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.
जित्वा परस्वमाहृत् राज्यंवा यदि वा वसु। प्रतिपाणः प्रदातव्यः प्राणो हि पणमुच्यते
Whether one wins the other's wealth or kingdom, the stake must be given; for life itself is said to be the wager.
न चेद्वाञ्छसि तद्द्यूतं युद्धद्यूतं प्रवर्तताम्। द्वैरथेनास्तु वै शान्तिस्तव वा मम वा नृप
If you do not desire this game of dice, then let a contest of arms commence; let there be peace for you or for me, O king, through single combat.
वंशभोज्यमिदं राज्यमर्थितव्यं यथा तथा। येनकेनाप्युपायेन वृद्धानामिति शासनम्
This kingdom is to be enjoyed by the lineage, to be sought after as is proper; by whatever means, such is the command of the elders.
द्वयोरेकतरे बुद्धिः क्रियतामद्य पुष्कर। कैतवेनाक्षवत्यां वा युद्धे वा नाम्यतां धनुः
Let a decision be made today between us two, Pushkara: whether by deceit at dice, or by battle, let the bow be bent.
नैषधेनैवमुक्तस्तु पुष्करः प्रहसन्निव। ध्रुवमात्मजयं मत्वा प्रत्याह निषधाधिपम्
Thus addressed by Nala, Pushkara, as if laughing, certain of his own victory, replied to the lord of Nishadha.
दिष्ट्या त्वयाऽर्जितं वित्तं प्रतिपाणाय नैषध। दिष्ट्या च दुष्कृतंकर्म दमयन्त्याः क्षयं गतम्
By fortune, you have gained wealth to stake, O Nala; and by fortune, the misdeed of Damayanti has come to an end.
दिष्ट्या वै प्रीसे राजन्मम लाभाय नैषध। पुनर्द्यूते च ते बुद्धिर्दिष्ट्या पुरुषसत्तम
By fortune, I am pleased, O king, for my gain, O Nala; and by fortune, your mind is again set on dice, best of men.
धनेनानेन वै भैमी जितेन समलंकृता। मामुपस्थास्यति व्यक्तं दिवि शक्रमिवाप्सराः
With this wealth, having won Bhimi's daughter, adorned, she will surely attend upon me, like an Apsaras upon Indra in heaven.
नित्यशो हि स्मरामि त्वां प्रतीक्षेऽपि च नैषध। देवने च मभ प्रीतिर्भवत्येवासुहृद्गणैः
Constantly do I remember you, and I await you, O Nala; yet in the game, my joy is with my own companions, not with you.
जित्वात्वद्य वरारोहां दमयन्तीमनिन्दिताम्। कतकृत्यो भविष्यामि सा हिमे नित्यशो हृदि
But today, having won the faultless Damayanti of lovely hips, I shall be satisfied; she will ever dwell in my heart.