्ट्वा तथाऽऽगतम्
Then there arose a great sound of joy, born of happiness, among the people, who were delighted to see Nala return in such a manner.
अशोभयच्च नगरीं पताकाध्वजमालिनीम्। सिक्ताः सुमृष्टपुष्पाढ्या राजमार्गाः स्वलंकृताः
The city, adorned with garlands of banners and flags, shone brilliantly; the royal roads, sprinkled and beautifully decorated with abundant flowers, were splendidly arrayed.
द्वारिद्वारि च पौराणां पुष्पभङ्गः प्रकल्पितः। अर्चितानि च सर्वाणि देवतायतनानि च
At every gate of the citizens, arrangements of flowers were made, and all the shrines of the deities were honored as well.
ऋतुपर्णोऽपिशुश्राव बाहुकच्छद्मिनं नलम्। दमयन्त्या समायुक्तं जहृषे च नराधिपः
Rituparna also heard that Bahuka, who was truly Nala, had been reunited with Damayanti, and the king rejoiced.
तमानाय्य नलं राजा क्षमयामास पार्थिवः। स च तं क्षमयामास हेतुभिर्बुद्धिसंमितः
Having summoned Nala, the king forgave him, and Nala, with understanding and reason, also forgave him.
स सत्कृतोमहीपालो नैषधं विस्मिताननः। दिष्ट्या समेतो दारैः स्वैर्भवानित्यभ्यनन्दत
That honored king, with a face full of wonder, joyfully greeted the lord of Nishadha, saying, 'By good fortune you are reunited with your own wife.'
कच्चित्तु नापराधं ते कृतवानस्मि नैषध। अज्ञातवासे वसतो मद्गृहेवसुधाधिप
O lord of the earth, Nishadha, I hope I have not committed any offense against you while you dwelt in my house in disguise.
यदि वाऽबुद्धिपूर्वाणि यदि बुद्ध्याऽपि कानिचित्। मया कृतान्यकार्याणि तानि त्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि
If I have done anything improper, whether unknowingly or even knowingly, you ought to forgive those actions.
न मेऽपराधं कृतवांस्त्वं स्वल्पमपि पार्थिव। कृतेऽपि च न मे कोपः क्षन्तव्यं हि मया तव
You have not committed even the slightest offense against me, O king; and even if you had, I would not be angry, for I must forgive you.
पूर्वं ह्यापि सखा मेऽसि संबन्धी च जनाधिप। अत ऊर्ध्वं तु भूयस्त्वं प्रीतिमाहर्तुमर्हसि
You have always been my friend and relative, O lord of men; from now on, you should show me even greater affection.
सर्वकामैः सुविहितैः सुखमस्म्युषितस्त्वयि। न तथा स्वगृहेराजन्यथा तव गृहे सदा
I have lived happily with you, enjoying every comfort, even more so than in my own house.
इदं चैव हयज्ञानं त्वदीयं मयि तिष्ठति। तदुपाकर्तुमिच्छामि मन्यसे यदि पार्थिव
And this knowledge of horse-lore, which is yours, remains with me; I wish to return it to you, if you so desire, O king.
एवमुक्त्वा ददौ विद्यामृतुपर्णाय नैषधः। स च तां प्रतिजग्राह विधिदृष्टेन क्रमणा
Having spoken thus, Nala, lord of Nishadha, gave the knowledge to Rituparna, and he received it in the proper manner as prescribed.
गृहीत्वा चाश्वहृदयं प्रीतो भागस्वरिर्नृप। निषधाधिपतेश्चापि दत्ताऽक्षहृदयं नृपः। सूतमन्यमुपादाय ययौ स्वपुरमेव ह
Having received the knowledge of horses, the delighted king, master of dice, also gave the knowledge of dice to the lord of Nishadha; then, taking another charioteer, he returned to his own city.
ऋतुपर्णे गते राजन्नलो राजा विशांपते। नगरे कुण्डिने कालं नातिदीर्गमिवावसत्
When Rituparna had departed, King Nala, O lord of the people, remained in the city of Kundina for a short time.
स मासमुष्य कौन्तेय भीममामन्त्र्य नैषधः। पुरादल्पपरीवारो जगाम निषधान्प्रति
After spending a month there, O son of Kunti, Nala, having taken leave of Bhima, set out for Nishadha with only a small retinue.
रथेनैकेन शुभ्रेण दन्तिभिः परिषोडशै। पञ्चाशद्भिर्हयैश्चैव षट्शतैश्च पदातिभिः
With a single splendid chariot, accompanied by sixteen elephants, fifty horses, and six hundred foot soldiers, he departed.
स कम्पयन्निव महीं त्वरमाणो महापुरीम्। प्रविवेशाथ संरब्धस्तरसैव महामनाः
Then, hastening as if shaking the earth, the great-minded Nala, eager and resolute, entered the great city.
ततः पुष्करमासाद्य वीरसेनसुतो नलः। उवाच दीव्याव पुनर्बहुवित्तं मयाऽर्जितम्
Thereupon, reaching Pushkara, Nala, son of Virasena, said, 'Let us play dice again; I have acquired much wealth.'
दमयन्ती च यच्चान्यन्मम किंचन विद्यते। एष वै मम संन्यासस्तव राज्यंतु पुष्कर
And whatever else belongs to me, including Damayanti, this is my pledge; let the kingdom be yours, Pushkara.
पुनः प्रवर्ततां द्यूतमिति मे निश्चिता मतिः। एकपाणेन भद्रं ते प्राणयोश्च पणावहे
My firm resolve is that the game of dice should begin again; with one hand, let us wager—may well-being be yours—and let our very lives be the stakes.