Karkotaka Transforms Nala

Verse 1 (3.63.1)

उत्सृज्य दमयन्तीं तु नलो राजा विशांपते । ददर्श दावं दह्यन्तं महान्तं गहने वने ॥

utsṛjya damayantīṃ tu nalo rājā viśāṃpate | dadarśa dāvaṃ dahyantaṃ mahāntaṃ gahane vane

Having abandoned Damayanti, O lord of the people, King Nala saw a great forest fire blazing in the depths of the forest.

Verse 2 (3.63.2)

तत्र शुश्राव शब्दंवै मध्ये भूतस्य कस्यचित् । अभिधाव नलेत्युच्चैः पुण्यश्लोकेति चासकृत् ॥

tatra śuśrāva śabdaṃvai madhye bhūtasya kasyacit | abhidhāva naletyuccaiḥ puṇyaśloketi cāsakṛt

From the midst of it he heard the voice of some creature calling out loudly, again and again: "Hurry here, Nala! Punyashloka!"

Note on the text: Corrected सुश्राव → शुश्राव (misprint in Wikisource; the perfect of śru is śuśrāva; the critical edition reads śuśrāva). मध्ये भूतस्य for the critical edition's madhye 'gnau … bhūtasya is a recension variant.

Verse 3 (3.63.3)

मा भैरिति नलश्चोक्त्वा मध्यमग्नेः प्रविश्य तम् । ददर्श नागराजानं शयानं कुण्डलीकृतम् ॥

mā bhairiti nalaścoktvā madhyamagneḥ praviśya tam | dadarśa nāgarājānaṃ śayānaṃ kuṇḍalīkṛtam

Saying "Do not be afraid," Nala went into the middle of the fire and saw the king of serpents lying there in coils.

Note on the text: Corrected दद्रश → ददर्श (misprint in Wikisource; transposed letters; the critical edition reads dadarśa).

Verse 4 (3.63.4)

स नागः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वेपमानो नलं तदा । उवाच मां विद्धिराजन्नागं कर्कोटकं नृप ॥

sa nāgaḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā vepamāno nalaṃ tadā | uvāca māṃ viddhirājannāgaṃ karkoṭakaṃ nṛpa

The serpent, trembling, joined its palms in reverence and said to Nala: "Know me, O king, to be the serpent Karkotaka, O lord of men."

Note on the text: Corrected प्रञ्जलिर्भूत्वा → प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign ा; the critical edition reads prāñjalir).

Verse 5 (3.63.5)

मया प्रलब्धो ब्रह्मर्षिरनागाः सुमहातपाः । तेन मन्युपरीतेन शप्तोऽस्मि मनुजाधिप ॥

mayā pralabdho brahmarṣiranāgāḥ sumahātapāḥ | tena manyuparītena śapto'smi manujādhipa

"I deceived a brahmin seer of great austerity who had done no wrong, and in his anger he cursed me, O lord of men:"

Note on the text: Corrected शप्तोस्मि → शप्तोऽस्मि (missing avagraha). Speaker set to Karkotaka: verses 5–8 are his words (no printed heading).

Verse 6 (3.63.6)

तिष्ठ त्वं स्थावर इव यावदेति नलः क्वचित् । इतो नेता हि तत्र त्वं शापान्मोक्ष्यसि मत्कृतात् ॥

tiṣṭha tvaṃ sthāvara iva yāvadeti nalaḥ kvacit | ito netā hi tatra tvaṃ śāpānmokṣyasi matkṛtāt

"'Stay here like a thing that cannot move, until Nala comes this way. He will carry you away from here, and there you will be freed from my curse.'"

Note on the text: Corrected नेतासि तत्स → नेता हि तत्र (misprint in Wikisource; the line does not construe as printed; the critical edition's apparatus reads netā hi tatra). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.63.5d*0300.

Verse 7 (3.63.7)

तस्य शापान्न शक्नोमि पदाद्विचलितुं पदम् । उपदेक्ष्यामि ते श्रेयस्त्रातुमर्हति मां भवान् ॥

tasya śāpānna śaknomi padādvicalituṃ padam | upadekṣyāmi te śreyastrātumarhati māṃ bhavān

"Because of his curse I cannot move a single step from this place. I will tell you what is for your good; please save me."

Verse 8 (3.63.8)

सखा च ते भविष्यामि मत्समो नास्ति पन्नगः । लघुश्च ते भविष्यामि शीघ्रमादाय गच्छ माम् ॥

sakhā ca te bhaviṣyāmi matsamo nāsti pannagaḥ | laghuśca te bhaviṣyāmi śīghramādāya gaccha mām

"I will be your friend — there is no serpent equal to me. I will make myself light for you; pick me up quickly and go."

Verse 9 (3.63.9)

एवमुक्त्वा स नागेन्द्रो बभूवाङ्गुष्ठमात्रकः । तं गृहीत्वा नलः प्रायाद्देशं दावविवर्जितम् ॥

evamuktvā sa nāgendro babhūvāṅguṣṭhamātrakaḥ | taṃ gṛhītvā nalaḥ prāyāddeśaṃ dāvavivarjitam

Having said this, the lord of serpents became no bigger than a thumb. Taking him up, Nala went to a place clear of the fire.

Note on the text: Corrected दं → तं (misprint in Wikisource; द for त; the critical edition reads taṃ).

Verse 10 (3.63.10)

आकाशदेशमासाद्य विमुक्तं कृष्णवर्त्मना । उत्स्रष्टुकामं तं नागः पुनः कर्कोटकोऽब्रवीत् ॥

ākāśadeśamāsādya vimuktaṃ kṛṣṇavartmanā | utsraṣṭukāmaṃ taṃ nāgaḥ punaḥ karkoṭako'bravīt

Reaching an open space the fire had not touched, Nala was about to set him down, when the serpent Karkotaka spoke again:

Verse 11 (3.63.11)

पदानि गणयन्गच्छ स्वानि नैषध कानिचित् । तत्रतेऽहं महाबाहो श्रेयो धास्यामि यत्परम् ॥

padāni gaṇayangaccha svāni naiṣadha kānicit | tatrate'haṃ mahābāho śreyo dhāsyāmi yatparam

"Walk on, O Naishadha, counting some of your steps. There, mighty-armed one, I will do you the greatest good."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Karkotaka (his words; no printed heading).

Verse 12 (3.63.12)

ततः संख्यातुमारब्धमदशद्दशमे पदे । तस्य दष्टस्य तद्रूपं क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत ॥

tataḥ saṃkhyātumārabdhamadaśaddaśame pade | tasya daṣṭasya tadrūpaṃ kṣipramantaradhīyata

Nala began to count, and at the tenth step the serpent bit him; as soon as he was bitten, his form vanished.

Verse 13 (3.63.13)

स दृष्ट्वा विस्मितस्तस्थावात्मानं विकृतं नलः । स्वरूपधारिणं नागं ददर्श स महीपतिः ॥

sa dṛṣṭvā vismitastasthāvātmānaṃ vikṛtaṃ nalaḥ | svarūpadhāriṇaṃ nāgaṃ dadarśa sa mahīpatiḥ

Seeing himself transformed, Nala stood amazed; and the king saw the serpent standing in its own form.

Verse 14 (3.63.14)

ततः कर्कोटको नागः सान्त्वयन्नलमब्रवीत् । मया तेऽन्तर्हितं रूपं न त्वां विद्युर्जना इति ॥

tataḥ karkoṭako nāgaḥ sāntvayannalamabravīt | mayā te'ntarhitaṃ rūpaṃ na tvāṃ vidyurjanā iti

Then the serpent Karkotaka, comforting Nala, said: "I have hidden your form, so that people will not know you."

Verse 15 (3.63.15)

यत्कृते चासि निकृतो दुःखेन महता नल । विषेण स मदीयेन त्वयि दुःखं निवत्स्यति ॥

yatkṛte cāsi nikṛto duḥkhena mahatā nala | viṣeṇa sa madīyena tvayi duḥkhaṃ nivatsyati

"And he because of whom you were wronged and plunged into great sorrow, Nala, will dwell in you in misery through my venom."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Karkotaka: verses 15–24 are his words (no printed heading).

Verse 16 (3.63.16)

विषेण संवृतैर्गात्रैर्यावत्त्वां न विमोक्ष्यति । तावत्तु त्वां महाराज क्लेशेऽस्मिन्स नियोक्ष्यति ॥

viṣeṇa saṃvṛtairgātrairyāvattvāṃ na vimokṣyati | tāvattu tvāṃ mahārāja kleśe'sminsa niyokṣyati

"As long as he, his limbs steeped in my venom, does not let you go, so long, great king, will he keep you in this hardship."

Note on the text: The second line (तावत्तु त्वां महाराज क्लेशेऽस्मिन्स नियोक्ष्यति) differs from the critical edition's tāvat tvayi mahārāja duḥkhaṃ vai sa nivatsyati; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 17 (3.63.17)

अनागा येन निकृतस्त्वमनर्हो जनाधिप । क्रोधादसूययित्वा तं रक्षा मे भवतः कृता ॥

anāgā yena nikṛtastvamanarho janādhipa | krodhādasūyayitvā taṃ rakṣā me bhavataḥ kṛtā

"Out of anger and indignation at the one who wronged you, blameless lord of men, though you did not deserve it, I have given you this protection."

Verse 18 (3.63.18)

न ते भयं नरव्याघ्र दंष्ट्रिभ्यः शत्रुतोऽपि वा । ब्रह्मवित्त्वं च भविता मत्प्रसादान्नराधिप ॥

na te bhayaṃ naravyāghra daṃṣṭribhyaḥ śatruto'pi vā | brahmavittvaṃ ca bhavitā matprasādānnarādhipa

"You need fear nothing, tiger among men, from fanged beasts or from enemies; and by my grace, lord of men, you will come to know brahman."

Note on the text: Corrected शत्रुतोपि → शत्रुतोऽपि (missing avagraha). ब्रह्मवित्त्वं च भविता for the critical edition's brahmavidbhyaś ca bhavitā is a recension variant (Wikisource's own note cites the other reading).

Verse 19 (3.63.19)

राजन्विषनिमित्ता च न ते पीडा भविष्यति । संग्रामेषु च राजेन्द्रशश्वज्जयमवाप्स्यसि ॥

rājanviṣanimittā ca na te pīḍā bhaviṣyati | saṃgrāmeṣu ca rājendraśaśvajjayamavāpsyasi

"No pain caused by poison will come to you, O king, and in battle, lord of kings, you will always win."

Note on the text: Corrected न → च in संग्रामेषु न राजेन्द्र (misprint in Wikisource; न reverses the promised victory; the critical edition reads saṃgrāmeṣu ca rājendra).

Verse 20 (3.63.20)

गच्छ राजन्नितः सूतो बाहुकोऽहमिति ब्रुवन् । समीपमृतुपर्णस्य स हि वेदाक्षनैपुणम् ॥

gaccha rājannitaḥ sūto bāhuko'hamiti bruvan | samīpamṛtuparṇasya sa hi vedākṣanaipuṇam

"Go from here, O king, calling yourself the charioteer Bahuka, to Rituparna, for he is skilled at dice —"

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 3.63.19ab–cd.

Verse 21 (3.63.21)

अयोध्यां नगरीं रम्यामद्य वै निषधेश्वर । स तेऽक्षहृदयं दाता राजाऽश्वहृदयेन वै ॥

ayodhyāṃ nagarīṃ ramyāmadya vai niṣadheśvara | sa te'kṣahṛdayaṃ dātā rājā'śvahṛdayena vai

"go this very day to the lovely city of Ayodhya, lord of the Nishadhas. That king will give you the secret of the dice in exchange for the secret of horses."

Note on the text: The first line is CE 3.63.19ef; the second is CE 3.63.20ab (the verse division differs).

Verse 22 (3.63.22)

इक्ष्वाकुकुलजः श्रीमान्मित्रं चैव भविष्यति । भविष्यसि यदाऽक्षज्ञः श्रेयसा योक्ष्यसे तदा ॥

ikṣvākukulajaḥ śrīmānmitraṃ caiva bhaviṣyati | bhaviṣyasi yadā'kṣajñaḥ śreyasā yokṣyase tadā

"Born in the line of Ikshvaku and glorious, he will become your friend. When you have mastered the dice, you will be joined with good fortune."

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 3.63.20cd–21ab (the verse division differs).

Verse 23 (3.63.23)

संयोक्ष्यसे स्वदारैस्त्वं मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः । राज्येन तनयाभ्यां च सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

saṃyokṣyase svadāraistvaṃ mā sma śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ | rājyena tanayābhyāṃ ca satyametadbravīmi te

"You will be reunited with your wife, your kingdom and your two children — do not give your mind to grief. This I tell you truly."

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 3.63.21cd–ef; संयोक्ष्यसे स्वदारैस्त्वं for sameṣyasi ca dārais tvaṃ is a recension variant.

Verse 24 (3.63.24)

स्वं रूपं च यदा द्रष्टुमिच्छेथास्त्वं नराधिप । संस्मर्तव्यस्तदा तेऽहंवासश्चेदं निवासयेः ॥

svaṃ rūpaṃ ca yadā draṣṭumicchethāstvaṃ narādhipa | saṃsmartavyastadā te'haṃvāsaścedaṃ nivāsayeḥ

"And when you wish to see your own form, lord of men, then think of me and put on this garment."

Note on the text: Corrected वासश्चदं → वासश्चेदं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign े) and विवासयेः → निवासयेः (misprint; वि for नि — Wikisource's own gloss reads निवासयेः परिधेहि, and the critical edition reads nivāsayeḥ).

Verse 25 (3.63.25)

अनेन वाससाच्छन्नः स्वं रूपं प्रतिपत्स्यसे । इत्युक्त्वा प्रददौ तस्मै दिव्यं वासोयुगं तदा ॥

anena vāsasācchannaḥ svaṃ rūpaṃ pratipatsyase | ityuktvā pradadau tasmai divyaṃ vāsoyugaṃ tadā

"Wrapped in this garment, you will regain your own form." With these words he gave him a pair of divine garments.

Verse 26 (3.63.26)

एवं नलं च संदिश्य वासो दत्त्वा च कौरव । नागराजस्ततो राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥

evaṃ nalaṃ ca saṃdiśya vāso dattvā ca kaurava | nāgarājastato rājaṃstatraivāntaradhīyata

Having instructed Nala in this way and given him the garments, O Kaurava, the serpent king vanished on the spot, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected दत्ताव → दत्त्वा (misprint in Wikisource; garbled gerund; the critical edition reads dattvā).