बृहदश्व उवाच स मासमुष्य कौन्तेय भीममामन्त्र्य नैषधः ⁠। पुरादल्पपरीवारो जगाम निषधान् प्रति ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

बृहदश्व मुनि said — O युधिष्ठिर! The King of निषध stayed in कुण्डिनपुरfor a month and then, taking permission of King भीम, took a few attendants with him and left for the kingdom of निषध-देश and reached there.

रथेनैकेन शुभ्रेण दन्तिभिः परिषोडशैः ⁠। पञ्चाशद्भिर्हयैश्चैव षट्‌शतैश्च पदातिभिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

His beautiful chariot was surrounded on all four sides by sixteen elephants, fifty elephants and six hundred soldiers.

स कम्पयन्निव महीं त्वरमाणो महीपतिः ⁠। प्रविवेशाथ संरब्धस्तरसैव महामनाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

Accompanied by all these, the high-minded King coming into निषध-देश shook the earth as he speedily entered as if with impatience and a fit of rage; and thus entered the kingdom.

पुष्करमासाद्य वीरसेनसुतो नलः ⁠। उवाच दीव्याव पुनर्बहुवित्तं मयार्जितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्ती च यच्चान्यन्मम किंचन विद्यते ⁠। एष वै मम संन्यासस्तव राज्यं तु पुष्कर ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

पुनः प्रवर्ततां द्यूतमिति मे निश्चिता मतिः ⁠। एकपाणेन भद्रं ते प्राणयोश्च पणावहे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

जित्वा परस्वमाहृत्य राज्यं वा यदि वा वसु ⁠। प्रतिपाणः प्रदातव्यः परमो धर्म उच्यते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

Thereafter, the son of वीरसेन, नल, went over to पुष्कर and told him —‘We will now play the game of dice once again. I have obtained a lot of wealth. दमयन्ती is with me now and whatever wealth I have with me, I am willing to stake all of this for the game. O पुष्कर! From your side too, you will place the kingdom at stake. With this single dice, let the game of dice begin – this is my decided course of action. May you be well and if you are unable to play, then let us fight with each other putting our lives into the fight.

If, after losing wealth and kingdom via a game of dice, if the person is intent on playing again (with the feeling of revenge), then this act must be reciprocated – doing so is seen as परम धर्म.

न चेद् वाञ्छसि त्वं द्यूतं युद्धद्यूतं प्रवर्तताम् ⁠। द्वैरथेनास्तु वै शान्तिस्तव वा मम वा नृप ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

वंशभोज्यमिदं राज्यमर्थितव्यं यथा तथा ⁠। येन केनाप्युपायेन वृद्धानामिति शासनम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

द्वयोरेकतरे बुद्धिः क्रियतामद्य पुष्कर ⁠। कैतवेनाक्षवत्यां तु युद्धे वा ना ताम्यतां धनुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

नैषधेनैवमुक्तस्तु पुष्करः प्रहसन्निव ⁠। ध्रुवमात्मजयं मत्वा प्रत्याह पृथिवीपतिम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

If you are unwilling to gamble using dice, then get ready to gamble using arrows and get into a war (with me). O राजन्!  Once both of us enter the duel, both of us will attain to peace.

This kingdom has come for use to us as inheritance. In whatever manner this place can be made prosperous, we must do so – such is the advice given by the elderly.

O पुष्कर! Today, out of the two options given to you, choose one of them. Either play the game of dice (and cheat) or get ready for a war and raise the arrow to your bow.

When King of निषध, नल, spoke this way, पुष्कर, who was very confident of his own victory, laughed and replied

दिष्ट्या त्वयार्जितं वित्तं प्रतिपाणाय नैषध ⁠। दिष्ट्या च दुष्कृतं कर्म दमयन्त्याः क्षयं गतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

दिष्ट्या च ध्रियसे राजन् सदारोऽद्य महाभुज ⁠। धनेनानेन वै भैमी जितेन समलंकृता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

मामुपस्थास्यति व्यक्तं दिवि शक्रमिवाप्सराः ⁠। नित्यशो हि स्मरामि त्वां प्रतीक्षेऽपि च नैषध ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

देवनेन मम प्रीतिर्न भवत्यसुहृद्गणैः ⁠। जित्वा त्वद्य वरारोहां दमयन्तीमनिन्दिताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

O नैषध! It is fortunate that you have acquired wealth to put this at stake for this game. It is also good to know that the bad deeds of दमयन्ती have been destroyed (not sure what this means).

O महाबाहु नरेश! You must consider yourself fortunate that you are alive along with your wife. Once I win this game, there is no doubt that दमयन्ती will adorn herself and come to me, in exactly the same manner in which the अप्सराs present themselves in front of इंद्र. O नैषध! I remember you every day and even look forward to you coming over to my place.

My satisfaction never ceases for all the times I play with my enemies. Today, once I obtain the beautiful blameless woman दमयन्ती, I will be gratified since she will always then reside in our heart.

कृतकृत्यो भविष्यामि सा हि मे नित्यशो हृदि ⁠। श्रुत्वा तु तस्य वा वाचो बह्वबद्धप्रलापिनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

इयेष स शिरश्छेत्तुं खड्‌गेन कुपितो नलः ⁠। स्मयंस्तु रोषताम्राक्षस्तमुवाच नलो नृपः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

पणावः किं व्याहरसे जितो न व्याहरिष्यसि ⁠। ततः प्रावर्तत द्यूतं पुष्करस्य नलस्य च ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

एकपाणेन वीरेण नलेन स पराजितः ⁠। स रत्नकोशनिचयैः प्राणेन पणितोऽपि च ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

This way, पुष्कर indulged in unrelated useless talk listening to which King नल became very angry. He thought in his mind that he will take out his sword and kill him right away. His eyes became red with anger; but he composed himself externally and replied with a laugh

Let us both start the game of dice; why waste time in useless talk? You will in any case not be able to talk further once you lose. Then, पुष्कर and नल decided to play where the dice is thrown only once and then started the game. In this, King नल immediately defeated पुष्कर. पुष्कर lost his pearls, treasury and (technically) even his life (since he had staked it too).

जित्वा च पुष्करं राजा प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ⁠। मम सर्वमिदं राज्यमव्यग्रं हतकण्टकम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

वैदर्भी न त्वया शक्या राजापसद वीक्षितुम् ⁠। तस्यास्त्वं सपरीवारो मूढ दासत्वमागतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

न त्वया तत् कृतं कर्म येनाहं विजितः पुरा ⁠। कलिना तत् कृतं कर्म त्वं च मूढ न बुध्यसे ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

नाहं परकृतं दोषं त्वय्याधास्ये कथंचन ⁠। यथासुखं वै जीव त्वं प्राणानवसृजामि ते ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

After defeating पुष्कर, King नल laughed and told him O नृपाधम! Now, this peaceful and smooth kingdom is fully under my control. Never even attempt to look at दमयन्ती with your eyes. O मूर्ख! From today, you and your family will be servants of दमयन्ती.

When you had defeated me earlier, one cannot ascribe any to पुरुषार्थ to yourself for that win. O मूढ़! It was an act of कलियुग, whom you do not know.

And because it was an offence done by someone else (कलियुग), I will not ascribe blame of your previous actions to you. You go ahead and live a good life. I will also return your life to you (meaning I will let you live).

तथैव सर्वसम्भारं स्वमंशं वितरामि ते ⁠। तथैव च मम प्रीतिस्त्वयि वीर न संशयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

सौहार्दं चापि मे त्वत्तो न कदाचित् प्रहास्यति ⁠। पुष्कर त्वं हि मे भ्राता संजीव शरदः शतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

एवं नलः सान्त्वयित्वा भ्रातरं सत्यविक्रमः ⁠। स्वपुरं प्रेषयामास परिष्वज्य पुनः पुनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

सान्त्वितो नैषधेनैवं पुष्करः प्रत्युवाच तम् ⁠। पुण्यश्लोकं तदा राजन्नभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

कीर्तिरस्तु तवाक्षय्या जीव वर्षशतं सुखी ⁠। यो मे वितरसि प्राणानधिष्ठानं च पार्थिव ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

I will return all your objects and your share of the wealth. O वीर! Let there also be no doubt that I will continue to maintain my previous affection that I had always maintained with you earlier.

Whatever brotherly affection I had for you, it will not leave my heart. O पुष्कर! You are my brother – go and live for a hundred years.

In this manner, the brave (for सत्य) King नल gave assurance to his brother and after embracing him a few times, allowed him to return to his own kingdom.

O राजन्! After obtaining assurances from the King of virtuous King of निषध, नल, पुष्कर folded both his hands and said this – “O पृथ्वीनाथ! By giving back my life as well as my place of residence, let us always live with continuous fame. You also live for a hundred years and live happily”.

स तथा सत्कृतो राज्ञा मासमुष्य तदा नृप ⁠। प्रययौ पुष्करो हृष्टःस्वपुरं स्वजनावृतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

महत्या सेनया सार्धं विनीतैः परिचारकैः ⁠। भ्राजमान इवादित्यो वपुषा पुरुषर्षभ ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

प्रस्थाप्य पुष्करं राजा वित्तवन्तमनामयम् ⁠। प्रविवेश पुरं श्रीमानत्यर्थमुपशोभिताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

प्रविश्य सान्त्वयामास पौरांश्च निषधाधिपः ⁠। पौरा जानपदाश्चापि सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुहाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३२ ⁠।⁠।

O नरश्रेष्ठ युधिष्ठिर! After obtaining a respectful treatment from King नल, stayed there for about a month and eventually returned home along with his dear ones. Along with him was a large army and many humble attendants (servants). His body was also shining like सूर्य

After giving wealth and finances to पुष्क and sending him back to his home, श्रीमान् King नल entered his own prosperous kingdom.

After he entered, he immediately assured (happiness) for all his citizens. The people of the kingdom as well as the community were very happy. All their bodies and minds were filled with excitement.

ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे सामात्यप्रमुखा जनाः ⁠। अद्य स्म निर्वृता राजन् पुरे जनपदेऽपि च ⁠। उपासितुं पुनः प्राप्ता देवा इव शतक्रतुम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३३ ⁠।⁠।

Along with ministers, other people too folded their hands and stated – O महाराज! All of us in this city and all of us as a community are finally able to breathe happily. Just as all देवताs engage with इंद्र, in that same way, all of us will get an opportunity to please you and will get an opportunity to sit close to you.

बृहदश्व उवाच

प्रशान्ते तु पुरे हृष्टे सम्प्रवृत्ते महोत्सवे ⁠। महत्या सेनया राजा दमयन्तीमुपानयत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्तीमपि पिता सत्कृत्य परवीरहा ⁠। प्रास्थापयदमेयात्मा भीमो भीमपराक्रमः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

आगतायां तु वैदर्भ्यां सपुत्रायां नलो नृपः ⁠। वर्तयामास मुदितो देवराडिव नन्दने ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

तथा प्रकाशतां यातो जम्बुद्वीपे स राजसु ⁠। पुनः शशास तद् राज्यं प्रत्याहृत्य महायशाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

बृहदश्व मुनि said — O युधिष्ठिर! Once the kingdom became peaceful, all people stated living with great happiness and major festivities were being organized across the kingdom, at such a time, the King नल went along with a massive army to विदर्भ0देश to bring दमयन्ती back home.

The father of दमयन्ती, the strong and courageous भीम possessed an unlimited will power and was capable of defeating the enemies in any war. He respectfully gave a farewell to his daughter दमयन्ती (as she was returning to her home along with her husband).

Once दमयन्ती returned home along with his son and daughter, King नल engaged with all people living in a mind-space of complete happiness. Just how इंद्र, the king of देवताs used to get respect from all in नन्दनवन, in that way, King नल used to shine among all kings living in जम्बूद्वीप. Once the great famed king नल regained his kingdom, he used to rule it with justice.

ईजे च विविधैर्यज्ञैर्विधिवच्चाप्तदक्षिणैः ⁠। तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र ससुहृद् यक्ष्यसेऽचिरात् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

दुःखमेतादृशं प्राप्तो नलः परपुरंजयः ⁠। देवनेन नरश्रेष्ठ सभार्यो भरतर्षभ ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

एकाकिनैव सुमहन्नलेन पृथिवीपते ⁠। दुःखमासादितं घोरं प्राप्तश्चाभ्युदयः पुनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

त्वं पुनर्भ्रातृसहितः कृष्णया चैव पाण्डव ⁠। रमसेऽस्मिन् महारण्ये धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

He used to undertake various types of यज्ञ which were undertaken as per due procedures and which included large amounts of दक्षिणा. O राजेन्द्र! In this way, you too will return to your kingdom along with the people who are happy in your welfare and perform यज्ञs (once you become the king).

O भरतश्रेष्ठ! O पुरुषोत्तम! The victorious king, the defeater of enemies, King नल ended up facing a lot of difficulty including separation from his wife because of indulging in gambling.

O पृथ्वीपते! King नल alone experienced this dangerous and great sorrow but eventually, he regained all his glory.

O पाण्डुनन्दन! You are blessed since you move around in this forest along with your brothers and queen Draupati and you are always thinking about धर्म.

ब्राह्मणैश्च महाभागैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः ⁠। नित्यमन्वास्यसे राजंस्तत्र का परिदेवना ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

O राजन्! You also are living along with the great and fortunate ब्राह्मणs who are well versed with both the वेद and वेदांगs – you should therefore not express unhappiness with the conditions in which you are living.

कर्कोटकस्य नागस्य दमयन्त्या नलस्य च ⁠। ऋतुपर्णस्य राजर्षेः कीर्तनं कलिनाशनम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

Whosoever talks about कर्कोटक नाग, दमयन्ती, नल and राजर्षि ऋतुपर्ण will destroy the दोष of कलियुग

इतिहासमिमं चापि कलिनाशनमच्युत ⁠। शक्यमाश्वसितुं श्रुत्वा त्वद्विधेन विशाम्पते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

अस्थिरत्वं च संचिन्त्य पुरुषार्थस्य नित्यदा ⁠। तस्योदये व्यये चापि न चिन्तयितुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

श्रुत्वेतिहासं नृपते समाश्वसिहि मा शुचः ⁠। व्यसने त्वं महाराज न विषीदितुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

विषमावस्थिते दैवे पौरुषेऽफलतां गते ⁠। विषादयन्ति नात्मानं सत्त्वोपाश्रयिणो नराः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

O महाराज! For people like you who listen to this इतिहास which has the power to destroy कलि, will get comfort/ security (after listening to this).

Note that whatever are obtained by any पुरुष (human being) are always unstable and capable of getting destroyed (meaning none of our gains are permanent). Therefore, whenever you gain them or lose them, you should not worry about such events.  

O नरेश! Listening to this इतिहास, you should gain strength, stop living in sorrow. O महाराज! Despite falling in a difficult situation, you must not be gloomy (or despondent).

When you are under the influence of दैव (प्रारब्ध) and this operates against you and all your पुरुषार्थ (efforts) fail to give you any positive results, such a person must practice living with सत्त्वगुण values instead of living despondently.

ये चेदं कथयिष्यन्ति नलस्य चरितं महत् ⁠। श्रोष्यन्ति चाप्यभीक्ष्णं वै नालक्ष्मीस्तान् भजिष्यति ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

अर्थास्तस्योपपत्स्यन्ते धन्यतां च गमिष्यति ⁠।  इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा पुराणं शश्वदुत्तमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

पुत्रान्‌ पौत्रान्‌ पशूंश्चापि लभते नृषु चाग्र्यताम् ⁠। आरोग्यप्रीतिमांश्चैव भविष्यति न संशयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

भयात् त्रस्यसि यच्च त्वमाह्वयिष्यति मां पुनः ⁠। अक्षज्ञ इति तत् तेऽहं नाशयिष्यामि पार्थिव ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

Whosoever describes this great history of King नल or listens to this regularly, they will never experience conditions of अलक्ष्मी (meaning living with penury/ poverty). All their dreams will get fulfilled and they will live life in this world with glory.

Any human being who listens to this ancient and great इतिहास obtains children, grandchildren, animals (meaning wealth) and greatness among fellow human beings. Such a person will not experience disease and will remain happy – let there is no doubt about it.

O राजन्! Whatever fear you are living with that if a knower of द्यूत- विद्या will call me again for gambling (and thereby defeat me again) – I will remove this fear from your mind.

वेदाक्षहृदयं कृत्स्नमहं सत्यपराक्रम ⁠। उपपद्यस्व कौन्तेय प्रसन्नोऽहं ब्रवीमि ते ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

के सम्पूर्ण हृदय (रहस्य)-को जानता हूँ, तुम उसे ग्रहण कर लो। मैं प्रसन्न होकर तुम्हें बतलाता हूँ ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो हृष्टमना राजा बृहदश्वमुवाच ह ⁠। भगवन्नक्षहृदयं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

ततोऽक्षहृदयं प्रादात् पाण्डवाय महात्मने ⁠। दत्त्वा चाश्वशिरोऽगच्छदुपस्प्रष्टुं महातपाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

O सत्यपराक्रमी कुन्तीनन्दन! I am fully aware of all the secrets of द्यूत-विद्या, you may learn these from me. I will happily teach these to you.

वैशम्पायन said — O जनमेजय! Thereafter, king युधिष्ठिर became happy and told बृहदश्व — Oभगवन्! I will certainly learn the subtle aspects of द्यूत-विद्या from you.

Then, the great तपस्वी मुनि taught the secrets of द्यूत-विद्या to the son of पाण्डु and also taught him अश्व-विद्या and then left for actions like स्नान, etc.

ॐ तत् सत्