Nala Loses His Kingdom and Goes into the Forest

Verse 1 (3.58.1)

ततस्तु याते वार्ष्णेये पुण्यश्लोकस्य दीव्यतः । पुष्करेण हृतं राज्यं यच्चापि वसु किंचन ॥

tatastu yāte vārṣṇeye puṇyaślokasya dīvyataḥ | puṣkareṇa hṛtaṃ rājyaṃ yaccāpi vasu kiṃcana

After Varshneya had gone, Pushkara won from Punyashloka, as he played on, his kingdom and whatever wealth he still had.

Verse 2 (3.58.2)

हृतराज्यं नलं राजन्प्रहसन्पुष्करोऽब्रवीत् । द्यूतं प्रवर्ततां भूयः प्रतिपाणोऽस्ति कस्तव ॥

hṛtarājyaṃ nalaṃ rājanprahasanpuṣkaro'bravīt | dyūtaṃ pravartatāṃ bhūyaḥ pratipāṇo'sti kastava

When Nala had lost his kingdom, O king, Pushkara laughed and said to him, "Let the play go on. But what stake have you left?

Verse 3 (3.58.3)

शिष्टा ते दमयन्त्येका सर्वमन्यद्धृतं मया । दमयन्त्याः पणः साधु वर्ततां यदि मन्यसे ॥

śiṣṭā te damayantyekā sarvamanyaddhṛtaṃ mayā | damayantyāḥ paṇaḥ sādhu vartatāṃ yadi manyase

Damayanti alone is left to you; everything else I have won. Let Damayanti be the stake, if you think it well."

Verse 4 (3.58.4)

पुष्करेणैवमुक्तस्य पुण्यश्लोकस्य मन्युना । व्यदीर्यतेव हृदयं न चैनं किंचिदब्रवीत् ॥

puṣkareṇaivamuktasya puṇyaślokasya manyunā | vyadīryateva hṛdayaṃ na cainaṃ kiṃcidabravīt

At these words of Pushkara, Punyashloka's heart all but burst with anger, yet he said nothing to him.

Note on the text: Corrected पुष्रेणैवमुक्तस्य → पुष्करेणैवमुक्तस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara; the critical edition has puṣkareṇaivam uktasya).

Verse 5 (3.58.5)

ततः पुष्करमालोक्य नलः परममन्युमान् । उवाच विद्यतेऽन्यच्च धनं मम नराधम ॥

tataḥ puṣkaramālokya nalaḥ paramamanyumān | uvāca vidyate'nyacca dhanaṃ mama narādhama

Then Nala, burning with anger, looked at Pushkara and said, "I have other wealth, you lowest of men."

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick (editorial mark in Wikisource). The first line is CE 3.58.5a; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus has it as 3.58.5b*0243, line 1).

Verse 6 (3.58.6)

पणरूपेण निक्षिप्य पुण्यश्लोकः सुदुर्मनाः । उत्तरीयं तथा वस्त्रं तस्याश्चाभरणानि च । उत्सृज्य सर्वगात्रेभ्यो भूषणानि महायशाः ॥

paṇarūpeṇa nikṣipya puṇyaślokaḥ sudurmanāḥ | uttarīyaṃ tathā vastraṃ tasyāścābharaṇāni ca | utsṛjya sarvagātrebhyo bhūṣaṇāni mahāyaśāḥ

And Punyashloka, sick at heart, laid down as his stake his upper garment and his cloth, and her ornaments; then the illustrious king took the jewels off all his limbs,

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark (editorial mark in Wikisource). Corrected षणरूपेण → पणरूपेण, उन्सृज्य → उत्सृज्य, सर्वगात्रभ्यो → सर्वगात्रेभ्यो and सहायशाः → महायशाः (misprints in Wikisource; the apparatus has paṇarūpeṇa, and the critical edition utsṛjya sarvagātrebhyo bhūṣaṇāni mahāyaśāḥ). The first two lines are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus has them as 3.58.5b*0243, lines 2–3); the third line is CE 3.58.5c.

Verse 7 (3.58.7)

एकवासा ह्यसंवीतः सुहृच्छोकविवर्धनः । निश्चक्राम ततो राजा त्यक्त्वा सुविपुलां श्रियम् ॥

ekavāsā hyasaṃvītaḥ suhṛcchokavivardhanaḥ | niścakrāma tato rājā tyaktvā suvipulāṃ śriyam

and wearing a single cloth, with no upper garment, adding to his friends' grief, the king went out, leaving behind his vast royal fortune.

Note on the text: Corrected सुकवासा → एकवासा and ततोराजा → ततो राजा (misprint and word-spacing slip in Wikisource; सुकवासा is not a word, and the critical edition has ekavāsā and tadā rājā).

Verse 8 (3.58.8)

दमयन्त्येकवस्त्राऽथ गच्छन्तं पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् । स तया नगराभ्याशे त्रिरात्रं नैषधोऽवसत् ॥

damayantyekavastrā'tha gacchantaṃ pṛṣṭhato'nvagāt | sa tayā nagarābhyāśe trirātraṃ naiṣadho'vasat

Damayanti, in a single garment, followed behind him as he went. With her the king of the Nishadhas stayed three nights near the city.

Note on the text: Corrected नैपधोऽवसत् → नैषधोऽवसत् (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition has naiṣadho 'vasat).

Verse 9 (3.58.9)

पुष्करस्तु महाराज घोषयामास वै पुरे । नले यः सम्यगातिष्ठेत्स गच्छेद्वध्यतां मम ॥

puṣkarastu mahārāja ghoṣayāmāsa vai pure | nale yaḥ samyagātiṣṭhetsa gacchedvadhyatāṃ mama

But Pushkara, great king, had it proclaimed in the city: "Whoever treats Nala kindly shall be put to death by me."

Note on the text: Corrected धोषयामास → घोषयामास (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ; the critical edition has ghoṣayām āsa).

Verse 10 (3.58.10)

पुष्करस्य तु वाक्येन तस्य विद्वेषणेन च । पौरा न तस्य सत्कारं कृतवन्तो युधिष्ठिर ॥

puṣkarasya tu vākyena tasya vidveṣaṇena ca | paurā na tasya satkāraṃ kṛtavanto yudhiṣṭhira

Because of Pushkara's order and his hatred of Nala, the citizens showed him no hospitality, Yudhishthira.

Verse 11 (3.58.11)

स तथा नगराभ्याशे सत्कारार्हो न सत्कृतः । त्रिरात्रमुषितो राजा जलमात्रेण वर्तयन् ॥

sa tathā nagarābhyāśe satkārārho na satkṛtaḥ | trirātramuṣito rājā jalamātreṇa vartayan

So the king, who deserved honour, went unhonoured; he stayed three nights near the city, living on water alone.

Note on the text: Corrected सन्कृतः → सत्कृतः and त्रिरत्रमुषितो → त्रिरात्रमुषितो (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition has satkṛtaḥ and trirātram uṣito).

Verse 12 (3.58.12)

पीड्यमानः क्षुधा तत्र फलमूलानि कर्षयन् । प्रातिष्ठत ततो राजा दमयन्ती तमन्वगात् ॥

pīḍyamānaḥ kṣudhā tatra phalamūlāni karṣayan | prātiṣṭhata tato rājā damayantī tamanvagāt

Tormented there by hunger, digging up roots and gathering fruits, the king then set out, and Damayanti followed him.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets and the inner double danda around this verse (editorial marks in Wikisource). Corrected फलमृलानि → फलमूलानि and कर्पयन् → कर्षयन् (misprints in Wikisource; the apparatus has phalamūlāni karṣayan). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus has it as 3.58.10d*0244.

Verse 13 (3.58.13)

क्षुधया पीड्यमानस्तु नलो बहुतिथेऽहनि । अपश्यच्छकुनान्कांश्चिद्धिरण्यसदृशच्छदान् ॥

kṣudhayā pīḍyamānastu nalo bahutithe'hani | apaśyacchakunānkāṃściddhiraṇyasadṛśacchadān

After many days, tormented by hunger, Nala saw some birds whose wings looked like gold.

Note on the text: Corrected पीड्यमानम्तु → पीड्यमानस्तु (misprint in Wikisource; म for स; the critical edition has saṃpīḍyamānas tu).

Verse 14 (3.58.14)

स चिन्तयामास तदा निषधाधिपतिर्बली । अस्ति भक्ष्यो ममाद्यापि वसु चेदं भविष्यति ॥

sa cintayāmāsa tadā niṣadhādhipatirbalī | asti bhakṣyo mamādyāpi vasu cedaṃ bhaviṣyati

Then the mighty lord of the Nishadhas thought, "Here is food for me today, and this will be wealth too."

Verse 15 (3.58.15)

ततस्तानन्तरीयेण वाससा स समावृणोत् । तस्य तद्वस्त्रमादाय सर्वे जग्मुर्विहायसा ॥

tatastānantarīyeṇa vāsasā sa samāvṛṇot | tasya tadvastramādāya sarve jagmurvihāyasā

So he covered them with the cloth he wore; but taking that garment of his, they all flew off into the sky.

Verse 16 (3.58.16)

उत्पतन्तः खगा वाक्यमेतदाहुस्ततो नलम् । दृष्ट्वा दिग्वाससं भूमौ स्थितं दीनमधोमुखम् ॥

utpatantaḥ khagā vākyametadāhustato nalam | dṛṣṭvā digvāsasaṃ bhūmau sthitaṃ dīnamadhomukham

As they flew up, the birds saw Nala standing on the ground naked, wretched, his face cast down, and spoke these words to him:

Verse 17 (3.58.17)

वयमक्षाः सुदुर्बुद्धे तव वासो जिहीर्षवः । आगता न हि नः प्रीतिः सवाससि गते त्वयि ॥

vayamakṣāḥ sudurbuddhe tava vāso jihīrṣavaḥ | āgatā na hi naḥ prītiḥ savāsasi gate tvayi

"Fool, we are the dice! We came wanting to take your garment too, for it did not please us that you should go away with even a cloth on."

Note on the text: Corrected तववासो → तव वासो (word-spacing slip in Wikisource; the critical edition has tava vāso).

Verse 18 (3.58.18)

तान्समीक्ष्य गतानक्षानात्मानं च विवाससम् । पुण्यश्लोकस्तदा राजा दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत् ॥

tānsamīkṣya gatānakṣānātmānaṃ ca vivāsasam | puṇyaślokastadā rājā damayantīmathābravīt

Seeing the dice gone and himself stripped bare, King Punyashloka then said to Damayanti:

Note on the text: Corrected नान्समीक्ष्य → तान्समीक्ष्य (misprint in Wikisource; न for त; the critical edition has tān samīkṣya).

Verse 19 (3.58.19)

येषां प्रकोपादैश्वर्यान्प्रच्युतोऽहमनिन्दिते । प्राणयात्रां न विन्देयं दुःखितः क्षुधयाऽन्वितः ॥

yeṣāṃ prakopādaiśvaryānpracyuto'hamanindite | prāṇayātrāṃ na vindeyaṃ duḥkhitaḥ kṣudhayā'nvitaḥ

"Blameless one, those through whose anger I have fallen from my sovereignty, so that, wretched and hungry, I cannot find the means to keep alive,

Verse 20 (3.58.20)

येषां कृते न सत्कारमकुर्वन्मयि नैषधाः । इमे ते शकुना भूत्वा वासश्चापहरन्ति मे ॥

yeṣāṃ kṛte na satkāramakurvanmayi naiṣadhāḥ | ime te śakunā bhūtvā vāsaścāpaharanti me

those for whose sake the Nishadhas would show me no hospitality, they have become birds and are carrying off my garment too.

Note on the text: Corrected वासश्चाषहरन्ति → वासश्चापहरन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; ष for प; the critical edition has apaharanti).

Verse 21 (3.58.21)

वैषम्यं परमं प्राप्तो दुःखितो गतचेतनः । भर्ता तेऽहं निबोधेदं वचनं हितमात्मनः ॥

vaiṣamyaṃ paramaṃ prāpto duḥkhito gatacetanaḥ | bhartā te'haṃ nibodhedaṃ vacanaṃ hitamātmanaḥ

I have fallen into the worst misfortune; I am wretched and out of my senses. I am your husband: hear these words, for your own good.

Verse 22 (3.58.22)

एते गच्छन्ति बहवः पन्थानो दक्षिणापथम् । अवन्तीमृक्षवन्तं च समतिक्रम्य पर्वतम् ॥

ete gacchanti bahavaḥ panthāno dakṣiṇāpatham | avantīmṛkṣavantaṃ ca samatikramya parvatam

These many roads lead to the southern country, past Avanti and the Rikshavat mountain.

Note on the text: Corrected वहवः → बहवः and दिणापथम् → दक्षिणापथम् (misprints in Wikisource; the second drops an akshara; the critical edition has bahavaḥ and dakṣiṇāpatham).

Verse 23 (3.58.23)

एष विन्ध्यो महाशैलः पयोष्णी च समुद्रगा । आश्रमाश्च महर्षीणां बहुमूलफलान्विताः ॥

eṣa vindhyo mahāśailaḥ payoṣṇī ca samudragā | āśramāśca maharṣīṇāṃ bahumūlaphalānvitāḥ

This is the great mountain Vindhya, and this the Payoshni, flowing to the sea; and here are hermitages of great seers, rich in roots and fruits.

Verse 24 (3.58.24)

एष पन्था विदर्भाणामेष यास्यति कोसलान् । अतःपरं च देशोऽयं दक्षिणो दक्षिणापथः ॥

eṣa panthā vidarbhāṇāmeṣa yāsyati kosalān | ataḥparaṃ ca deśo'yaṃ dakṣiṇo dakṣiṇāpathaḥ

This is the road to the Vidarbhas; that one will go to the Kosalas; and beyond them lies this southern land, the Dakshinapatha."

Verse 25 (3.58.25)

एतद्वाक्यं नलो राजा दमयन्तीं समाहितः । उवाचासकृदार्तो हि भैमीमुद्दिश्य भारत ॥

etadvākyaṃ nalo rājā damayantīṃ samāhitaḥ | uvācāsakṛdārto hi bhaimīmuddiśya bhārata

King Nala, in his distress, spoke these words to Damayanti again and again with a set purpose, O Bharata, meaning them for Bhaimi.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus has it as 3.58.22d*0245.

Verse 26 (3.58.26)

ततः सा वाष्पकलया वाचा दुःखेन कर्शिता । उवाच दमयन्ती तं नैषधं करुणं वचः ॥

tataḥ sā vāṣpakalayā vācā duḥkhena karśitā | uvāca damayantī taṃ naiṣadhaṃ karuṇaṃ vacaḥ

Then Damayanti, worn with grief, spoke these piteous words to the king of the Nishadhas in a voice choked with tears:

Verse 27 (3.58.27)

उद्वेपते मे हृदयं सीदन्त्यङ्गानि सर्वशः । तव पार्थिव संकल्पं चिन्तयन्त्याः पुनः पुनः ॥

udvepate me hṛdayaṃ sīdantyaṅgāni sarvaśaḥ | tava pārthiva saṃkalpaṃ cintayantyāḥ punaḥ punaḥ

"My heart trembles and all my limbs grow faint, O king, as I think again and again of what you intend.

Note on the text: Corrected उद्वेषते → उद्वेपते (misprint in Wikisource; ष for प; the critical edition has udvepate).

Verse 28 (3.58.28)

हृतराज्यं हृतद्रव्यं विवस्त्रं क्षुच्छ्रमान्वितम् । कथमुत्सृज्य गच्छेयमहं त्वां निर्जने वने ॥

hṛtarājyaṃ hṛtadravyaṃ vivastraṃ kṣucchramānvitam | kathamutsṛjya gaccheyamahaṃ tvāṃ nirjane vane

Your kingdom gone, your wealth gone, without clothes, hungry and weary: how could I go away and leave you in this lonely forest?

Verse 29 (3.58.29)

श्रान्तस्य ते क्षुधार्तस्य चिन्तयानस्य तत्सुखम् । वने घोरे महाराज नाशयिष्याम्यहं क्लमम् ॥

śrāntasya te kṣudhārtasya cintayānasya tatsukham | vane ghore mahārāja nāśayiṣyāmyahaṃ klamam

When you are worn out and hungry in this dreadful forest, great king, brooding on the happiness that was, I shall ease your weariness.

Verse 30 (3.58.30)

न च भार्यासमं किंचिन्नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम् । नित्यं हि सर्वदुःखेषु सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

na ca bhāryāsamaṃ kiṃcinnarasyārtasya bheṣajam | nityaṃ hi sarvaduḥkheṣu satyametadbravīmi te

For a man in distress there is no remedy like a wife, always and in every sorrow. This is the truth I tell you."

Note on the text: Removed a stray doubled danda and an asterisk (footnote mark in Wikisource, pointing to the critical edition's reading of this verse printed below the page). Corrected एतद्व्रवीमि → एतद्ब्रवीमि (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब; the critical edition has etad bravīmi). The critical edition reads the first line and the start of the second differently (vidyate bhiṣajāṃ matam / auṣadhaṃ); Wikisource's reading is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 31 (3.58.31)

एवमेतद्यथाऽऽत्थ त्वं दमयन्ति सुमध्यमे । नास्ति भार्यासमं मित्रं नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम् ॥

evametadyathā''ttha tvaṃ damayanti sumadhyame | nāsti bhāryāsamaṃ mitraṃ narasyārtasya bheṣajam

"It is just as you say, Damayanti, slender-waisted one: for a man in distress there is no friend and no remedy like a wife.

Note on the text: Corrected यथाऽऽन्थ → यथाऽऽत्थ and बार्यासमं → भार्यासमं (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition has yathāttha and bhāryāsamaṃ).

Verse 32 (3.58.32)

न चाहं त्यक्तुकामस्त्वां किमलं भीरु शङ्कसे । त्यजेयमहमात्मानं न चैव त्वामनिन्दिते ॥

na cāhaṃ tyaktukāmastvāṃ kimalaṃ bhīru śaṅkase | tyajeyamahamātmānaṃ na caiva tvāmanindite

I have no wish to abandon you; why, timid one, do you fear so much? I would sooner abandon myself than you, blameless one."

Note on the text: किमलं is kept as printed (the critical edition has kimarthaṃ) and read as "why so much".

Verse 33 (3.58.33)

यदि मां त्वं महाराज न विहातुमिहेच्छसि । तत्किमर्थं विदर्भाणां पन्थाः समुपदिश्यते ॥

yadi māṃ tvaṃ mahārāja na vihātumihecchasi | tatkimarthaṃ vidarbhāṇāṃ panthāḥ samupadiśyate

"If you do not mean to leave me here, great king, why then are you pointing out to me the road to the Vidarbhas?

Note on the text: Corrected विहातुमिहच्छसि → विहातुमिहेच्छसि (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign; the critical edition has vihātum ihecchasi).

Verse 34 (3.58.34)

अवैमि चाहं नृपते न तु मां त्यक्तुमर्हसि । चेतसा त्वपकृष्टेन मां त्यजेथा महीपते ॥

avaimi cāhaṃ nṛpate na tu māṃ tyaktumarhasi | cetasā tvapakṛṣṭena māṃ tyajethā mahīpate

I know, O king, that you would not abandon me; but with your mind led astray you might abandon me, lord of the earth.

Verse 35 (3.58.35)

पन्थानं हि ममाभीक्ष्णमाख्यासि च नरोत्तम । अतो निमित्तं शोकं मे वर्धयस्यमरोपम ॥

panthānaṃ hi mamābhīkṣṇamākhyāsi ca narottama | ato nimittaṃ śokaṃ me vardhayasyamaropama

Again and again you tell me the way, best of men; and so, godlike one, you add to my grief.

Verse 36 (3.58.36)

यदि चायमभिप्रायस्तव राजन्भविष्यति । सहितावेव गच्छावो विदर्भान्यदि मन्यसे ॥

yadi cāyamabhiprāyastava rājanbhaviṣyati | sahitāveva gacchāvo vidarbhānyadi manyase

If this is what you have in mind, O king, then let us go to the Vidarbhas together, if you agree.

Verse 37 (3.58.37)

विदर्भराजस्तत्र त्वां पूजयिष्यति मानद । तेन त्वं पूजितो राजन्सुखं वत्स्यसि नो गृहे ॥

vidarbharājastatra tvāṃ pūjayiṣyati mānada | tena tvaṃ pūjito rājansukhaṃ vatsyasi no gṛhe

The king of Vidarbha will honour you there, giver of honour; and honoured by him, O king, you will live happily in our home."