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.'
कौन्तेयेनैवमुक्तस्तु बृहदश्वो महामुनिः'। ततोऽक्षहृदयं प्रादात्पाण्डवाय महात्मने। `लब्ध्वा च पाण्डवो राजा विशोकः समपद्यत
When Kaunteya had spoken thus, the great sage Brihadasva gave the science of dice to the high-souled Pandava; and having received it, King Yudhishthira became free from sorrow.
पुनरेव तु वक्ष्यामि यस्त्वत्तो दुःखितो नृपः। तं शृणुष्व महाराज सर्वदुःखापनुत्तये
Now again I shall tell you of a king who suffered because of you; listen, O great king, for the removal of all sorrows.
इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातो महात्मा पृथिवीपतिः। त्रिशङ्कुरिति विख्यातोराजराजो महाद्युतिः
Born in the lineage of the Ikshvakus was a great-souled lord of the earth, renowned as Trishanku, the king of kings, radiant in glory.
हरिश्चन्द्रस्ततो जज्ञे गुणरत्नाकरो नृपात्। ततो विशेषैर्विविधैर्यज्ञैर्विपुलदक्षिणैः
From him was born Harishchandra, a repository of virtues and gems among kings; he excelled in various special sacrifices, giving abundant gifts.
स तु लोके वरः पुंसां पुण्यश्लोको महायशाः। सत्यवादी मधुरवाक्सत्येन बहुभाषिता
He became the foremost among men in the world, famed for his righteousness and great renown, a speaker of truth, sweet-spoken, and steadfast in truthfulness.
तस्य भार्याऽभवद्भूमौ सौशील्यसमलंकृता। उशीनरस्य राजर्षेर्दुहिता पुण्यलक्षणा
His wife on earth was adorned with noble qualities, the virtuous daughter of the royal sage Ushinara.
स्वयंवरे महाभागं वरयामास भामिनी। हरिश्चन्द्रं समेतानां राज्ञां मद्ये पतिं विभुम्
In her own svayamvara, the radiant maiden chose Harishchandra, the illustrious among assembled kings, as her husband.
तया सह महीपालः सत्यवत्या मनोज्ञया। रेमे च सुचिरं कालं राजा राज्यमवाप्य च
With her, the charming Satyavati, the king enjoyed happiness for a long time, having attained his kingdom.
तस्यां देव्यां हरिश्चन्द्राज्जज्ञे राजीवलोचनः। पुत्रः पुण्यवतां श्रेष्ठो लोहिताश्व इति श्रुतः
From that queen, Harishchandra had a son with lotus-like eyes, the best among the virtuous, known as Rohitashva.
देव्या पुत्रेण सहितः पुण्यश्लोको महायशाः। वसिष्ठयाज्यो नृपतिरीजे शुण्यैर्महाध्वरैः
Together with his son, the righteous and renowned king, devoted to Vasistha as his priest, performed great sacrifices with abundant gifts.