बृहदश्व उवाच

वृते तु नैषधे भैम्या लोकपाला महौजसः ⁠। यान्तो ददृशुरायान्तं द्वापरं कलिना सह ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

अथाब्रवीत् कलिं शक्रः सम्प्रेक्ष्य बलवृत्रहा ⁠। द्वापरेण सहायेन कले ब्रूहि क्व यास्यसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

Looking at कलियुग, the destroyer of बल and वृत्रासुर, इंद्र, asked them — O कले! Let me know where are you going along with द्वापर.

बृहदश्व मुनि then said — O राजन्! When the group of लोकपालs were leaving for स्वर्ग after the marriage of नल and दमयन्ती, they came across both कलियुगके and द्वापर on their way.

ततोऽब्रवीत् कलिः शक्रं दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम् ⁠। गत्वा हि वरयिष्ये तां मनो हि मम तां गतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

तमब्रवीत् प्रहस्येन्द्रो निर्वृत्तः स स्वयंवरः ⁠। वृतस्तया नलो राजा पतिरस्मत्समीपतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्तस्तु शक्रेण कलिः कोपसमन्वितः ⁠। देवानामन्त्र्य तान् सर्वानुवाचेदं वचस्तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

कलि replies to इंद्र – O देवराज! I will go over to the स्वयंवर of दमयन्ती and marry her since my mind is attached to her.

Then इंद्र replied with a laugh – That स्वयंवर is already over. In front of us only, दमयन्ती has selected नल as her husband.

कलि became very angry when he heard the response of इंद्र and he immediately conveyed these words to all the देवताs

देवानां मानुषं मध्ये यत् सा पतिमविन्दत ⁠। ततस्तस्या भवेन्न्याय्यं विपुलं दण्डधारणम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्ते तु कलिना प्रत्यूचुस्ते दिवौकसः ⁠। अस्माभिः समनुज्ञाते दमयन्त्या नलो वृतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

In front of the देवताs, दमयन्ती has chosen a मनुष्य as her husband. It seems appropriate that she be punished for doing such an act.

In response to the statement made by कलि, the देवताs replied – दमयन्ती took your permission before he went ahead and chose नल.

का च सर्वगुणोपेतं नाश्रयेत नलं नृपम् ⁠। यो वेद धर्मानखिलान् यथावच्चरितव्रतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

योऽधीते चतुरो वेदान् सर्वानाख्यानपञ्चमान् ⁠। नित्यं तृप्ता गृहे यस्य देवा यज्ञेषु धर्मतः ⁠। अहिंसानिरतो यश्च सत्यवादी दृढव्रतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

यस्मिन् दाक्ष्यं धृतिर्ज्ञानं तपः शौचं दमः शमः ⁠। ध्रुवाणि पुरुषव्याघ्रे लोकपालसमे नृपे ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

एवंरूपं नलं यो वै कामयेच्छपितुं कले ⁠। आत्मानं स शपेन्मूढो हन्यादात्मानमात्मना ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

King नल is endowed with all good गुणs. Which women will not select such a person (as her husband)? One who has taken the ब्रह्मचर्य व्रत and studied all four वेद together with the fifth वेद, इतिहास and पुराण, one who knows all types of धर्म, in whose house all पंचयज्ञ are discharged as per धर्म and thereby keeping all देवताs happy, one for him अहिंसा is primary, one who always speaks the Truth,, one who is disciplined while adhering to all व्रत, in whose house पंचयज्ञ is undertaken daily in alignment with धर्म thereby keeping देवताs satisfied and lastly, in the देवता-like नल are present गुणs like capability, courage, knowledge, discipline, cleanliness, calmness and self-control (stamina), etc.

O कले! Only an ignorant one will even consider cursing a king like नल and cursing नल is akin to cursing oneself. It is as if one is inviting one’s own destruction (by doing such an act).

एवंगुणं नलं यो वै कामयेच्छपितुं कले ⁠। कृच्छ्रे स नरके मज्जेदगाधे विपुले ह्रदे ⁠। एवमुक्त्वा कलिं देवा द्वापरं च दिवं ययुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

ततो गतेषु देवेषु कलिर्द्वापरमब्रवीत् ⁠। संहर्तुं नोत्सहे कोपं नले वत्स्यामि द्वापर ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

भ्रंशयिष्यामि तं राज्यान्न भैम्या सह रंस्यते ⁠। त्वमप्यक्षान् समाविश्य साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

One who even thinks of cursing a king like नल who is endowed with numerous good qualities, such a one will no doubt drown in the deep and wide hole within नरक. Saying this to both कलि and द्वापर, al the देवताs then left off to स्वर्ग.

After the देवताs left, कलियुग told द्वापर — O द्वापर! I am unable to control my anger. I will go and dwell inside नल and will ensure that he will lose his kingdom. This will ensure that he will not be able to move around with दमयन्ती. You should also enter the gambling dice and help me in this endeavour.

बृहदश्व उवाच

एवं स समयं कृत्वा द्वापरेण कलिः सह ⁠। आजगाम ततस्तत्र यत्र राजा स नैषधः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

स नित्यमन्तरप्रेप्सुर्निषधेष्ववसच्चिरम् ⁠। अथास्य द्वादशे वर्षे ददर्श कलिरन्तरम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

कृत्वा मूत्रमुपस्पृश्य संध्यामन्वास्त नैषधः ⁠। अकृत्वा पादयोः शौचं तत्रैनं कलिराविशत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O राजन्! Signalling द्वापर, both of them went over to the place where नल, the king of निषध, lived.

He (कलि) stayed for a long time at निषध देश observing नल on a daily basis and looking fo an opening (loophole) (in conduct of धर्म). After twelve years, one day, कलि managed to find an opening (to enter नल).

On that day, after relieving himself, King नल washed his hands and mouth and rinsed his mouth (performed आचमन) but forgot to wash his feet. This gap (in conduct of cleaning as required by the शास्त्र) gave कलि an opening and कलि entered into the body (of नल).

स समाविश्य च नलं समीपं पुष्करस्य च ⁠। गत्वा पुष्करमाहेदमेहि दीव्य नलेन वै ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

अक्षद्यूते नलं जेता भवान् हि सहितो मया ⁠। निषधान् प्रतिपद्यस्व जित्वा राज्यं नलं नृपम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्तस्तु कलिना पुष्करो नलमभ्ययात् ⁠। कलिश्चैव वृषो भूत्वा गवां पुष्करमभ्ययात् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

आसाद्य तु नलं वीरं पुष्करः परवीरहा ⁠। दीव्यावेत्यब्रवीद् भ्राता वृषेणेति मुहुर्मुहुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

After entering the body of नल, कलियुग took another form and went over to पुष्कर and told him – Come! Go over to King नल and engage in gambling.

With my help, you will certainly win over King नल in gambling. In this way, you defeat King नल and take his kingdom निषध देश under your control.

The king राजा went over to नल after listening to कलि. कलि took the form of a bull and accompanied King पुष्कर.

The defeater of enemies, King पुष्कर, went over to the courageous नल and told him repeatedly – Let us engage in gambling that is aligned to धर्म. King पुष्कर was seen as a brother by King नल.

न चक्षमे ततो राजा समाह्वानं महामनाः ⁠। वैदर्भ्याः प्रेक्षमाणायाः पणकालममन्यत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

हिरण्यस्य सुवर्णस्य यानयुग्यस्य वाससाम् ⁠। आविष्टः कलिना द्यूते जीयते स्म नलस्तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

तमक्षमदसम्मत्तं सुहृदां न तु कश्चन ⁠। निवारणेऽभवच्छक्तो दीव्यमानमरिंदमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

ततः पौरजनाः सर्वे मन्त्रिभिः सह भारत ⁠। राजानं द्रष्टुमागच्छन् निवारयितुमातुरम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

The magnanimous King नल was not able to turn down the invitation of King पुष्कर to engage in gambling. While दमयन्ती was watching the discussions, he forthwith kicked off indulging in gambling with immediate effect.

Possessed by कलियुग, King नल kept of placing gold, chariots, etc and expensive clothes as bets for gambling and kept losing these bets. Among the close associates, there was no one who was able to shake off the attachment of King नल to gambling during this time.

O भारत! Then, many citizens together with ministers of the kingdom came over to their king to convince the king to stop indulging in gambling.

ततः सूत उपागम्य दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत् ⁠। एष पौरजनो देवि द्वारि तिष्ठति कार्यवान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

निवेद्यतां नैषधाय सर्वाः प्रकृतयः स्थिताः ⁠। अमृष्यमाणा व्यसनं राज्ञो धर्मार्थदर्शिनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

ततः सा बाष्पकलया वाचा दुःखेन कर्शिता ⁠। उवाच नैषधं भैमी शोकोपहतचेतना ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

Around the same time, the charioteer went over to the palace and requested queen दमयन्ती – O देवि! The citizens are standing near the door of the palace for articulating their needs.

Can you request the king of निषधरा (to meet them)? Unable to tolerate the likely disaster that may be experienced by the king who is well-versed in the तत्व behind धर्म and अर्थ, all citizens and ministers are standing at the door of the palace (to meet him or warn him).

Listening to this and becoming weak with sadness, shedding tears and with a shaky voice, she told the king of निषध –

राजन् पौरजनो द्वारि त्वां दिदृक्षुरवस्थितः ⁠। मन्त्रिभिः सहितः सर्वै राजभक्तिपुरस्कृतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

तं द्रष्टुमर्हसीत्येवं पुनः पुनरभाषत ⁠। तं तथा रुचिरापाङ्गीं विलपन्तीं तथाविधाम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

आविष्टः कलिना राजा नाभ्यभाषत किंचन ⁠। ततस्ते मन्त्रिणः सर्वे ते चैव पुरवासिनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

नायमस्तीति दुःखार्ता व्रीडिता जग्मुरालयान् ⁠। तथा तदभवद् द्यूतं पुष्करस्य नलस्य च ⁠। युधिष्ठिर बहून् मासान् पुण्यश्लोकस्त्वजीयत ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

O महाराज! The citizens of our kingdom along with the ministers are standing at the door of the palace in order to meet you. Kindly meet them. दमयन्ती kept on repeating her words again and again. And while the pleasant eyed princess of विदर्भ kept on pleading, owing to being overwhelmed by कलियुग, नल did not even speak to her (as a response). Seeing this, the citizens along with the ministers became disappointed and returned home embarrassed by their experience at the palace and stating further that they do not expect the king may not stay long at the palace in the future.

O युधिष्ठिर! The game of gambling went on between पुष्कर and नल for quite a few months. And the virtuous king नल kept on losing the game.

बृहदश्व उवाच दमयन्ती ततो दृष्ट्वा पुण्यश्लोकं नराधिपम् ⁠। उन्मत्तवदनुन्मत्ता देवने गतचेतसम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

भयशोकसमाविष्टा राजन् भीमसुता ततः ⁠। चिन्तयामास तत् कार्यं सुमहत् पार्थिवं प्रति ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O राजन्! दमयन्ती saw that the virtuous नल remained completely submerged in gambling as if he had become insane. She was always alert. Looking at the condition of the king, the daughter of भीम was overcome with fear and unhappiness and started thinking of scenario actions that may be of benefit to the king.

सा शङ्कमाना तत् पापं चिकीर्षन्ती च तत्प्रियम् ⁠। नलं च हृतसर्वस्वमुपलभ्येदमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

बृहत्सेनामतियशां तां धात्रीं परिचारिकाम् ⁠। हितां सर्वार्थकुशलामनुरक्तां सुभाषिताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

बृहत्सेने व्रजामात्यानानाय्य नलशासनात् ⁠। आचक्ष्व यद्‌धृतं द्रव्यमवशिष्टं च यद् वसु ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

She apprehended that the king will certainly face some form of difficulty. She was keen to take an action that will be liked and will be beneficial to the king. Therefore, given the likely situation that the king may lose everything, she called a runner

The name of the runner was बृहत्सेना. She was illustrious and skilled in the art of taking care. She was skilled in many actions, she was friendly, devoted and a polite speaker.

O बृहत्सेने! You walk over to the ministers and taking permission of the king, bring them here. Also tell them that what all wealth has been lost (in gambling by the king) and what amount of residual wealth is left for now.

ततस्ते मन्त्रिणः सर्वे विज्ञाय नलशासनम् ⁠। अपि नो भागधेयं स्यादित्युक्त्वा नलमाव्रजन् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

तास्तु सर्वाः प्रकृतयो द्वितीयं समुपस्थिताः ⁠। न्यवेदयद् भीमसुता न च तत् प्रत्यनन्दत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

वाक्यमप्रतिनन्दन्तं भर्तारमभिवीक्ष्य सा ⁠। दमयन्ती पुनर्वेश्म व्रीडिता प्रविवेश ह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

निशम्य सततं चाक्षान् पुण्यश्लोकपराङ्‌मुखान् ⁠। नलं च हृतसर्वस्वं धात्रीं पुनरुवाच ह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

बृहत्सेने पुनर्गच्छ वार्ष्णेयं नलशासनात् ⁠। सूतमानय कल्याणि महत् कार्यमुपस्थितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

Then the ministers thinking that this is the order of नल that they may get a share of the residual wealth approached the king expressing “What a fortune”.

Note – I am not sure about this translation

All those ministers then assembled again at the door of the palace. दमयन्ती informed नल again about the arrival of the ministers but the king refused to acknowledge this news conveyed to him (essentially, he refused to meet ministers again).

When her husband did not respond to the words of दमयन्ती appropriately she was embarrassed again and returned back into her palace. Reaching there, she heard that all the moves of the game have turned against the king and he is losing all bets being placed. Then she called the runner again and told her – O बृहत्सेने! Taking the permission of नल, go over to the charioteer वार्ष्णेय and ask him to come over here. O कल्याणि! A critical action has to be undertaken now.

बृहत्सेना तु सा श्रुत्वा दमयन्त्याः प्रभाषितम् ⁠। वार्ष्णेयमानयामास पुरुषैराप्तकारिभिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

वार्ष्णेयं तु ततो भैमी सान्त्वयञ्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा ⁠। उवाच देशकालज्ञा प्राप्तकालमनिन्दिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

जानीषे त्वं यथा राजा सम्यग् वृत्तः सदा त्वयि ⁠। तस्य त्वं विषमस्थस्य साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

यथा यथा हि नृपतिः पुष्करेणैव जीयते ⁠। तथा तथास्य वै द्यूते रागो भूयोऽभिवर्धते ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

Then listening to the words of दमयन्ती, बृहत्सेना approached dependable persons in confidence and got वार्ष्णेय to come over. Then the blameless daughter of भीम, दमयन्ती who is fully aware of the time and place (when actions need to be done) spoke in a sweet assured tone a few appropriate words –

O सूत! You are fully aware of how the king had always been behaving very nicely with you. Today, a severe crisis has come over us and I am therefore you should consider helping the king.  

Slowly but surely, the king is getting defeated by पुष्कर (in gambling). (And as he is keeping on losing), his attachment towards gambling continues to rise.

यथा च पुष्करस्याक्षाः पतन्ति वशवर्तिनः ⁠। तथा विपर्ययश्चापि नलस्याक्षेषु दृश्यते ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

सुहृत्स्वजनवाक्यानि यथावन्न शृणोति च ⁠। ममापि च तथा वाक्यं नाभिनन्दति मोहितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

नूनं मन्ये न दोषोऽस्ति नैषधस्य महात्मनः ⁠। यत् तु मे वचनं राजा नाभिनन्दति मोहितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नास्मि सारथे कुरु मद्वचः ⁠। न हि मे शुध्यते भावः कदाचित् विनशेदपि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

Just as the dice rolled by पुष्कर is falling appropriately, the dice rolled by नल is falling against him.

He has stopped listening to his well-wishes and his own people. Gambling has made him get into so much delusion that he has even stopped respecting my words. I do not ascribe दोष to the King of नैषध on this aspect since it is the delusion caused by gambling that is making the king behave this way.

O सारथे! I have come over to seek your protection, kindly listen to me. My mind is filled with negative thoughts but I do suspect that the king may be close to losing his own kingdom.

नलस्य दयितानश्वान् योजयित्वा मनोजवान् ⁠। इदमारोप्य मिथुनं कुण्डिनं यातुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

मम ज्ञातिषु निक्षिप्य दारकौ स्यन्दनं तथा ⁠। अश्वांश्चेमान् यथाकामं वस वान्यत्र गच्छ वा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्त्यास्तु तद् वाक्यं वार्ष्णेयो नलसारथिः ⁠। न्यवेदयदशेषेण नलामात्येषु मुख्यशः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

Since you are liked by the king, kindly get the horses which run as speedily as the mind together with their chariot and take my two children over to कुण्डिनपुर.

Over there, hand over both my kids, this chariot and the horses to my brothers and relatives to take care of these; and you may either stay back over there or go over somewhere else as per your wish.

After listening to the words of दमयन्ती, वार्ष्णेय narrated the entire conversation to the key ministers.

तैः समेत्य विनिश्चित्य सोऽनुज्ञातो महीपते ⁠। ययौ मिथुनमारोप्य विदर्भांस्तेन वाहिना ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

हयांस्तत्र विनिक्षिप्य सूतो रथवरं च तम् ⁠। इन्द्रसेनां च तां कन्यामिन्द्रसेनं च बालकम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

आमन्त्र्य भीमं राजानमार्तः शोचन् नलं नृपम् ⁠। अटमानस्ततोऽयोध्यां जगाम नगरीं तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

ऋतुपर्णं स राजानमुपतस्थे सुदुःखितः ⁠। भृतिं चोपययौ तस्य सारथ्येन महीपते ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

O राजन्! After deliberating thoroughly with them and evaluating the options, वार्ष्णेय took permission of the ministers and took away the children and the chariot to विदर्भ देश

Reaching there, he handed over the horses together with the great chariot and both the princess इन्द्रसेना and the prince इन्द्रसेन and taking permission of king भीम, he went over to the kingdom of अयोध्या in a state of utter dejection and grieving over the condition of king नल.

O युधिष्ठिर! With extreme sadness, he approached king ऋतुपर्ण to serve him and he became the charioteer of the king to earn income and sustain his life.

बृहदश्व उवाच

ततस्तु याते वार्ष्णेये पुण्यश्लोकस्य दीव्यतः ⁠। पुष्करेण हृतं राज्यं यच्चान्यद् वसु किंचन ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

हृतराज्यं नलं राजन् प्रहसन् पुष्करोऽब्रवीत् ⁠। द्यूतं प्रवर्ततां भूयः प्रतिपाणोऽस्ति कस्तव ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

शिष्टा ते दमयन्त्येका सर्वमन्यज्जितं मया ⁠। दमयन्त्याः पणः साधु वर्ततां यदि मन्यसे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि  — O युधिष्ठिर! And soon after वार्ष्णेय left, the virtuous king नल lost his entire kingdom and whatever wealth was left, पुष्कर took charge of all of this.

O राजन्! And when नल lost the entire kingdom, पुष्कर laughed and asked “Do you want to start playing gambling again? What is left with you to place your bets on?”

You only have दमयन्ती left and all wealth has already been won by me; if you agree that you should place दमयन्ती also as a bet and gamble again.

पुष्करेणैवमुक्तस्य पुण्यश्लोकस्य मन्युना ⁠। व्यदीर्यतेव हृदयं न चैनं किंचिदब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

ततः पुष्करमालोक्य नलः परममन्युमान् ⁠। उत्सृज्य सर्वगात्रेभ्यो भूषणानि महायशाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

एकवासा ह्यसंवीतः सुहृच्छोकविवर्धनः ⁠। निश्चक्राम ततो राजा त्यक्त्वा सुविपुलां श्रियम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्त्येकवस्त्राथ गच्छन्तं पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् ⁠। स तया बाह्यतः सार्धं त्रिरात्रं नैषधोऽवसत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

Listening to पुष्कर’s words, the virtuous king became very dejected but he kept quiet and did not say anything.

Then the highly famed नल with a lot of sadness looked at पुष्कर and removed all ornaments he was wearing, handed these over to पुष्कर and then left the kingdom causing distress to all his well-wishers wearing just the lower garment.

दमयन्ती too just wore a single dress and she followed नल wherever he went to. They remained at the edge of the kingdom for about three nights.

पुष्करस्तु महाराज घोषयामास वै पुरे ⁠। नले यः सम्यगातिष्ठेत् स गच्छेद् वध्यतां मम ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

पुष्करस्य तु वाक्येन तस्य विद्वेषणेन च ⁠। पौरा न तस्य सत्कारं कृतवन्तो युधिष्ठिर ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

स तथा नगराभ्याशे सत्कारार्हो न सस्कृतः ⁠। त्रिरात्रमुषितो राजा जलमात्रेण वर्तयन् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

O महाराज! पुष्कर released an announcement for the entire kingdom –  “Whosoever behaves nicely with नल will be killed” and this was loudly repeated at all places.

O युधिष्ठिर! Listening to पुष्कर and knowing his enmity towards नल, not even a single citizen attempted to take care of the king.

In this way, King नल stayed close to his kingdom for three nights consuming only water as food. Thus, a person who is worthy of respect was not being helped by anyone at that place.

पीड्यमानः क्षुधा तत्र फलमूलानि कर्षयन् ⁠। प्रातिष्ठत ततो राजा दमयन्ती तमन्वगात् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

क्षुधया पीड्यमानस्तु नलो बहुतिथेऽहनि ⁠। अपश्यच्छकुनान्‌ कांश्चिद्धिरण्यसदृशच्छदान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

स चिन्तयामास तदा निषधाधिपतिर्बली ⁠। अस्ति भक्ष्यो ममाद्यायं वसु चेदं भविष्यति ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

Driven by hunger, King नल collected fruits, roots, etc from the surroundings and then went over to another place – only दमयन्ती kept on following him.

In this way, नल lived a painful life for many days owing to hunger & thirst. One day, he came across a few birds whose wings were covered in gold.

Looking at them, a thought came in the mind of नल that let me catch hold of these birds and use their wings as wealth that I can use.

ततस्तान् परिधानेन वाससा स समावृणोत् ⁠। तस्य तद् वस्त्रमादाय सर्वे जग्मुर्विहायसा ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

उत्पतन्तः खगा वाक्यमेतदाहुस्ततो नलम् ⁠। दृष्ट्वा दिग्वाससं भूमौ स्थितं दीनमधोमुखम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

वयमक्षाः सुदुर्बुद्धे तव वासो जिहीर्षवः ⁠। आगता न हि नः प्रीतिः सवाससि गते त्वयि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

And then, catching them, he covered all the birds using his undergarment. But the birds flew away taking his under-garment along with them.

While flying, the chief of the birds gave a sympathetic look to नल who was standing naked and told him

O king with a dented बुद्धि! We are not birds, we are the dice and we came over here to steal your undergarment – we were not happy that you left the kingdom wearing the undergarment.  

तान् समीपगतानक्षानात्मानं च विवाससम् ⁠। पुण्यश्लोकस्तदा राजन् दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

येषां प्रकोपादैश्वर्यात् प्रच्युतोऽहमनिन्दिते ⁠। प्राणयात्रां न विन्देयं दुःखितः क्षुधयान्वितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

येषां कृते न सत्कारमकुर्वन् मयि नैषधाः ⁠। इमे ते शकुना भूत्वा वासो भीरु हरन्ति मे ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

O राजन्! Seeing the birds fly away from close range and looking at his own naked state, the virtuous नल told दमयन्ती – O रानी! From whose anger, I have lost all my wealth, I remain hungry & thirsty, I am living with a lot of sadness without having any idea as to how I will take care of myself and for which reason, the citizens of निषध-देश are not engaging with me, the real reason for all this are dice, which are flying away taking my undergarment with them.

वैषम्यं परमं प्राप्तो दुःखितो गतचेतनः ⁠। भर्ता तेऽहं निबोधेदं वचनं हितमात्मनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

एते गच्छन्ति बहवः पन्थानो दक्षिणापथम् ⁠। अवन्तीमृक्षवन्तं च समतिक्रम्य पर्वतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

एष विन्ध्यो महाशैलः पयोष्णी च समुद्रगा ⁠। आश्रमाश्च महर्षीणां बहुमूलफलान्विताः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

एष पन्था विदर्भाणामसौ गच्छति कोसलान् ⁠। अतः परं च देशोऽयं दक्षिणे दक्षिणापथः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

I am in a very difficult state now. And driven by sadness, I am unable to think properly. I am your husband, so I will tell you something that is for your benefit – so kindly listen –

There are many roads from here which go towards the south direction. This route crosses  ऋक्षवान् पर्वत and goes to the kingdom of अवन्ती.

We can see this great पर्वत विन्ध्य and this again is the famous पयोष्णी river that makes its way to the ocean. There are many आश्रमs here which are occupied by महर्षिs and one may obtain a good amount of fruits and roots at such places. This other route goes to विदर्भ-देश and this other route goes over to कोसल-देश. And towards the south, the area that comes is referred to as दक्षिणापथ.

एतद् वाक्यं नलो राजा दमयन्तीं समाहितः ⁠। उवाचासकृदार्तो हि भैमीमुद्दिश्य भारत ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

ततः सा बाष्पकलया वाचा दुःखेन कर्शिता ⁠। उवाच दमयन्ती तं नैषधं करुणं वचः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

उद्वेजते मे हृदयं सीदन्त्यङ्गानि सर्वशः ⁠। तव पार्थिव संकल्पं चिन्तयन्त्याः पुनः पुनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

 हृतराज्यं हृतद्रव्यं विवस्त्रं क्षुच्छ्रमान्वितम् ⁠। कथमुत्सृज्य गच्छेयमहं त्वां निर्जने वने ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

O भारत! In a focussed way, the King नल kept on repeating these appropriate words to दमयन्ती bearing an expression of anxiety.

Listening to these words, दमयन्ती became very unhappy and becoming weak with her eyes full of tears, she shakily spoke these pitiful words –

O महाराज! Thinking about your state of mind again and again, my heart becomes anxious and my entire body becomes weak. Your kingdom has been taken away. Your wealth has been destroyed. You do not even have a single cloth on your body and you are facing misery driven by hunger and tiredness. In this state, how can I leave you without any help in this lonely forest?

श्रान्तस्य ते क्षुधार्तस्य चिन्तयानस्य तत् सुखम् ⁠। वने घोरे महाराज नाशयिष्याम्यहं क्लमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

न च भार्यासमं किंचिद् विद्यते भिषजां मतम् ⁠। औषधं सर्वदुःखेषु सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

O महाराज! In this dangerous forest, experiencing tiredness and hunger and remembering your past joys when you keep becoming unhappy, at such a time, being present with you, I will placate you and keep you calm.

The doctors often says that if one needs peace when experiencing distress, there is no medicine other than the presence of a wife – I am telling truth to you.

नल उवाच

एवमेतद् यथाऽऽत्थ त्वं दमयन्ति सुमध्यमे ⁠। नास्ति भार्यासमं मित्रं नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

न चाहं त्यक्तकामस्त्वां किमलं भीरु शङ्कसे ⁠। त्यजेयमहमात्मानं न चैव त्वामनिन्दिते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्त्युवाच यदि मां त्वं महाराज न विहातुमिहेच्छसि ⁠। तत् किमर्थं विदर्भाणां पन्थाः समुपदिश्यते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३२ ⁠।⁠।

अवैमि चाहं नृपते न तु मां त्यक्तुमर्हसि ⁠। चेतसा त्वपकृष्टेन मां त्यजेथा महीपते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३३ ⁠।⁠।

Said नल — O सुमध्यमा दमयन्ती! Whatever you are saying is indeed true that for an angry man, there is no friend or medicine other than one’s own wife.

O Dear! I do not want to get rid of you, why are you doubting my words so much? O अनिन्दिते! I can even surrender my own body but I can never leave you.

Said दमयन्तीने — O महाराज! If you do not want to get rid of me, why do you keep pointing to the direction of विदर्भ-देश to me?

O राजन्! I am fully aware that you will never ever leave me, but O महीपते! this difficult ordeal has confused your mind and it is for this reason that you are thinking of getting rid of me.

पन्थानं हि ममाभीक्ष्णमाख्यासि च नरोत्तम ⁠। अतो निमित्तं शोकं मे वर्धयस्यमरोपम ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३४ ⁠।⁠।

यदि चायमभिप्रायस्तव ज्ञातीन् व्रजेदिति ⁠। सहितावेव गच्छावो विदर्भान् यदि मन्यसे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३५ ⁠।⁠।

विदर्भराजस्तत्र त्वां पूजयिष्यति मानद ⁠। तेन त्वं पूजितो राजन् सुखं वत्स्यसि नो गृहे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३६ ⁠।⁠।

O नरश्रेष्ठ! You are again and again pointing me to the route of विदर्भ-देश. O देवोपम आर्यपुत्र! And it is for this reason that my sadness is rising.

If you are of the opinion that दमयन्ती should go back to her erstwhile home and she will be happy with her family there, then with your acceptance, let both of us go over to विदर्भ-देश.

O मानद! At the विदर्भ-देश, you will be treated with due respect. O राजन्! You will be able to stay there happily surrounded by your well-wishers.

नल उवाच

यथा राज्यं तव पितुस्तथा मम न संशयः ⁠। न तु तत्र गमिष्यामि विषमस्थः कथंचन ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

कथं समृद्धो गत्वाहं तव हर्षविवर्धनः ⁠। परिच्युतो गमिष्यामि तव शोकविवर्धनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

Said नल — O प्रिये! I have no doubt that just as the kingdom विदर्भ belongs to you, it belongs to me too but given the difficulties I am going through, I would not like to go over to them in this state.

At one time, I was a prosperous king. In that glorious state, when I came over to your kingdom, you too had become very happy – but how can I go now in this state having lost the kingdom as this will only enhance your sadness?

बृहदश्व उवाच

इति ब्रुवन् नलो राजा दमयन्तीं पुनः पुनः ⁠। सान्त्वयामास कल्याणीं वाससोऽर्धेन संवृताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

तावेकवस्त्रसंवीतावटमानावितस्ततः ⁠। क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्तौ सभां कांचिदुपेयतुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

तां सभामुपसम्प्राप्य तदा स निषधाधिपः ⁠। वैदर्भ्या सहितो राजा निषसाद महीतले ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

स वै विवस्त्रो विकटो मलिनः पांसुगुण्ठितः ⁠। दमयन्त्या सह श्रान्तः सुष्वाप धरणीतले ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O राजन्! In this way, नल kept on trying to placate दमयन्ती who was dressed in a half dress – both were moving around in this state of lack of adequate dressing. Driven by hunger and third and fully exhausted, the couple reached a सभाभवन (धर्मशाला or a resting place).

Reaching the धर्मशाला, नल – the king of निषध sat down along with दमयन्ती.

Without (appropriate) clothing, with absence of mattress below, unclean and covered in dust, नल along with दमयन्ती slept on the ground itself.

दमयन्त्यपि कल्याणी निद्रयापहृता ततः ⁠। सहसा दुःखमासाद्य सुकुमारी तपस्विनी ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

सुप्तायां दमयन्त्यां तु नलो राजा विशाम्पते ⁠। शोकोन्मथितचित्तात्मा न स्म शेते तथा पुरा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

स तद् राज्यापहरणं सुहृत्त्यागं च सर्वशः ⁠। वने च तं परिध्वंसं प्रेक्ष्य चिन्तामुपेयिवान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

किं नु मे स्यादिदं कृत्वा किं नु मे स्यादकुर्वतः ⁠। किं नु मे मरणं श्रेयः परित्यागो जनस्य वा ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

The delicate and disciplined auspicious दमयन्ती was also overcome with sadness. Lying on the ground, she immediately fell asleep.

O राजन्! The mind of Raja नल felt being grinded with sadness. He was unable to sleep even after दमयन्ती  fell asleep.

He fell in worry thinking about stealing of his kingdom, separation from well-wishers and the difficulties that he may have to experience living in the forest.

He was thinking “If I act this way, what will happen and if I act that way, what will happen. Is it better for me to die or is it better for me to move away from दमयन्ती?”

मामियं ह्यनुरक्तैवं दुःखमाप्नोति मत्कृते ⁠। मद्विहीना त्वियं गच्छेत् कदाचित् स्वजनं प्रति ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

मयि निःसंशयं दुःखमियं प्राप्स्यत्यनुव्रता ⁠। उत्सर्गे संशयः स्यात् तु विन्देतापि सुखं क्वचित् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

स विनिश्चित्य बहुधा विचार्य च पुनः पुनः ⁠। उत्सर्गं मन्यते श्रेयो दमयन्त्या नराधिप ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

She is so attached to me and in the process, she is experiencing a lot of sadness. If she is separated from me, she is likely to return to her own family.

If she continues to stay with me, being attached to me, she will only experience pain. While there is an element of doubt as to what will happen to her when I abandon her, but it is quite likely that she will gain happiness in that state.

O राजन्! Thinking like this for a long time and weighing multiple options, he came to a decision that abandoning दमयन्ती is possibly the best course of action that will be beneficial to her.

न चैषा तेजसा शक्या कैश्चिद् धर्षयितुं पथि ⁠। यशस्विनी महाभागा मद्भक्तेयं पतिव्रता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

एवं तस्य तदा बुद्धिर्दमयन्त्यां न्यवर्तत ⁠। कलिना दुष्टभावेन दमयन्त्या विसर्जने ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

सोऽवस्त्रतामात्मनश्च तस्याश्चाप्येकवस्त्रताम् ⁠। चिन्तयित्वाध्यगाद् राजा वस्त्रार्धस्यावकर्तनम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

This fortunate and famed दमयन्ती is deeply attached to me and a पतिव्रता too. And owing to the ascetic strength she possess owing to being a पतिव्रता, she will not face any trouble while she is alone (and on her way to her own family).

Thinking this way, his बुद्धि shed the thought of keeping दमयन्ती with himself. Instead, owing to the presence of and triggered by the vile-minded कलियुग, his बुद्धि became convinced in deciding to abandon दमयन्ती.

Then, given his condition of naked-ness and being aware of condition of दमयन्ती, he decided to tear a portion of the dress of दमयन्ती to cover himself.

कथं वासो विकर्तेयं न च बुध्येत मे प्रिया ⁠। विचिन्त्यैवं नलो राजा सभां पर्यचरत्तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

परिधावन्नथ नल इतश्चेतश्च भारत ⁠। आससाद सभोद्देशे विकोशं खड्‌गमुत्तमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

तेनार्धं वाससश्छित्त्वा निवस्य च परंतपः ⁠। सुप्तामुत्सृज्य वैदर्भीं प्राद्रवद् गतचेतनाम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

ततो निवृत्तहृदयः पुनरागम्य तां सभाम् ⁠। दमयन्तीं तदा दृष्ट्वा रुरोद निषधाधिपः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

Thinking this way as to “How do I tear her dress in a manner that she is not awakened from sleep”, king नल kept moving around the धर्मशाला (to explore a solution to the problem).

O भारत! As he was moving around here and there, he came across an abandoned sword.

Using this, नल tore part of the dress of दमयन्ती and covered himself using this part and immediately moved away from the place leaving the princess of विदर्भ, दमयन्ती who continued to be in deep sleep at this time.

After going a little distance, his mind did a rethink and he returned to the same सभाभव from where he had left earlier. And looking at दमयन्ती, the king of निषध kept on crying profusely.

यां न वायुर्न चादित्यः पुरा पश्यति मे प्रियाम् ⁠। सेयमद्य सभामध्ये शेते भूमावनाथवत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

इयं वस्त्रावकर्तेन संवीता चारुहासिनी ⁠। उन्मत्तेव वरारोहा कथं बुद्ध्वा भविष्यति ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

कथमेका सती भैमी मया विरहिता शुभा ⁠। चरिष्यति वने घोरे मृगव्यालनिषेविते ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा अश्विनौ समरुद्गणौ ⁠। रक्षन्तु त्वां महाभागे धर्मेणासि समावृता ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

“My love दमयन्ती used to live earlier in a manner that even सूर्य and other देवताs were unable to see her but now in this धर्मशाला, she is sleeping as if she has been abandoned as an orphan”.

This attractive humorous beauty is sleeping and lying down covered in a half-dress. When her eyes open, I hope she does not become mad-like or some other difficult state.

This dangerous forest is full of violent animals and snakes. Left to herself, how will she be able to move around in the forest all alone by herself?

O महाभागे! You are immersed in धर्म – may आदित्य, वसु, रुद्र, अश्विनीकुमार and मरुद्गण – let all these देवता protect you.

एवमुक्त्वा प्रियां भार्यां रूपेणाप्रतिमां भुवि ⁠। कलिनापहृतज्ञानो नलः प्रातिष्ठदुद्यतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

गत्वा गत्वा नलो राजा पुनरेति सभां मुहुः ⁠। आकृष्यमाणः कलिना सौहृदेनावकृष्यते ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

द्विधेव हृदयं तस्य दुःखितस्याभवत् तदा ⁠। दोलेव मुहुरायाति याति चैव सभां प्रति ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

Stating this way, King नल moved away again leaving his loving wife दमयन्ती who is unmatched by any other woman on this Earth in terms of her form and beauty. At this time, कलि had stolen the thinking capability of the king (when he made this decision).

On one side, king was being pulled by कलियुग and on the other side, the harmonious company of दमयन्ती. This is why he kept on returning to the धर्मशाला again and again while leaving her too again and again.

The unhappy King नल’s heart was thus getting torn apart by confusion. Just like a swing keeps moving up and down, in the same way, his heart used to leave the सभाभवन and then return back to it.

अवकृष्टस्तु कलिना मोहितः प्राद्रवन्नलः ⁠। सुप्तामुत्सृज्य तां भार्यां विलप्य करुणं बहु ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

नष्टात्मा कलिना स्पृष्टस्तत्‌ तद् विगणयन्‌ नृपः ⁠। जगामैकां वने शून्ये भार्यामुत्सृज्य दुःखितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

In the end, owing to the powerful influence of कलियुग, King नल became deluded and after a lot of pitiful wailing, he left his sleeping away and quickly moved far away.

Owing to the touch of कलियुग, the बुद्धि of the king got destroyed and with a lot of sadness and contemplating multiple options, he left his own wife alone in the lonely forest.

Contd……