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.
इतिहासमिमं चापि कलिनाशनमच्युत। शक्यमाश्वसितुं श्रुत्वा त्वद्विधेन विशांपते
This ancient history, O faultless one, is also a destroyer of Kali; hearing it, a king like you may find comfort.
अस्थिरत्वं च संचिन्त्य पुरुषार्थस् नित्यदा। तस्योदये व्यये चापि न चिन्तयितुमर्हसि
Always consider the instability of human effort; in its rise and fall, you should not be anxious.
श्रुत्वेतिहासं नृषते समाश्वसिहि मा शुचः। व्यसने त्वं महाराज न विषीदितुमर्हसि
Having heard this history, O king, take comfort and do not grieve; in adversity, you should not lose heart.
विषमावस्थिते दैवे पौरुषेऽफलतां गते। विषादयन्ति नात्मानं सत्त्वापाश्रयिणो नराः
When fate is adverse and human effort proves fruitless, those who rely on their own strength do not despair.
ये चेदं कथयिष्यन्ति नलस् चरितं महत्। श्रोष्यन्ति चाप्यभीक्ष्णं वै नालक्ष्मीस्तान्भजिष्यति
Those who recount and those who frequently listen to the great story of Nala will not be abandoned by fortune.
अर्थास्तस्योपपत्स्यन्ते धन्यतां च गमिष्यति। इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा पुराणं शश्वदुत्तमम्
Wealth will come to them, and they will attain blessedness; hearing this ancient, ever-excellent history.
पुत्रान्पौत्रान्पशूंश्चापि लभते नृषु चाग्र्यताम्। आरोग्यप्रीतिमांश्चैव भविष्ति न संशयः
He will gain sons, grandsons, cattle, and preeminence among men; he will have health and joy, without doubt.
भयात्रस्यसि यच्च त्वमाह्वयिष्यति मां पुनः। अक्षज्ञ इति तत्तेऽहं नाशयिष्यामि पार्थिव
If you fear that you will call upon me again as the knower of dice, O king, I will dispel that for you.
वेदाक्षहृदयं कृत्स्नमहं सत्यपराक्रम। उपपद्यस्व कौन्तेय प्रसन्नोऽहं ब्रवीमि ते
I possess the complete knowledge of dice and the Vedas, and am devoted to truth and valor; approach, O son of Kuntī, I speak to you with favor.
ततो हृष्टमना राजा बृहदश्वमुवाच ह। भगवन्नक्षहृदयं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
Then the king, his mind delighted, spoke to Bṛhadaśva: 'Revered one, I wish to know the heart of dice in truth.'