श्रुत्वा तु तस् ता वाचो बह्वबद्धप्रलापिनः। इयेष स शिरश्छेत्तुं खङ्गेन कुपितो नलः
Hearing those many incoherent and boastful words, Nala, enraged, wished to cut off his head with his sword.
स्मयंस्तु रोषताम्राक्षस्तमुवाच नलो नृपः। पणावः किं व्याहरसे जितो न व्याहरिष्यसि
Smiling, though his eyes were red with anger, King Nala said to him, 'Why do you speak of wagers? When defeated, you will not speak so.'
ततः प्रावर्तत द्यूतं पुष्करस्य नलस्य च। एकपाणेन भद्रं ते नलेन स पराजितः
Then the game of dice began between Pushkara and Nala; with one hand, may it be well for you—Pushkara was defeated by Nala.
स रत्नकोशनिचयैः प्राणेन पणितोपि च। जित्वा च पुष्करं राजा प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत्
He, having staked heaps of jewels and even his life, and having defeated Pushkara, the king laughed and spoke these words.
मम सर्वमिदं राज्यमव्यग्रं हतकण्ठकम्। वैदर्भी न त्वया शक्या राजापशद वीक्षितम्। तस्यास्त्वं सपरीवारो मूढ दासत्वमागतः
All my kingdom is undisturbed and free from threats; but you, O outcast from royal circles, cannot even look upon the Vidarbha princess. You and your retinue, foolish one, have come into servitude to her.
न त्वया तत्कृतंकर्म येनाहं विजितः पुरा। कलिना तत्कृतं कर्म त्वं च मूढ न बुध्यसे
It was not by your actions that I was once defeated; it was the work of Kali. You, foolish one, do not understand this.
नाहं परकृतं दोषं त्वय्याधास्ये कथंचन। यथासुखं वै जीवत्वंप्राणानवसृजामि ते
I will never place the blame for another's deed upon you. Live as you wish; I grant you your life.
तथैव सर्वसंभारं स्वमंशं वितरामि ते। तथैव च मम प्रीतिस्त्वयि वीर न संशयः
In the same way, I will give you all provisions and your rightful share. Likewise, my affection for you, O hero, is certain.
सौहार्दं चापि मे त्वत्तो न कदाचित्प्रहास्यति। पुष्कर त्वं हि मे भ्राता संजीव शरदः शतम्
My friendship with you will never be abandoned. O Puṣkara, you are my brother; may you live a hundred autumns.
एवं नलः सान्त्वयित्वा भ्रातरं सत्यविक्रमः। वचनैस्तोषयामास परिष्वज्य पुनः पुनः
Thus Nala, steadfast in truth, comforted his brother with words, repeatedly embracing him.
सान्त्वितो नैषधेनैवं पुष्ररः प्रत्युवाच तम्। पुण्यश्लोकं तदा राजन्नभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः
Consoled by Nala in this way, Puṣkara replied to him, O king of sacred fame, bowing with joined palms.
कीर्तिरस्तु तवाक्षय्या जीव वर्षायुतं सुखी। यो मे वितरसि प्राणानधिष्ठानं च पार्थिव
May your glory be unfading; live happily for ten thousand years, O king, you who grant me life and a place to stand.
स तथा सत्कृतो राज्ञा मासमुष्य तदा नृपः। प्रययौ पुषरो हृष्टः स्वपुरं स्वजनावृतः
Thus honored by the king, Puṣkara, delighted, departed for his own city, surrounded by his people.
महत्या सेनया सार्धंविनीतैः परिचारकैः। भ्राजमान इवादित्यो वपुषा पुरुषर्षभ
With a great army and disciplined attendants, shining like the sun in splendor, the foremost of men.
प्रस्थाप्य पुष्करं राजा वित्तवन्तमनामयम्। प्रविवेश पुरं श्रीमानत्यर्थमुपशोभिताम्
Having sent Puṣkara away, wealthy and unharmed, the glorious king entered the city, exceedingly adorned.
प्रविश्य सान्त्वयामास पौरांश्च निषधाधिपः। `हितेषु चैषां सततं पितेवावहितोऽभवत्
Entering, the lord of Niṣadha comforted the citizens, always attentive to their welfare like a father.
पौरा जानपदाश्चापि संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहाः। ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे सामात्यप्रमुखा जनाः
The citizens and country folk, their bodies thrilled with joy, all spoke with joined palms, led by the ministers.
अद्यस्म निर्वृता राजन्पुरे जनपदेऽपि च। उपासितुं पुनः प्राप्ता देवा इव शतक्रतुम्
Today, O king, we are content in the city and countryside; we have come again to serve you, as the gods do Indra.
प्रशान्ते तु पुरे हृष्टे संप्रवृत्ते महोत्सवे। महत्या सेनया राजा दमयन्तीमुपानयत्
When the city was peaceful and joyful, and a great festival was underway, the king brought Damayantī with a mighty army.
पुण्यश्लोकं तु राज्यस्थं श्रुत्वा भीमो महीपतिः। मुदा परमया युक्तो बभूव भरतर्षभ
Hearing that the king of sacred fame had regained his kingdom, Bhīma, lord of the earth, was filled with supreme joy, O best of Bharatas.
अथ हृष्टमना राजा महत्या सेनया सह। सुतां प्रस्थापयामास पुण्यश्लोकाय धीमते
Then the joyful king, together with a great army, sent his daughter to Puṣkara, the wise and renowned.
दमयन्तीमपि पिता सत्कृत्यपरवीरहा। प्रास्थापयदमेयात्मा भीमो भीमपराक्रमः
Damayantī's father, Bhīma of immeasurable spirit and mighty valor, honored her and sent her forth.
आगतायां तु वैदर्भ्यां सपुत्रायां नलो नृपः। वर्तयामास मुदितो दोवराडिव नन्दने
When the princess of Vidarbha arrived with her son, King Nala, joyful, lived as if he were Kubera in the gardens of Nandana.
तथा प्रकाशतां यातो जम्बूद्वीपे स राजसु। पुनः स्वे चावसद्राज्ये प्रत्याहृत्य महायशाः
Thus, his fame spread among the kings of Jambudvīpa, and the illustrious Nala returned to his own kingdom and dwelt there once more.
ईजे च विविधैर्यज्ञैर्विधिवच्चाप्तदक्षिणैः। तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र ससुहृद्वक्ष्यसे चिरात्
He performed various sacrifices, properly conducted and with fitting gifts; so too, O king, you will prosper with your friends after a long time.
दुःखमेतादृशंप्राप्तो नलः परपुरंजयः। देवनेन नरश्रेष्ठ सभार्यो भरतर्षभ
Nala, the conqueror of enemy cities, endured such suffering, O best of men, together with his wife, by the will of the gods, O bull among the Bharatas.
एकाकिनैव सुमहन्नलेन पृथिवीपते। दुःखमासादितं घोरं प्राप्तश्चाभ्युदयः पुनः
Alone, O lord of the earth, Nala faced immense and terrible hardship, yet he attained prosperity again.
त्वं पुनर्भ्रातृसहितः कृष्णया चैव पाण्डव। कथाश्चापि समाकर्ण्य धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन्
But you, O Pāṇḍava, are together with your brothers and with Kṛṣṇā, and, hearing these stories, you reflect only upon righteousness.
ब्राह्मणैश्च महाभागैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः। नित्यमन्वास्यसे राजंस्तत्र का परिदेवना
You are constantly attended by noble Brāhmaṇas, masters of the Vedas and its branches; O king, what cause is there for lamentation?
कर्कोटकस्य नागस् दमयन्त्या नलस्य च। ऋतुपर्णस्य राजर्षेः कीर्तनं कलिनाशनम्
The tale of Karkoṭaka the serpent, Damayantī, Nala, and the royal sage Ṛtuparṇa is a destroyer of Kali.