Kali Leaves Nala

Verse 1 (3.70.1)

स नदीः पर्वतांश्चैव वनानि च सरांसि च । अचिरेणातिचक्राम खेचरः खे चरन्निव ॥

sa nadīḥ parvatāṃścaiva vanāni ca sarāṃsi ca | acireṇāticakrāma khecaraḥ khe caranniva

In no time he passed over rivers and mountains, forests and lakes, like a bird coursing through the sky.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वेचरः → खेचरः (misprint in Wikisource; स्व for ख; the critical edition reads khecaraḥ).

Verse 2 (3.70.2)

तथा प्रयाते तु रथे तदा भागस्वरिर्नृपः । उत्तरीयमधोपश्यद्भ्रष्टं परपुरंजयः ॥

tathā prayāte tu rathe tadā bhāgasvarirnṛpaḥ | uttarīyamadhopaśyadbhraṣṭaṃ parapuraṃjayaḥ

As the chariot sped on, King Bhangasvari, conqueror of enemy cities, saw that his upper garment had fallen down.

Note on the text: Corrected धष्टं → भ्रष्टं (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; the critical edition reads bhraṣṭaṃ). अधोपश्यत् is kept, read as अधो ऽपश्यत् (the critical edition has athāpaśyat).

Verse 3 (3.70.3)

ततः स त्वरमाणस्तु पटे निपतिते तदा । ग्रहीष्यामीति तं राजा नलमाह महामनाः ॥

tataḥ sa tvaramāṇastu paṭe nipatite tadā | grahīṣyāmīti taṃ rājā nalamāha mahāmanāḥ

Then, as the cloth had fallen, the great-minded king said to Nala in haste, "I will pick it up.

Verse 4 (3.70.4)

निगृह्णीष्व महाबुद्धे हयानेतान्महाजवान् । वार्ष्णेयो यावदेनं मे पटमानयतामिह ॥

nigṛhṇīṣva mahābuddhe hayānetānmahājavān | vārṣṇeyo yāvadenaṃ me paṭamānayatāmiha

Hold in these swift horses, wise one, while Varshneya brings my cloth back here."

Verse 5 (3.70.5)

नलस्तं प्रत्युवाचाथ दूरे भ्रष्टः पटस्तव । योजनं समतिक्रान्तो नाहर्तुं शक्यते पुनः ॥

nalastaṃ pratyuvācātha dūre bhraṣṭaḥ paṭastava | yojanaṃ samatikrānto nāhartuṃ śakyate punaḥ

Nala answered him: "Your cloth fell far behind. We have gone a yojana past it; it cannot be fetched again."

Verse 6 (3.70.6)

एवमुक्ते नलेनाथ नातिप्रीतमना नृपः । आससाद वने राजन्फलवन्तं बिभीतकम् ॥

evamukte nalenātha nātiprītamanā nṛpaḥ | āsasāda vane rājanphalavantaṃ bibhītakam

When Nala had said this, the king, not much pleased, came upon a vibhitaka tree laden with fruit in the forest, O king.

Verse 7 (3.70.7)

तं दृष्ट्वा बाहुकं राजा त्वरमाणोऽभ्यभाषत । ममापि सूत पश्य त्वं संख्याने परमं बलम् ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā bāhukaṃ rājā tvaramāṇo'bhyabhāṣata | mamāpi sūta paśya tvaṃ saṃkhyāne paramaṃ balam

Seeing it, the king said hurriedly to Bahuka: "Charioteer, see my great power in reckoning, too.

Note on the text: Corrected अभ्यभापत → अभ्यभाषत (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads 'bhyabhāṣata).

Verse 8 (3.70.8)

सर्वः सर्वं न जानाति सर्वज्ञो नास्ति कश्चन । नैकत्र परिनिष्ठाऽस्ति ज्ञानस्य पुरुषे क्वचित् ॥

sarvaḥ sarvaṃ na jānāti sarvajño nāsti kaścana | naikatra pariniṣṭhā'sti jñānasya puruṣe kvacit

No one knows everything; there is none who knows all. Nowhere is knowledge complete in any one man.

Verse 9 (3.70.9)

वृक्षेऽस्मिन्यानि पर्णानि फलान्यपि च बाहुक । पतितान्यपि यान्यत्रतत्रैकमधिकं कृतम् ॥

vṛkṣe'sminyāni parṇāni phalānyapi ca bāhuka | patitānyapi yānyatratatraikamadhikaṃ kṛtam

Of the leaves and the fruits on this tree, Bahuka, and of those that have fallen here, the fallen ones come to one more.

Note on the text: Corrected फलामेकं → फलान्यपि (misprint in Wikisource; फलाम् is not a word, and the pada looks contaminated by "फलमेकं च बाहुक" of the next verse; the critical edition reads phalāny api ca bāhuka). The line ending तत्रैकमधिकं कृतम् is Wikisource's own reading (its commentary cites "शतम्" as another manuscript's); kept.

Verse 10 (3.70.10)

एकपत्राधिकं चात्र फलमेकं च बाहुक । फलकोट्यपि पत्राणां द्वयोरपि च शाखयोः । प्रवक्ष्यामि फलान्यत्र यानि संख्यास्यते भवान् ॥

ekapatrādhikaṃ cātra phalamekaṃ ca bāhuka | phalakoṭyapi patrāṇāṃ dvayorapi ca śākhayoḥ | pravakṣyāmi phalānyatra yāni saṃkhyāsyate bhavān

Here the leaves are more by one leaf, and the fruits by one fruit, Bahuka; and on these two branches the leaves and the fruit run into crores. I will tell you the number of the fruits here, and you can count them yourself.

Note on the text: Corrected एवपत्राधिकं → एकपत्राधिकं (misprint in Wikisource; व for क; the critical edition reads ekapatrādhikaṃ). Removed stray wiki quote marks and a doubled end mark. Line 1 matches 3.70.9e, line 2 is a variant of 3.70.10a; line 3 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 11 (3.70.11)

प्रचिनुह्यस्य शाखे द्वे याश्चाप्यन्याः प्रशाखिकाः । आभ्यां फलसहस्रे द्वे पञ्चोनं शतमेव च ॥

pracinuhyasya śākhe dve yāścāpyanyāḥ praśākhikāḥ | ābhyāṃ phalasahasre dve pañconaṃ śatameva ca

Strip these two branches, and the smaller twigs on them as well: on these two there are two thousand fruits, and a hundred less five besides."

Verse 12 (3.70.12)

ततो रथादवप्लुत्य राजानं बाहुकोऽब्रवीत् । परोक्षमिव मे राजन्कत्थसे शत्रुकर्शन ॥

tato rathādavaplutya rājānaṃ bāhuko'bravīt | parokṣamiva me rājankatthase śatrukarśana

Then Bahuka leapt down from the chariot and said to the king: "You boast to me, O king, scourge of enemies, of something I cannot see.

Verse 13 (3.70.13)

प्रत्यक्षमेतत्कर्ताऽस्मि शातयित्वा विभीतकम् । अथ ते गणिते राजन्विजानाम्यपरोक्षताम् ॥

pratyakṣametatkartā'smi śātayitvā vibhītakam | atha te gaṇite rājanvijānāmyaparokṣatām

I will make it plain to the eye by felling the vibhitaka. When it has been counted, O king, I shall know it at first hand.

Note on the text: Corrected द्विजामाम्य → विजानाम्य (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; read विजानाम्यपरोक्षताम्, "I shall know it at first hand"; the critical edition's pada reads differently, vidyate na parokṣatā). Line 1 is not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in the apparatus as 3.70.11d*325; line 2 is 3.70.12a.

Verse 14 (3.70.14)

प्रत्यक्षं ते महाराज गणयिष्ये विभीतकम् । अहं हि नाभिजानामि भवेदेव नवेति वा ॥

pratyakṣaṃ te mahārāja gaṇayiṣye vibhītakam | ahaṃ hi nābhijānāmi bhavedeva naveti vā

Before your eyes, great king, I will count the vibhitaka. For I do not know whether it is so or not.

Note on the text: Corrected महाराज् → महाराज (misprint in Wikisource; a stray virama on the vocative). The verse corresponds to 3.70.12c and 3.70.13a of the critical edition.

Verse 15 (3.70.15)

संख्यास्यामि फलान्यस्य पश्यतस्ते जनाधिप । मुहूर्तमपि वार्ष्णेयो रश्मीन्यच्छतु वाजिनाम् ॥

saṃkhyāsyāmi phalānyasya paśyataste janādhipa | muhūrtamapi vārṣṇeyo raśmīnyacchatu vājinām

I will count its fruits while you watch, lord of men. Let Varshneya hold the horses' reins for a moment."

Note on the text: Corrected पशय्तस्ते → पश्यतस्ते (misprint in Wikisource; letters transposed; the critical edition reads paśyatas te).

Verse 16 (3.70.16)

तमब्रवीन्नृपः सूतं नायं कालो विलम्बितुम् । बाहुकस्त्वब्रवीदेनं परं यत्नं समास्थितः ॥

tamabravīnnṛpaḥ sūtaṃ nāyaṃ kālo vilambitum | bāhukastvabravīdenaṃ paraṃ yatnaṃ samāsthitaḥ

The king said to the charioteer, "This is no time for delay." But Bahuka, set on the utmost effort, said to him:

Verse 17 (3.70.17)

प्रतीक्षस्व मुहूर्तं त्वमथवा त्वरते भवान् । एष याति शिवः पन्था याहि वार्ष्णेयसारथिः ॥

pratīkṣasva muhūrtaṃ tvamathavā tvarate bhavān | eṣa yāti śivaḥ panthā yāhi vārṣṇeyasārathiḥ

"Wait a moment; or, if you are in a hurry, this road ahead is clear and safe — go on, with Varshneya as your charioteer."

Verse 18 (3.70.18)

अब्रवीदृतुपर्णस्तं सान्त्वयन्कुरुनन्दन । त्वमेव यन्ता नान्योस्ति पृथिव्यामपि बाहुक ॥

abravīdṛtuparṇastaṃ sāntvayankurunandana | tvameva yantā nānyosti pṛthivyāmapi bāhuka

Soothing him, Rituparna said, O joy of the Kurus: "You are the only driver, Bahuka; there is no other on the whole earth.

Note on the text: Corrected त्वभेव → त्वमेव (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads tvam eva).

Verse 19 (3.70.19)

त्वत्कृतेयातुमिच्छामि विदर्भान्हयकोविद । शरणं त्वांप्रपन्नोस्मि न विघ्नं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

tvatkṛteyātumicchāmi vidarbhānhayakovida | śaraṇaṃ tvāṃprapannosmi na vighnaṃ kartumarhasi

It is through you that I hope to reach Vidarbha, you who know horses. I have come to you for refuge; you should not put an obstacle in my way.

Verse 20 (3.70.20)

कामं च ते करिष्यामि यन्मां वक्ष्यसि बाहुक । विदर्भान्यदि यात्वाऽद्य सूर्यं दर्शयितासि मे ॥

kāmaṃ ca te kariṣyāmi yanmāṃ vakṣyasi bāhuka | vidarbhānyadi yātvā'dya sūryaṃ darśayitāsi me

And I will do whatever you ask of me, Bahuka, if you bring me to Vidarbha today and let me see the sun there."

Verse 21 (3.70.21)

अथाब्रवीद्बाहुकस्तं संख्यायच बिभीतकम् । ततो विदर्भान्यास्यामि कुरुष्वैवं वचो मम ॥

athābravīdbāhukastaṃ saṃkhyāyaca bibhītakam | tato vidarbhānyāsyāmi kuruṣvaivaṃ vaco mama

Then Bahuka said to him: "When I have counted the vibhitaka, then I will go on to Vidarbha. Do as I say."

Verse 22 (3.70.22)

अकाम इव तं राजा गणयस्वेत्युवाच ह । एकदेशं च शाखायाः समादिष्टं मयाऽनघ ॥

akāma iva taṃ rājā gaṇayasvetyuvāca ha | ekadeśaṃ ca śākhāyāḥ samādiṣṭaṃ mayā'nagha

As if against his will, the king said to him, "Count, then. I have pointed out one part of a branch, sinless one;

Note on the text: Line 1 is 3.70.20a; line 2 is not in the critical edition's constituted text and appears in the apparatus as 3.70.20b*326.

Verse 23 (3.70.23)

गणयस्वाश्वतत्वज्ञ ततस्त्वंप्रीतिमावह । सोऽवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं शातयामास तं द्रुमम् ॥

gaṇayasvāśvatatvajña tatastvaṃprītimāvaha | so'vatīrya rathāttūrṇaṃ śātayāmāsa taṃ drumam

count it, you who know the nature of horses, and satisfy yourself." Bahuka quickly got down from the chariot and felled the tree.

Note on the text: Line 1 is not in the critical edition's constituted text and appears in the apparatus as 3.70.20b*326; line 2 is 3.70.20c.

Verse 24 (3.70.24)

ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो राजानमिदमब्रवीत् । गणयित्वायथोक्तानि तावन्त्येव फलानि तु ॥

tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo rājānamidamabravīt | gaṇayitvāyathoktāni tāvantyeva phalāni tu

Then, having counted them and found exactly as many fruits as had been stated, he said to the king in amazement:

Verse 25 (3.70.25)

अत्यद्भुतमिदं राजन्दृष्टवानस्मि ते बलम् । श्रोतुमिच्छामि तां विद्यां ययैतज्ज्ञायते नृप ॥

atyadbhutamidaṃ rājandṛṣṭavānasmi te balam | śrotumicchāmi tāṃ vidyāṃ yayaitajjñāyate nṛpa

"I have seen your power, O king, and it is truly marvellous. I wish to learn the science by which this is known, O king."

Note on the text: Corrected अत्युद्भुतमिदं → अत्यद्भुतमिदं (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; the critical edition reads atyadbhutam idaṃ).

Verse 26 (3.70.26)

तमुवाच ततो राजा त्वरितो गमने नृप । विद्ध्यक्षहृदयज्ञं मां संख्याने च विशारदम् ॥

tamuvāca tato rājā tvarito gamane nṛpa | viddhyakṣahṛdayajñaṃ māṃ saṃkhyāne ca viśāradam

The king, impatient to be on his way, said to him: "Know that I know the heart of the dice and am skilled in numbers."

Verse 27 (3.70.27)

बाहुकस्तमुवाचाथ देहि विद्याद्वयं च मे । मत्तोऽपि चाश्वहृदयं गृहाण पुरुषर्षभ ॥

bāhukastamuvācātha dehi vidyādvayaṃ ca me | matto'pi cāśvahṛdayaṃ gṛhāṇa puruṣarṣabha

Then Bahuka said to him, "Give me both these sciences, and take from me in turn the heart of horses, bull among men."

Note on the text: Corrected पुरुपर्पभ → पुरुषर्षभ (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष twice; the critical edition reads puruṣarṣabha).

Verse 28 (3.70.28)

ऋतुपर्णस्ततो राजा बाहुकं कार्यगौरवात् । हयज्ञानस्य लोभाच्च तं तथेत्यब्रवीद्वचः ॥

ṛtuparṇastato rājā bāhukaṃ kāryagauravāt | hayajñānasya lobhācca taṃ tathetyabravīdvacaḥ

King Rituparna, because his business was pressing and out of eagerness for the knowledge of horses, said to Bahuka, "So be it."

Note on the text: Corrected लोभाच् → लोभाच्च (misprint in Wikisource; the particle च was dropped; the critical edition reads lobhāc ca).

Verse 29 (3.70.29)

यथोक्तं त्वं गृहाणेदमक्षाणां हृदयं परम् । निक्षेपो मेऽश्वहृदयं त्वयि तिष्ठतु बाहुक । एवमुक्त्वा ददौ विद्यामृतुपर्णो नलाय वै ॥

yathoktaṃ tvaṃ gṛhāṇedamakṣāṇāṃ hṛdayaṃ param | nikṣepo me'śvahṛdayaṃ tvayi tiṣṭhatu bāhuka | evamuktvā dadau vidyāmṛtuparṇo nalāya vai

"Take, as agreed, this supreme heart of the dice. Let the heart of horses remain with you as my deposit, Bahuka." Having said this, Rituparna gave the science to Nala.

Verse 30 (3.70.30)

तस्याक्षहृदयज्ञस्य शरीरान्निःसृतः कलिः । कर्कोटकविषं तीक्ष्णं मुखात्सततमुद्वमन् । कलेस्तस्य तदार्तस्य शापाग्निः स विनिःसृतः ॥

tasyākṣahṛdayajñasya śarīrānniḥsṛtaḥ kaliḥ | karkoṭakaviṣaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ mukhātsatatamudvaman | kalestasya tadārtasya śāpāgniḥ sa viniḥsṛtaḥ

As soon as Nala knew the heart of the dice, Kali came out of his body, ceaselessly vomiting from his mouth the sharp venom of Karkotaka; and with Kali, tormented as he was, there went out the fire of the curse.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 3.70.27 and 3.70.28a of the critical edition.

Verse 31 (3.70.31)

स तेन कर्शितो राजादीर्घकालमनात्मवान् ॥

sa tena karśito rājādīrghakālamanātmavān

It was by him that the king had so long been wasted and robbed of his self-command.

Note on the text: Corrected सातेन → स तेन (misprint in Wikisource; the feminine सा has nothing to refer to; the critical edition reads sa tena). A single line, printed so in Wikisource; it is 3.70.28c of the critical edition.

Verse 32 (3.70.32)

तं भ्रान्तरूपं निःशोभं संक्लिष्टमकरोत्कलिः । ततो विषविमुक्तात्मा स्वंरूपमकरोत्कलिः । तं शप्तुमैच्छत्कुपितो निषधाधिपतिर्नलः ॥

taṃ bhrāntarūpaṃ niḥśobhaṃ saṃkliṣṭamakarotkaliḥ | tato viṣavimuktātmā svaṃrūpamakarotkaliḥ | taṃ śaptumaicchatkupito niṣadhādhipatirnalaḥ

Kali had made him confused in looks, lustreless and wretched. Then Kali, freed of the venom, took on his own form, and Nala, lord of the Nishadhas, in his anger wished to curse him.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` '). Corrected भ्राम्तरूपं → भ्रान्तरूपं (misprint in Wikisource; म् for न्; the apparatus reads bhrāntarūpaṃ). Line 1 is not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in the apparatus as 3.70.28d*329 (vulgate recension). Lines 2–3 repeat the next verse word for word; Wikisource numbers both 32, and both are kept.

Verse 33 (3.70.33)

ततो विषविमुक्तात्मा स्वंरूपमकरोत्कलिः । तं शप्तुमैच्छत्कुपितो निषधाधिपतिर्नलः ॥

tato viṣavimuktātmā svaṃrūpamakarotkaliḥ | taṃ śaptumaicchatkupito niṣadhādhipatirnalaḥ

Then Kali, freed of the venom, took on his own form, and Nala, lord of the Nishadhas, in his anger wished to curse him.

Verse 34 (3.70.34)

तमुवाच कलिर्भीतो वेपमानः कृताञ्जलिः । कोपं संयच्छ नृपते कीर्तिं दास्यामि ते पराम् ॥

tamuvāca kalirbhīto vepamānaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ | kopaṃ saṃyaccha nṛpate kīrtiṃ dāsyāmi te parām

Trembling with fear, his palms joined, Kali said to him: "Restrain your anger, lord of men; I will give you the highest fame.

Verse 35 (3.70.35)

इन्द्रसेनस्य जननी कुपिता माऽशपत्पुरा । यदा त्वया परित्यक्ता ततोऽहं भृशपीडितः ॥

indrasenasya jananī kupitā mā'śapatpurā | yadā tvayā parityaktā tato'haṃ bhṛśapīḍitaḥ

Indrasena's mother cursed me in her anger long ago, when you abandoned her. From then on I was sorely afflicted.

Verse 36 (3.70.36)

अवसं त्वयि राजेन्द्र सुदुःखमपराजित । विषेण नागराजस्य दह्यमानो दिवानिशम् ॥

avasaṃ tvayi rājendra suduḥkhamaparājita | viṣeṇa nāgarājasya dahyamāno divāniśam

I lived within you, unconquered king of kings, in great misery, burned day and night by the venom of the king of serpents.

Note on the text: Corrected सुदुःखभ् → सुदुःखम् (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads suduḥkham aparājita).

Verse 37 (3.70.37)

शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नोस्मि शृणु चेदं वचो मम । ये च त्वां मनुजा लोके कीर्तयिष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिताः । मत्प्रसूतं भयं तेषां न कदाचिद्भविष्यति ॥

śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ prapannosmi śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mama | ye ca tvāṃ manujā loke kīrtayiṣyantyatandritāḥ | matprasūtaṃ bhayaṃ teṣāṃ na kadācidbhaviṣyati

I have come to you for refuge; hear these words of mine. Those men in the world who tirelessly tell your story shall never have any fear that comes from me.

Note on the text: Corrected मत्प्रत्सूतं → मत्प्रसूतं (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त्; the critical edition reads matprasūtaṃ). Line 1 is not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in the apparatus as 3.70.32d*330.

Verse 38 (3.70.38)

न तेषां मानसं किंचिच्छारीरं वाचिकं तथा । भविष्यति महाराज कीर्तयिष्यन्ति ये नलम् । भयार्तं शरणं यातं यदि मां त्वं न शप्स्यसे ॥

na teṣāṃ mānasaṃ kiṃcicchārīraṃ vācikaṃ tathā | bhaviṣyati mahārāja kīrtayiṣyanti ye nalam | bhayārtaṃ śaraṇaṃ yātaṃ yadi māṃ tvaṃ na śapsyase

Those who tell of Nala shall suffer no affliction of mind, body or speech, great king — if only you do not curse me, who come to you for refuge, stricken with fear."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` '). Not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in the apparatus as 3.70.33d*331 and *332 (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 39 (3.70.39)

एवमुक्तो नलो राजा न्ययच्छत्कोपमात्मनः । ततो भीतः कलिः क्षिप्रं प्रविवेश विभीतकम् । कलिस्त्वन्येन नो दृष्टः कथयन्नैषधेन वै ॥

evamukto nalo rājā nyayacchatkopamātmanaḥ | tato bhītaḥ kaliḥ kṣipraṃ praviveśa vibhītakam | kalistvanyena no dṛṣṭaḥ kathayannaiṣadhena vai

Thus addressed, King Nala held back his anger. Then Kali, terrified, swiftly entered the vibhitaka tree; while he spoke with the Naishadha, he was seen by no one else.

Note on the text: Corrected बीतः → भीतः (misprint in Wikisource; ब for भ; the critical edition reads bhītaḥ).

Verse 40 (3.70.40)

ततो गतत्वरो राजा नैषधः परवीरहा । संप्रनष्टे कलौ राजा संख्यायास्य फलान्युत ॥

tato gatatvaro rājā naiṣadhaḥ paravīrahā | saṃpranaṣṭe kalau rājā saṃkhyāyāsya phalānyuta

Then the king of the Nishadhas, slayer of enemy heroes, his restless haste gone — with Kali vanished, the king, having counted its fruits,

Verse 41 (3.70.41)

मुदा परमया युक्तस्तेजसाऽथ परेण वै । रथमारुह्य तेजस्वी प्रययौ जवनैर्हयैः ॥

mudā paramayā yuktastejasā'tha pareṇa vai | rathamāruhya tejasvī prayayau javanairhayaiḥ

filled with the greatest joy and shining with surpassing splendour, mounted the chariot, and the glorious one drove off with his swift horses.

Verse 42 (3.70.42)

बिभीतकश्चाप्रशस्तः संवृत्तः कलिसंश्रयात् । ततः प्रभृतिराजेन्द्र लोकेऽस्मिन्पाण्डुनन्दन ॥

bibhītakaścāpraśastaḥ saṃvṛttaḥ kalisaṃśrayāt | tataḥ prabhṛtirājendra loke'sminpāṇḍunandana

And from that time on, O king of kings, son of Pandu, the vibhitaka has been an ill-omened tree in this world, because Kali took shelter in it.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` '). Line 1 is 3.70.36e; line 2 is not in the critical edition's constituted text and appears in the apparatus as 3.70.36f*334.

Verse 43 (3.70.43)

हयोत्तमानुत्पततो द्विजानिव पुनः पुनः । नलः संचोदयामास प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना ॥

hayottamānutpatato dvijāniva punaḥ punaḥ | nalaḥ saṃcodayāmāsa prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā

With joy in his inmost heart, Nala urged on again and again the fine horses, which flew up like birds.

Note on the text: Corrected हयोत्तभान् → हयोत्तमान् (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads hayottamān).

Verse 44 (3.70.44)

विदर्भाभिमुखो राजा प्रययौ स महायशाः । नले तु समतिक्रान्ते कलिरप्यगमद्गृहम् ॥

vidarbhābhimukho rājā prayayau sa mahāyaśāḥ | nale tu samatikrānte kalirapyagamadgṛham

The illustrious king drove on toward Vidarbha; and when Nala had gone past, Kali too went home.

Verse 45 (3.70.45)

ततो गतज्वरो राजा नलोऽभूत्पृथिवीपतिः । विमुक्तः कलिना राजन्रूपमात्रवियोजितः ॥

tato gatajvaro rājā nalo'bhūtpṛthivīpatiḥ | vimuktaḥ kalinā rājanrūpamātraviyojitaḥ

Then King Nala, lord of the earth, was free of his torment, O king; released by Kali, he lacked only his own form.