Climax ending with reunion of नल & Damayanti

बृहदश्व उवाच

अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य पर्णादो नाम वै द्विजः ⁠। प्रत्येत्य नगरं भैमीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

नैषधं मृगयानेन दमयन्ति मया नलम् ⁠। अयोध्यां नगरीं गत्वा भाङ्गासुरिमुपस्थितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

श्रावितश्च मया वाक्यं त्वदीयं स महाजने ⁠। ऋतुपर्णो महाभागो यथोक्तं वरवर्णिनि ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

तच्छ्रुत्वा नाब्रवीत् किंचिदृतुपर्णो नराधिपः ⁠। न च पारिषदः कश्चिद् भाष्यमाणो मयासकृत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

अनुज्ञातं तु मां राज्ञा विजने कश्चिदब्रवीत् ⁠। ऋतुपर्णस्य पुरुषो बाहुको नाम नामतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O राजन्! Thereafter, after some time, a ब्राह्मण by the name पर्णाद returned to the capital of विदर्भ-देश and conveyed this to दमयन्ती

O दमयन्ती! Searching for king of निषध, नल, I reached Ayodhya and presented myself at the assembly of ऋतुपर्ण

Since there were a lot of people present there, I stated aloud the words conveyed by you to the crowd along with king ऋतुपर्ण. Oवरवर्णिनि! The King ऋतुपर्ण did not say anything in the response. Despite me repeating these words again and again, no one from the assembly said anything.

But there was a person named बाहुक  who lives in the same location as King ऋतुपर्ण – when I was taking leave of the king and returning, this person called me alone and he gave a response to your words.

सूतस्तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य विरूपो ह्रस्वबाहुकः ⁠। शीघ्रयानेषु कुशलो मृष्टकर्ता च भोजने ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

स विनिःश्वस्य बहुशो रुदित्वा च पुनः पुनः ⁠। कुशलं चैव मां पृष्ट्वा पश्चादिदमभाषत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

वैषम्यमपि सम्प्राप्ता गोपायन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ⁠। आत्मानमात्मना सत्यो जितः स्वर्गो न संशयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

रहिता भर्तृभिश्चैव न कुप्यन्ति कदाचन ⁠। प्राणांश्चारित्रकवचान् धारयन्ति वरस्त्रियः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

He is the charioteer of king ऋतुपर्ण – his shoulders were small and he was also looking ugly. He was skilled in commandeering the horses and his cooking creates excellent aroma around the place.  

After breathing hard again and again, बाहुक kept on crying and then after asking for my well-being, he replied like this

Women born in high families are capable of saving themselves even after they experience great difficulties. There is no doubt that doing this, they are able to gain victory on truth as well as स्वर्ग.

Even if abandoned by their husband, the great women do not display anger. They possess the anchor of actions that are aligned to धर्म and thus lead their lives.

विषमस्थेन मूढेन परिभ्रष्टसुखेन च ⁠। यत् सा तेन परित्यक्ता तत्र न क्रोद्‌धुमर्हति ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

प्राणयात्रां परिप्रेप्सोः शकुनैर्हृतवाससः ⁠। आधिभिर्दह्यमानस्य श्यामा न क्रोद्‌धुमर्हति ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

सत्कृतासत्कृता वापि पतिं दृष्ट्वा तथागतम् ⁠। भ्रष्टराज्यं श्रिया हीनं क्षुधितं व्यसनाप्लुतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा त्वरितोऽहमिहागतः ⁠। श्रुत्वा प्रमाणं भवती राज्ञश्चैव निवेदय ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

That man was experiencing great difficulty and have lost all means of leading a happy life, he had got confused. In this state, if he had abandoned his wife, one must not scold such a person.

While making efforts to sustain life, the one whose cloth got taken away by the birds and one who was immersed in multiple types of mental worries, the dusky one must not scold such a man.

Whether the husband has respected her or not – she must forgive him given the extent of serious difficulty he was going through – this is because he lost his kingdom, he was bereft of लक्ष्मी, he was pained by hunger and he was drowning in the great ocean of misery.

After listening to these words of बाहुक, I quickly returned to this place. After listening to this, you need to tell me what to do or not to do next. Kindly convey this feedback to the king too.

एतच्छ्रुत्वाश्रुपूर्णाक्षी पर्णादस्य विशाम्पते ⁠। दमयन्ती रहोऽभ्येत्य मातरं प्रत्यभाषत ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

अयमर्थो न संवेद्यो भीमे मातः कदाचन ⁠। त्वत्संनिधौ नियोक्ष्येऽहं सुदेवं द्विजसत्तमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

यथा न नृपतिर्भीमः प्रतिपद्येत मे मतम् ⁠। तथा त्वया प्रकर्तव्यं मम चेत् प्रियमिच्छसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

यथा चाहं समानीता सुदेवेनाशु बान्धवान् ⁠। तेनैव मङ्गलेनाशु सुदेवो यातु मा चिरम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

O युधिष्ठिर! After listening to the words of पर्णाद, the eyes of दमयन्ती swelled in tears. She went alone to her mother and told her

O Mother! My father should not know about this. I will appoint विप्रवर सुदेव for this act in front of you. You should help me to ensure that my father does not know anything about this. If you want to help me, then kindly be alert on this aspect.

Just like सुदेव ensured that I returned here and meet my entire family, to ensure that a similar beneficial outcome comes about, सुदेव will go across to अयोध्या without any further delay. The intended outcome is that King नल is brought here.

समानेतुं नलं मातरयोध्यां नगरीमितः ⁠।  विश्रान्तं तु ततः पश्चात् पर्णादं द्विजसत्तमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

अर्चयामास वैदर्भी धनेनातीव भाविनी ⁠। नले चेहागते तत्र भूयो दास्यामि ते वसु ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

त्वया हि मे बहु कृतं यदन्यो न करिष्यति ⁠। यद् भर्त्राहं समेष्यामि शीघ्रमेव द्विजोत्तम ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

स एवमुक्तोऽथाश्वास्य आशीर्वादैः सुमङ्गलैः ⁠। गृहानुपययौ चापि कृतार्थः सुमहामनाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

And when विप्रवर पर्णाद returned back after taking rest (after the long trip made earlier), दमयन्ती gave him a lot of wealth and give him respect and then added that when King नल returns, he will be given additional wealth.

O विप्रवर! You have really helped me in a way that no one else would have been able to do this – this is important for me since I wish to meet my lord as quickly as possible.

When दमयन्ती expressed these words, the generous and kind-hearted पर्णाद gave her highly auspicious blessings, thanked her for her generosity and returned back to his own house.

ततः सुदेवमाभाष्य दमयन्ती युधिष्ठिर ⁠। अब्रवीत् संनिधौ मातुर्दुःखशोकसमन्विता ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

गत्वा सुदेव नगरीमयोध्यावासिनं नृपम् ⁠। ऋतुपर्णं वचो ब्रूहि सम्पतन्निव कामगः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

आस्थास्यति पुनर्भैमी दमयन्ती स्वयंवरम् ⁠। तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो राजपुत्राश्च सर्वशः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

तथा च गणितः कालः श्वोभूते स भविष्यति ⁠। यदि सम्भावनीयं ते गच्छ शीघ्रमरिंदम ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

O युधिष्ठिर! Then, दमयन्ती called ब्राह्मण सुदेव and in front of her mother, spoke to him in a depressed tone

O सुदेव! May I request you to go over to अयोध्या  like a rapid flying bird and convey these words to King ऋतुपर्ण

The daughter of भीम, दमयन्ती, is undertaking a स्वयंवर again – already, many kings and princes are going over to participate in the event.

The time for this event has already been fixed. O शत्रुदमन! If you can come over there quickly, then kindly do so.

सूर्योदये द्वितीयं सा भर्तारं वरयिष्यति ⁠। न हि स ज्ञायते वीरो नलो जीवति वा न वा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

एवं तया यथोक्तो वै गत्वा राजानमब्रवीत् ⁠। ऋतुपर्णं महाराज सुदेवो ब्राह्मणस्तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

She will select her second husband early tomorrow morning – and this is because it is not clear if नल is alive or not.

O महाराज! When दमयन्ती said this, the ब्राह्मण सुदेव went over to king ऋतुपर्ण and conveyed her message to him.

श्रुत्वा वचः सुदेवस्य ऋतुपर्णो नराधिपः ⁠। सान्त्ययन् श्लक्ष्णया वाचा बाहुकं प्रत्यभाषत ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

विदर्भान् यातुमिच्छामि दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम् ⁠। एकाह्ना हयतत्त्वज्ञ मन्यसे यदि बाहुक ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्तस्य कौन्तेय तेन राज्ञा नलस्य ह ⁠। व्यदीर्यत मनो दुःखात् प्रदध्यौ च महामनाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्ती वदेदेतत् कुर्याद् दुःखेन मोहिता ⁠। अस्मदर्थे भवेद् वायमुपायश्चिन्तितो महान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O युधिष्ठिर! After listening to सुदेव, King ऋतुपर्ण spoke in a calm tone to बाहुक and said

O बाहुक! You are an expert in knowledge of horses, if you are ready, I would like to take part in the स्वयंवर of दमयन्ती for which I need to reach the capital of विदर्भ-देश in one day.

O कुन्तीनन्दन! After listening to king ऋतुपर्ण, King नल became very dejected. The mind of नल was filled with दु:ख and got immersed in deep worry.

He thought — “Can दमयन्ती really do this? It is possible that she got deluded owing to दुःख and therefore taking up this course of action. Or is it that to obtain me back, she is undertaking this great solution?

नृशंसं बत वैदर्भी भर्तृकामा तपस्विनी ⁠। मया क्षुद्रेण निकृता कृपणा पापबुद्धिना ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

स्त्रीस्वभावश्चलो लोके मम दोषश्च दारुणः ⁠। स्यादेवमपि कुर्यात् सा विवासाद् गतसौहृदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

मम शोकेन संविग्ना नैराश्यात् तनुमध्यमा ⁠। नैवं सा कर्हिचित् कुर्यात् सापत्या च विशेषतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

I am a pathetic man whose बुद्धि is immersed in doing acts of पाप and abandoned her ; maybe this is why the princess of विदर्भ who is a तपस्विनी but going through a state of dejection undertook this particular course of action. In the world, it is known that the mind of a स्त्री (woman) can be fickle – further, the nature of my own action is nothing less than criminal. It is possible that because of this, her affection for me has reduced; thereby triggering her to commit such an action.

Because my slender youthful wife experienced an intense state of agitation owing to sorrow and since there is no possibility of meeting me again, she must have resorted to this course of action – however, in my heart, I somehow cannot imagine that she will do something like this. Also because she has children. For this reason too, I cannot expect her to take this route (or course of action).

यदत्र सत्यं वासत्यं गत्वा वेत्स्यामि निश्चयम् ⁠। ऋतुपर्णस्य वै काममात्मार्थं च करोम्यहम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

How much is truth in this call or untruth – I can only come to know with certainty only when I go there. Therefore, for own sake, I will fulfil the wish of king ऋतुपर्ण

इति निश्चित्य मनसा बाहुको दीनमानसः ⁠। कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदमृतुपर्णं जनाधिपम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

प्रतिजानामि ते वाक्यं गमिष्यामि नराधिप ⁠। एकाह्ना पुरुषव्याघ्र विदर्भनगरीं नृप ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

ततः परीक्षामश्वानां चक्रे राजन् स बाहुकः ⁠। अश्वशालामुपागम्य भाङ्गासुरिनृपाज्ञया ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

स त्वर्यमाणो बहुश ऋतुपर्णेन बाहुकः ⁠। अश्वाञ्जिज्ञासमानो वै विचार्य च पुनः पुनः ⁠। अध्यगच्छत्‌ कृशानश्वान् समर्थानध्वनि क्षमान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

Deciding like this in his own mind, the बाहुक, with a dejected heart, folded both his hands and told king ऋतुपर्ण — O नरेश्वर! O पुरुषसिंह! I have listened to your order and I will tell you confidently that I am capable of taking you over to the capital of विदर्भ- देश within one day.

O युधिष्ठिर! Thereafter, taking permission of king ऋतुपर्ण, बाहुक went over to the horse-shed to check the condition of the horses.

ऋतुपर्ण kept on pushing बाहुक again and again (to ensure that they should reach within one day); and therefore after contemplating thoroughly, he selected horses which looked weak but to reach the destination, they would be capable and effective.

तेजोबलसमायुक्तान् कुलशीलसमन्वितान् ⁠। वर्जिताँल्लक्षणैर्हीनैः पृथुप्रोथान् महाहनून् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

शूद्धान् दशभिरावर्तैः सिन्धुजान् वातरंहसः ⁠। दृष्ट्वा तानब्रवीद्‌ राजा किंचित् कोपसमन्वितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

किमिदं प्रार्थितं कर्तुं प्रलब्धव्या न ते वयम् ⁠। कथमल्पबलप्राणा वक्ष्यन्तीमे हया मम ⁠। महदध्वानमपि च गन्तव्यं कथमीदृशैः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

They were filled with speed and strength. They belonged to a good जाति and were well-behaved. The negative traits were always missing in them. They had a thick nose and their chin was wide.

Those horses belonged to सिन्धु-देश and moved as fast as air. Because they had ten signs (not sure what this means), they were निर्दोष (pure). However, on seeing them, king ऋतुपर्ण got angry and said

Did I tell you to select this type of horses – I hope you are not cheating me on this score. These horses look weak and how will they be able to travel such a long distance (in a day)? How will these horses be capable of taking responsibility for hauling this chariot?

बाहुक उवाच

एको ललाटे द्वौ मूर्ध्नि द्वौ द्वौ पार्श्वोपपार्श्वयोः ⁠। द्वौ द्वौ वक्षसि विज्ञेयौ प्रयाणे चैक एव तु ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

एते हया गमिष्यन्ति विदर्भान् नात्र संशयः ⁠। यानन्यान् मन्यसे राजन् ब्रूहि तान् योजयामि ते ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

ऋतुपर्ण उवाच त्वमेव हयतत्त्वज्ञः कुशलो ह्यसि बाहुक ⁠। यान् मन्यसे समर्थांस्त्वं क्षिप्रं तानेव योजय ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

ततः सदश्वांश्चतुरः कुलशीलसमन्वितान् ⁠। योजयामास कुशलो जवयुक्तान् रथे नलः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

Says बाहुक — O राजन्! There are twelve signs which are stated as relevant to identify good horses – one on the forehead, two on the head, two on the sides, two sub-parts of the two sides, two on the chest, two & two and on the back (not translated well – refer expert translations please…)

The horses chosen by me will certainly reach capital of the विदर्भ-देश on time, there is no doubt about it. O महाराज! If you however believe there are horses better than these two, do let me know and I will use them to haul the chariot.

Said ऋतुपर्ण  — O बाहुक! You have deep knowledge and are capable in knowledge of अश्व-विद्या, therefore, whatever horses you deem as appropriate, use them only for hauling the chariot speedily.

Then, wise King नल attached four speedy horses which belonged to a good जाति and well-behaved to the chariot.

ततो युक्तं रथं राजा समारोहत् त्वरान्वितः ⁠। अथ पर्यपतन् भूमौ जानुभिस्ते हयोत्तमाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

ततो नरवरः श्रीमान् नलो राजा विशाम्पते ⁠। सान्त्वयामास तानश्वांस्तेजोबलसमन्वितान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

रश्मिभिश्च समुद्यम्य नलो यातुमियेष सः ⁠। सूतमारोप्य वार्ष्णेयं जवमास्थाय वै परम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

ते चोद्यमाना विधिवद् बाहुकेन हयोत्तमाः ⁠। समुत्पेतुरथाकाशं रथिनं मोहयन्निव ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

Once the chariot was ready, King ऋतुपर्ण excitedly with force sat within the chariot. This led to the horses to fall down on the knees as soon as the king climbed on the chariot.

O युधिष्ठिर! Then the great king नल caressed the illustrious and strong horses.

Then taking control over the reins to control the horses, he decided to push the chariot ahead. वार्ष्णेय सत् on the seat of the charioteer and taking resort the high speed, he started hauling the chariot. With बाहुक managing the horses in an appropriate way, the horses started moving as a quick speedy and it looked as if they horses are flying on air.

तथा तु दृष्ट्वा तानश्वान् वहतो वातरंहसः ⁠। अयोध्याधिपतिः श्रीमान् विस्मयं परमं ययौ ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

रथघोषं तु तं श्रुत्वा हयसंग्रहणं च तत् ⁠। वार्ष्णेयश्चिन्तयामास बाहुकस्य हयज्ञताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

किं नु स्यान्मातलिरयं देवराजस्य सारथिः ⁠। तथा तल्लक्षणं वीरे बाहुके दृश्यते महत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

शालिहोत्रोऽथ किं नु स्याद्धयानां कुलतत्त्ववित् ⁠। मानुषं समनुप्राप्तो वपुः परमशोभनम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

Seeing the horses moving at a speedy pace, the great king of अयोध्या was struck with wonder looking at the horses.

Hearing the sound of the moving chariot and the approach adopted by बाहुक to handle the horses, वार्ष्णेय started thinking. Is this person मातलि , the charioteer of इंद्र? The लक्षण of within बाहुक is looking like that of मातलि – I can certainly see this.

Or is it that this person is आचार्य शालिहोत्र who may have taken the form of a human being since he seems to very well aware of (how to identify) the best जातिs of horses as well as the subtle aspects of अश्व-विद्या.  

उताहोस्विद् भवेद् राजा नलः परपुरंजयः ⁠। सोऽयं नृपतिरायात इत्येवं समचिन्तयत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

अथ चेह नलो विद्यां वेत्ति तामेव बाहुकः ⁠। तुल्यं हि लक्षये ज्ञानं बाहुकस्य नलस्य च ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

अपि चेदं वयस्तुल्यं बाहुकस्य नलस्य च ⁠। नायं नलो महावीर्यस्तद्विद्यश्च भविष्यति ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

प्रच्छन्ना हि महात्मानश्चरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम् ⁠। दैवेन विधिना युक्ताः शास्त्रोक्तैश्च निरूपणैः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

Or is this person king नल himself, who is a defeater of enemies, who has come in this form? It is quite possible that it is him only; this is how वार्ष्णेय started thinking.

Whatever knowledge of horses, king नल has, बाहुक also appears to have that knowledge. I can see that the knowledge level of both बाहुक and नल appears to match each other.

The state of बाहुक and नलalso appears similar – even if this person is not the strong-valour नल, he must be some other person who is as scholarly as King नल.

Many great people who roam around on earth often conceal their identity to perform duties which are aligned to the देवताs and शास्त्रs.

भवेन्न मतिभेदो मे गात्रवैरूप्यतां प्रति ⁠। प्रमाणात् परिहीनस्तु भवेदिति मतिर्मम ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३२ ⁠।⁠।

While the poor looks of this person does not lead to me concluding that this is not नल but this person has certainly got a smaller frame while king नल had a larger frame. This is why I think that this person cannot be king नल.

वयःप्रमाणं तत्तुल्यं रूपेण तु विपर्ययः ⁠। नलं सर्वगुणैर्युक्तं मन्ये बाहुकमन्ततः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३३ ⁠।⁠।

एवं विचार्य बहुशो वार्ष्णेयः पर्यचिन्तयत् ⁠। हृदयेन महाराज पुण्यश्लोकस्य सारथिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३४ ⁠।⁠।

ऋतुपर्णश्च राजेन्द्रो बाहुकस्य हयज्ञताम् ⁠। चिन्तयन् मुमुदे राजा सहवार्ष्णेयसारथिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३५ ⁠।⁠।

ऐकाग्र‍यं च तथोत्साहं हयसंग्रहणं च तत् ⁠। परं यत्नं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य परां मुदमवाप ह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३६ ⁠।⁠।

Therefore, while this state seems to suggest that he is like King नल but in terms of overall looks, there is certainly a difference between the two. But despite all this confusion, I am tempted to conclude that बाहुक and King नल, the one who embodies all गुण (meaning सत्गुण). 

O महाराज युधिष्ठिर! In this way, the charioteer of the sacred नल, वार्ष्णेय, thinking again and again mentally concluded on the lines of the aforementioned thought.

Having observed the speed of the horses and the knowledge displayed, King ऋतुपर्ण too was happy like वार्ष्णेय about the decision.

He was in particular happy about the focus, the enthusiasm, the skill by which the horses are being kept in control and that ultimate actual manner in which the horses in motion were moving speedily.

बृहदश्व उवाच

स नदीः पर्वतांश्चैव वनानि च सरांसि च ⁠। अचिरेणातिचक्राम खेचरः खे चरन्निव ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

तथा प्रयाते तु रथे तदा भाङ्गासुरिर्नृपः ⁠। उत्तरीयमधोऽपश्यद् भ्रष्टं परपुरंजयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

ततः स त्वरमाणस्तु पटे निपतिते तदा ⁠। ग्रहीष्यामीति तं राजा नलमाह महामनाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

निगृह्णीष्व महाबुद्धे हयानेतान् महाजवान् ⁠। वार्ष्णेयो यावदेनं मे पटमानयतामिह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O युधिष्ठिर! Just as a bird flies in the sky, in the same way, बाहुक (बड़े वेगसे) kept on moving forward speedily crossing rivers, mountains, forest and lakes.

When the chariot was moving in this speedy manner, the winner over kingdoms of enemy kings, King ऋतुपर्ण realized that the upper garment he was wearing flew away (or fell down).

When the cloth flew away, the great king excitedly told नल – O महामते! You will need to stop these horses for a while. Let me go over and collect my upper cloth. Till वार्ष्णेय gets down and gets the cloth, you keep the chariot standstill.

नलस्तं प्रत्युवाचाथ दूरे भ्रष्टः पटस्तव ⁠। योजनं समतिक्रान्तो नाहर्तुं शक्यते पुनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्तो नलेनाथ तदा भाङ्गासुरिर्नृपः ⁠। आससाद वने राजन् फलवन्तं बिभीतकम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

तं दृष्ट्वा बाहुकं राजा त्वरमाणोऽभ्यभाषत ⁠। ममापि सूत पश्य त्वं संख्याने परमं बलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

सर्वः सर्वं न जानाति सर्वज्ञो नास्ति कश्चन ⁠। नैकत्र परिनिष्ठास्ति ज्ञानस्य पुरुषे क्वचित् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

Listening to this, नल replied – O महाराज! Your cloth has fallen very far away. From that place, we must have already crossed about four कोस (roughly 12000 metres or 12 Kms) – we will not be able to fetch it now (given our time constraints).

O राजन्! When नल replied this way, King ऋतुपर्ण kept quiet. Then they reached a massive tree in the forest which was filled with many fruits.

Seeing the tree, King ऋतुपर्ण immediately told बाहुक — Oसूत! You must know that I possess a unique skill of counting (or mathematics).

All people do not know everything. In this world, no one can be known as सर्वज्ञ (all-knowing) and all knowledge cannot be contained within a single person.

वृक्षेऽस्मिन् यानि पर्णानि फलान्यपि च बाहुक ⁠। पतितान्यपि यान्यत्र तत्रैकमधिकं शतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

एकपत्राधिकं चात्र फलमेकं च बाहुक ⁠। पञ्चकोट्योऽथ पत्राणां द्वयोरपि च शाखयोः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

प्रचिनुह्यस्य शाखे द्वे याश्चाप्यन्याः प्रशाखिकाः ⁠। आभ्यां फलसहस्रे द्वे पञ्चोनं शतमेव च ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

O बाहुक! I can know how many leaves and fruits are on this tree. The fruits and leaves on the ground is 100 more, in addition there is another fruit and leaf meaning that the number of leaves and fruits on the ground are more than the number of leaves and fruits on the tree by one hundred and two. The two branches of this tree have a total of five crore leaves. If you so desire, you may count the number of leaves on these two branches (and their sub-branches). Similarly, these two branches have a total of two thousand and ninety five fruits.

ततो रथमवस्थाप्य राजानं बाहुकोऽब्रवीत् ⁠। परोक्षमिव मे राजन् कत्थसे शत्रुकर्शन ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

प्रत्यक्षमेतत् कर्तास्मि शातयित्वा बिभीतकम् ⁠। अथात्र गणिते राजन् विद्यते न परोक्षता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

प्रत्यक्षं ते महाराज शातयिष्ये बिभीतकम् ⁠। अहं हि नाभिजानामि भवेदेवं न वेति वा ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

संख्यास्यामि फलान्यस्य पश्यतस्ते जनाधिप ⁠। मुहूर्तमपि वार्ष्णेयो रश्मीन् यच्छतु वाजिनाम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

Hearing this, बाहुक stopped the chariot and told the king  — Oशत्रुसूदन नरेश! The number you are stating just cannot be known directly. I will go near the tree and personally country the number of fruits to know the number you have stated in a direct manner (after counting them myself). O महाराज! I will take this entire tree down. And when one counts personally, the final answer becomes direct knowledge (owing to certainty in counting personally). Till I do this, I cannot be sure if the number stated by you is correct or not.

O जनेश्वर! If वार्ष्णेय takes charge of this chariot for two घड़ी (roughly 48 mins), then I will quickly count all fruits within this time in front of you.

तमब्रवीन्नृपः सूतं नायं कालो विलम्बितुम् ⁠। बाहुकस्त्वब्रवीदेनं परं यत्नं समास्थितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

प्रतीक्षस्व मुहूर्तं त्वमथवा त्वरते भवान् ⁠। एष याति शिवः पन्था याहि वार्ष्णेयसारथिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

अब्रवीदृतुपर्णस्तु सान्त्वयन् कुरुनन्दन ⁠। त्वमेव यन्ता नान्योऽस्ति पृथिव्यामपि बाहुक ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

त्वत्कृते यातुमिच्छामि विदर्भान् हयकोविद ⁠। शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नोऽस्मि न विघ्नं कर्तुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

Then the king told the सारथि (charioteer) — This is not the time for delay. बाहुक replied — I will ensure that I will finish the counting quickly. Kindly wait here for two घड़ी. However, if you are in a great hurry, this is the safe route to reach विदर्भ-देश – make वार्ष्णेय your charioteer and move ahead.

O कुरुनन्दन! Then ऋतुपर्ण gave an assurance to him and said — Oबाहुक! Only you are capable of handling these horses. On this earth, there is no one who can haul the chariot speedily as you have done.

O knower of the secrets of handling horses, बाहुक! With your efforts only, I wish to reach the capital of विदर्भ-देश. See, I am under your guidance/ protection. Do not create impediments in this now.

कामं च ते करिष्यामि यन्मां वक्ष्यसि बाहुक ⁠। विदर्भान् यदि यात्वाद्य सूर्यं दर्शयितासि मे ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

अथाब्रवीद् बाहुकस्तं संख्याय च बिभीतकम् ⁠। ततो विदर्भान् यास्यामि कुरुष्वैवं वचो मम ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

अकाम इव तं राजा गणयस्वेत्युवाच ह ⁠। एकदेशं च शाखायाः समादिष्टं मयानघ ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

गणयस्वाश्वतत्त्वज्ञ ततस्त्वं प्रीतिमावह ⁠। सोऽवतीर्य रथात् तूर्णं शातयामास तं द्रुमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

O बाहुक! If you are able to ensure that I reach विदर्भ-देश today and I am able to witness the rise of सूर्य, then whatever you ask, I will fulfil your wish.

Listening to this, बाहुक replied — I will certainly count all fruits on the tree and then leave for विदर्भ-देशको – kindly agree to this request of mine.

The king then replied reluctantly – fine, go ahead and count. O knower of the subtle secrets of अश्वविद्या, बाहुक! Just as I told you, you count one part of the branch and you will be very happy doing this. बाहुक then got down from the chariot and felled the tree immediately.

ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ⁠। गणयित्वा यथोक्तानि तावन्त्येव फलानि तु ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

अत्यद्भुतमिदं राजन् दृष्टवानस्मि ते बलम् ⁠। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तां विद्यां ययैतज्ज्ञायते नृप ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

तमुवाच ततो राजा त्वरितो गमने नृप ⁠। विद्ध‍यक्षहृदयज्ञं मां संख्याने च विशारदम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

बाहुकस्तमुवाचाथ देहि विद्यामिमां मम ⁠। मत्तोऽपि चाश्वहृदयं गृहाण पुरुषर्षभ ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

After counting, he arrived at the exact number conveyed by the king. And he replied in wonder to king ऋतुपर्ण

O राजन्! I have witnessed this fascinating skill in mathematics that you possess. O नराधिप! From the source from where you have secured this knowledge, I wish to listen to this (or learn from you). King too got excited and replied – know me as an expert in playing the game of dice (gambling) and knowledge of mathematics.

बाहुक replied — Oपुरुषश्रेष्ठ! Kindly teach me this विद्या and in return, I will teach you the secrets of अश्व-विद्या.

ऋतुपर्णस्ततो राजा बाहुकं कार्यगौरवात् ⁠। हयज्ञानस्य लोभाच्च तं तथेत्यब्रवीद् वचः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

यथोक्तं त्वं गृहाणेदमक्षाणां हृदयं परम् ⁠। निक्षेपो मेऽश्वहृदयं त्वयि तिष्ठतु बाहुक ⁠। एवमुक्त्वा ददौ विद्यामृतुपर्णो नलाय वै ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

तस्याक्षहृदयज्ञस्य शरीरान्निःसृतः कलिः ⁠। कर्कोटकविषं तीक्ष्णं मुखात् सततमुद्वमन् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

कलेस्तस्य तदार्तस्य शापाग्निः स विनिःसृतः ⁠। स तेन कर्शितो राजा दीर्घकालमनात्मवान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

Then the king ऋतुपर्ण, knowing the depth of the विद्या, became interested and assured बाहुक by saying तथास्तु

O बाहुक! You learn the secrets of the game of dice from me and keep the अश्व-विज्ञान with me as  my legacy. Saying this, King ऋतुपर्ण shared his expertise with King नल

And the moment King नल grasped the secrets of the game of dice the कलियुग living with the body of King नल immediately came out. And the poison inserted into कलियुग spurted out of his mouth profusely. And at the same time, while the कलियुग was experiencing pain, the force of the curse of कलियुग (on नल) also collapsed. It is because of this that King नल experienced pain for a long time and forgot his duty.

ततो विषविमुक्तात्मा स्वं रूपमकरोत् कलिः ⁠। तं शप्तुमैच्छत् कुपितो निषधाधिपतिर्नलः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३२ ⁠।⁠।

तमुवाच कलिर्भीतो वेपमानः कृताञ्जलिः ⁠। कोपं संयच्छ नृपते कीर्तिं दास्यामि ते पराम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३३ ⁠।⁠।

इन्द्रसेनस्य जननी कुपिता माशपत् पुरा ⁠। यदा त्वया परित्यक्ता ततोऽहं भृशपीडितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३४ ⁠।⁠।

अवसं त्वयि राजेन्द्र सुदुःखमपराजित ⁠। विषेण नागराजस्य दह्यमानो दिवानिशम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३५ ⁠।⁠।

Then, having got rid of the impact of the poison, कलियुग own form became revealed. All this made the king of निषध very angry and he expressed intent to curse कलियुग

Then कलियुग got scared and shaking profusely and folding his hands, he said  — Oमहाराज! Kindly stop your anger. I will grant you an excellent benefit.

When you abandoned the mother of इन्द्रसेन, दमयन्ती, at that time, she became angry and cursed me. Since then, I am myself experiencing a lot of pain.

O King who was never defeated by one! I used to live within your body with a lot of pain. The poison that entered owing to the biting of कर्कोटक, the king of the नाग, made me suffer day and night for a long time.

शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नोऽस्मि शृणु चेदं वचो मम ⁠। ये च त्वां मनुजा लोके कीर्तयिष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिताः ⁠। मत्प्रसूतं भयं तेषां न कदाचिद् भविष्यति ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३६ ⁠।⁠।

भयार्तं शरणं यातं यदि मां त्वं न शप्स्यसे ⁠। एवमुक्तो नलो राजा न्ययच्छत् कोपमात्मनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३७ ⁠।⁠।

ततो भीतः कलिः क्षिप्रं प्रविवेश बिभीतकम् ⁠। कलिस्त्वन्यैस्तदादृश्यः कथयन् नैषधेन वै ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३८ ⁠।⁠।

Now, I am under your protection. Do listen to me. If you spare the curse to me who is already living in fear and has sought your protection, then those people who abandon their laziness and listen to your personal story, they will never be scared of me. When कलियुग spoke in this way, King नल controlled his anger.

Then, being scared, कलियुग immediately entered into the बहेड़ tree (that was earlier felled by King नल). It must be noted that all the time कलियुग was conversing with King नल, no one else was able to see it.

ततो गतज्वरो राजा नैषधः परवीरहा ⁠। सम्प्रणष्टे कलौ राजा संख्यायास्य फलान्युत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३९ ⁠।⁠।

मुदा परमया युक्तस्तेजसाथ परेण वै ⁠। रथमारुह्य तेजस्वी प्रययौ जवनैर्हयैः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४० ⁠।⁠।

बिभीतकश्चाप्रशस्तः संवृत्तः कलिसंश्रयात् ⁠। हयोत्तमानुत्पततो द्विजानिव पुनः पुनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४१ ⁠।⁠।

नलः संचोदयामास प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना ⁠। विदर्भाभिमुखो राजा प्रययौ स महायशाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४२ ⁠।⁠।

Thereafter, after कलियुग disappeared, all the worries of the King of निषध, King नल, the defeater of enemies vanished fully. He was fully energized and with this energy, he entered the chariot again fully charged and hauled the horses towards विदर्भ-देश.  

Since the बहेड़ tree gave protection to कलियुग, it became the object of ridicule. Meanwhile, King नल was in a happy mind as he was driving the chariot. He was looking as if he was flying now and then like a bird (owing to the speed of driving the chariot).

नले तु समतिक्रान्ते कलिरप्यगमद् गृहम् ⁠। ततो गतज्वरो राजा नलोऽभूत् पृथिवीपतिः ⁠। विमुक्तः कलिना राजन् रूपमात्रवियोजितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४३ ⁠।⁠।

After नल left, कलि went over its place of residence. O राजन्! Having become free of कलि, King नल became free of all worries; however, he did not still obtain his earlier physical form. That gap continued to remain with King नल.

ततो विदर्भान् सम्प्राप्तं सायाह्ने सत्यविक्रमम् ⁠। ऋतुपर्णं जना राज्ञे भीमाय प्रत्यवेदयन् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

स भीमवचनाद् राजा कुण्डिनं प्राविशत् पुरम् ⁠। नादयन् रथघोषेण सर्वाः स विदिशो दिशः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

ततस्तं रथनिर्घोषं नलाश्वास्तत्र शुश्रुवुः ⁠। श्रुत्वा तु समहृष्यन्त पुरेव नलसंनिधौ ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्ती तु शुश्राव रथघोषं नलस्य तम् ⁠। यथा मेघस्य नदतो गम्भीरं जलदागमे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O युधिष्ठिर! Then, by evening, the courageous King ऋतुपर्ण reached विदर्भ kingdom. Some messengers conveyed his arrival to King भीम

Taking permission of King भीम King ऋतुपर्ण arrived into the kingdom and his coming became known to all owing to the thunderous sound generated by the chariot which was heard in all directions announcing his arrival to कुण्डिन-पुर

The horses of नल who had been brought earlier and were living there heard the sound of the chariot. They became very happy and excited as they used to be when King नल was around them.

दमयन्ती too heard the roar of the chariot of नल which sounded just as the roar of the clouds during the rainy season.

परं विस्मयमापन्ना श्रुत्वा नादं महास्वनम् ⁠। नलेन संगृहीतेषु पुरेव नलवाजिषु ⁠। सदृशं रथनिर्घोषं मेने भौमी तथा हयाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

प्रासादस्थाश्च शिखिनः शालास्थाश्चैव वारणाः ⁠। हयाश्च शुश्रुवुस्तस्य रथघोषं महीपतेः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

तच्छ्रुत्वा रथनिर्घोषं वारणाः शिखिनस्तथा ⁠। प्रणेदुरुन्मुखा राजन् मेघनाद इवोत्सुकाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्त्युवाच यथासौ रथनिर्घोषः पूरयन्निव मेदिनीम् ⁠। ममाह्लादयते चेतो नल एष महीपतिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

अद्य चन्द्राभवक्त्रं तं न पश्यामि नलं यदि ⁠। असंख्येयगुणं वीरं विनङ्क्ष‍यामि न संशयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

She was struck with wonder when she heard the roaring sound. Earlier, when नल used to handle the horses, the sound that used to come from the chariots – that very sound was heard by दमयन्ती and the horses of नल

The peacock inside the palace, the elephants tied down in the elephant-shed and the horses in the horse-shed; all of them heard the unique sound made by the chariots.

O राजन्! Listening to the sound of the chariot, the elephants and peacocks raised their heads and make sounds exactly in the same manner that do when lightning strikes the clouds in the rainy season.

दमयन्ती said (in her mind) — अहो! The sound of this chariot is filling my mind with happiness since it feels as if King नल has arrived.

If I am unable to see King नल who possesses thousands of सत्गुण and bears the expression of moon on his face, I will give up my life – there should be no doubt about it.

If I am unable to enter into the embrace of King नल, touch of which gives immense joy to me, then I am certainly not likely to live today.

यदि मां मेघनिर्घोषो नोपगच्छति नैषधः ⁠। अद्य चामीकरप्रख्यं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

यदि मां सिंहविक्रान्तो मत्तवारणविक्रमः ⁠। नाभिगच्छति राजेन्द्रो विनङ्क्ष्यामि न संशयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

न स्मराम्यनृतं किंचिन्न स्मराम्यपकारताम् ⁠। न च पर्युषितं वाक्यं स्वैरेष्वपि कदाचन ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

प्रभुः क्षमावान् वीरश्च दाता चाप्यधिको नृपैः ⁠। रहोऽनीचानुवर्ती च क्लीबवन्मम नैषधः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

If the king of निषध-देश who comes in his chariot making a roaring sound, does not come over to me, then I will enter the fire which lights up with a golden colour.

If my husband नल, who is courageous like a lion or who walks grandly like an excited elephant does not come to me today, there is no doubt that I will give up my life today.

I do not recollect even a single instance when I may have told lies on my own will or in fun or jest. I do not collect a single instance where I may have troubled anyone or any instance where I have taken a vow and not fulfilled it.

My king of निषध, नल, is full of strength, magnanimous, brave, generous, greatest among all kings, does not undertake actions imbued with अधर्म even when alone and impotent-like when he is with other women.

गुणांस्तस्य स्मरन्त्या मे तत्पराया दिवानिशम् ⁠। हृदयं दीर्यत इदं शोकात् प्रियविनाकृतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

एवं विलपमाना सा नष्टसंज्ञेव भारत ⁠। आरुरोह महद् वेश्म पुण्यश्लोकदिदृक्षया ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

ततो मध्यमकक्षायां ददर्श रथमास्थितम् ⁠। ऋतुपर्णं महीपालं सहवार्ष्णेयबाहुकम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

ततोऽवतीर्य वार्ष्णेयो बाहुकश्च रथोत्तमात् ⁠। हयांस्तानवमुच्याथ स्थापयामास वै रथम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

I always keep remembering his good traits and always keep thinking of him day & night. Without presence of my lover नल, my heart is always immersed in sorrow created by pangs of separation.

O भारत! Weeping this way, दमयन्ती seemed like a person who has lost her consciousness. She then climbed atop her palace to see her virtuous नल

From there, she could spot वार्ष्णेय & बाहुक sitting together on the chariot with the King ऋतुपर्ण with the chariot reaching in middle portion of their palace.

Then, वार्ष्णेय and बाहुक released the horses and parked the chariot at one place.

सोऽवतीर्य रथोपस्थादृतुपर्णो नराधिपः ⁠। उपतस्थे महाराजं भीमं भीमपराक्रमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

तं भीमः प्रतिजग्राह पूजया परया ततः ⁠। स तेन पूजितो राज्ञा ऋतुपर्णो नराधिपः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

स तत्र कुण्डिने रम्ये वसमानो महीपतिः ⁠। न च किंचित् तदापश्यत् प्रेक्षमाणो मुहुर्मुहुः ⁠। स तु राज्ञा समागम्य विदर्भपतिना तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

After this, King राजा ऋतुपर्ण got down from the chariot and went across to meet the strong and courageous King भीम.

Then, भीम received the king ऋतुपर्ण with great respect and ensured that due protocol is accorded to the king on his arrival.

The king ऋतुपर्ण stayed in the beautiful कुण्डिनपुर. He looked around and observed that no celebrations or festivities were visible as if a स्वयंवर is being organized here. When he met the king of विदर्भ, he was unable figure out that this invitation to him was essentially a plan made by two women (to bring him here).

अकस्मात् सहसा प्राप्तं स्त्रीमन्त्रं न स्म विन्दति ⁠।  किं कार्यं स्वागतं तेऽस्तु राज्ञा पृष्टः स भारत ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

नाभिजज्ञे स नृपतिर्दुहित्रर्थे समागतम् ⁠। ऋतुपर्णोऽपि राजा स धीमान् सत्यपराक्रमः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

राजानं राजपुत्रं वा न स्म पश्यति कंचन ⁠। नैव स्वयंवरकथां न च विप्रसमागमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

ततो व्यगणयद् राजा मनसा कोसलाधिपः ⁠। आगतोऽस्मीत्युवाचैनं भवन्तमभिवादकः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

O भरतनन्दन युधिष्ठिर! While welcoming King ऋतुपर्ण, the king of विदर्भ asked him – “What is the reason for you to come here?”

King भीम was not aware that the king had come here on the invitation of दमयन्ती. King ऋतुपर्ण was very intelligent and a fighter for truth.

He was unable to spot the princess over there. He was also unable to spot any aggregation of ब्राह्मणs. There was no talk happening about any स्वयंवर. Then the king of कोशल contemplated for a while and replied to the king of विदर्भ – O राजन्! I have just come over here to pay my respects to you”.

राजापि च स्मयन् भीमो मनसा समचिन्तयन् ⁠। अधिकं योजनशतं तस्यागमनकारणम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

ग्रामान् बहूनतिक्रम्य नाध्यगच्छद् यथातथम् ⁠। अल्पकार्यं विनिर्दिष्टं तस्यागमनकारणम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

Listening to this, even king भीम smiled and reflected this in his mind — Despite having crossed multiple villages and travelled more than hundred योजन to come here, the reason for come here seems very ordinary. I am unable to comprehend it.

पश्चादुदर्के ज्ञास्यामि कारणं यद् भविष्यति ⁠। नैतदेवं स नृपतिस्तं सत्कृत्य व्यसर्जयत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

Fine, whatever be the reason, I will come to know of this in some time and I am sure the reason given by him cannot be the real reason. Thinking this way, the king gave him an appropriate welcome and took from him.

विश्राम्यतामित्युवाच क्लान्तोऽसीति पुनः पुनः ⁠। स सत्कृतः प्रहृष्टात्मा प्रीतः प्रीतेन पार्थिवः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

And told him – you must be very tired; kindly therefore take rest. When King of विदर्भ gave a joyous welcome, King ऋतुपर्ण too was very happy.

राजप्रेष्यैरनुगतो दिष्टं वेश्म समाविशत् ⁠। ऋतुपर्णे गते राजन् वार्ष्णेयसहिते नृपे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

बाहुको रथमादाय रथशालामुपागमत् ⁠। स मोचयित्वा तानश्वानुपचर्य च शास्त्रतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

Then he left and accompanied the attendants to retire to the resting place within the palace. O राजन्! After taking leave from वार्ष्णेय and ऋतुपर्ण, बाहुक took the chariot to the parking place where the chariots are kept. As for the horses which were freed from the chariot, King नल nursed them as per the wisdom contained within the अश्वशास्त्र after which he caressed them to give them confidence post which he too went behind the chariot and sat down.

स्वयं चैतान् समाश्वास्य रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ⁠। दमयन्त्यपि शोकार्ता दृष्ट्वा भाङ्गासुरिं नृपम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३२ ⁠।⁠।

सूतपुत्रं च वार्ष्णेयं बाहुकं च तथाविधम् ⁠। चिन्तयामास वैदर्भी कस्यैष रथनिःस्वनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३३ ⁠।⁠।

नलस्येव महानासीन्न च पश्यामि नैषधम् ⁠। वार्ष्णेयेन भवेन्नूनं विद्या सैवोपशिक्षिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३४ ⁠।⁠।

तेनाद्य रथनिर्घोषो नलस्येव महानभूत् ⁠। आहोस्विदृतुपर्णोऽपि यथा राजा नलस्तथा ⁠। यथायं रथनिर्घोषो नैषधस्येव लक्ष्यते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३५ ⁠।⁠।

The sorrowful दमयन्ती too saw king ऋतुपर्ण, वार्ष्णेय and the aforementioned बाहुक and thought in her mind — what is this sound of the chariot I am hearing?

That deep sound is sounding exactly like that of king नल ; however, in all these people who have just come over, I am unable to see the नल, the king of निषध. One possibility is that  वार्ष्पेय also learnt अश्वविद्या and rides chariots like King नल – this possibility is very much there. And this is why the sound of the chariot sounds exactly how King नल used to haul the chariot. Is it however also possible that even King ऋतुपर्ण too is skilled in अश्वविद्या as नल owing to which the sound of the chariot is as loud/ deep as rode by King नल.

एवं सा तर्कयित्वा तु दमयन्ती विशाम्पते ⁠। दूतीं प्रस्थापयामास नैषधान्वेषणे शुभा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३६ ⁠।⁠।

O युधिष्ठिर! Contemplating in this way, दमयन्ती, the lady with all pure लक्षण, sent her दूती over the नल to find out more about him.

दमयन्त्युवाच

गच्छ केशिनि जानीहि क एष रथवाहकः ⁠। उपविष्टो रथोपस्थे विकृतो ह्रस्वबाहुकः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

अभ्येत्य कुशलं भद्रे मृदुपूर्वं समाहिता ⁠। पृच्छेथाः पुरुषं ह्येनं यथातत्त्वमनिन्दिते ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

अत्र मे महती शङ्का भवेदेष नलो नृपः ⁠। यथा च मनसस्तुष्टिर्हृदयस्य च निर्वृतिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

ब्रूयाश्चैनं कथान्ते त्वं पर्णादवचनं यथा ⁠। प्रतिवाक्यं च सुश्रोणि बुद्ध‍येथास्त्वमनिन्दिते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्ती said —O केशिनी! Go and find out about this ugly-looking person who has narrow shoulders who is sitting behind the chariot – who is this person?

O भद्रे! Go close to this person and speak with due care in a polite voice asking about his welfare. O अनिन्दिते! Along with this, attempt to find out about the background of this person as clearly as possible.

On this person, I have a big doubt. It is possible that this person is King नल but in this disguise. The joy I am experiencing in my mind along with peace in my heart, this news will confirm my aforementioned assumption.

⁠

O सुश्रोणि! While in discussion with this person, you place the same words which I had earlier conveyed to the ब्राह्मण, पर्णाद, and O अनिन्दिते! try your best to understand what response he gives.

ततः समाहिता गत्वा दूती बाहुकमब्रवीत् ⁠। दमयन्त्यपि कल्याणी प्रासादस्था ह्युपैक्षत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

Then the दूती went over cautiously where बाहुक was sitting and started conversation with him while the good दमयन्ती was waiting in place to hear from the दूती on the outcome of the conversation.

केशिन्युवाच

स्वागतं ते मनुष्येन्द्र कुशलं ते ब्रवीम्यहम् ⁠। दमयन्त्या वचः साधु निबोध पुरुषर्षभ ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

Said केशिनी — O नरेन्द्र! You are welcome here. I have come here to ask about your welfare. O पुरुषश्रेष्ठ! Let me share with you these special  words by दमयन्ती

कदा वै प्रस्थिता यूयं किमर्थमिह चागताः ⁠। तत् त्वं ब्रूहि यथान्यायं वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छति ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

The princess of विदर्भ wanted to know when you had started your journey from अयोध्या and how did all of you come here? Kindly share the reasons truthfully.

बाहुक उवाच

श्रुतः स्वयंवसे राज्ञा कोसलेन महात्मना ⁠। द्वितीयो दमयन्त्या वै भविता श्व इति द्विजात् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

Said बाहुक  — The great king of कोसल heard from a ब्राह्मण that दमयन्ती is holding her second tomorrow. 

श्रुत्वैतत् प्रस्थितो राजा शतयोजनयायिभिः ⁠। हयैर्वातजवैर्मुख्यैरहमस्य च सारथिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

Listening to this, the king selected horses that run very speedily who can run upto hundred, sat in a chariot and rushed here to विदर्भ-देश- in this journey, I was the charioteer of the king.

केशिन्युवाच अथ योऽसौ तृतीयो वः स कुतः कस्य वा पुनः ⁠। त्वं च कस्य कथं चेदं त्वयि कर्म समाहितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

केशिनी asked — Among all of you, there is a third person – where is he from and whose attendant is this person? Just like this, who are you, whose child are you and how did the burden of this journey come to you?

बाहुक उवाच

पुण्यश्लोकस्य वै सूतो वार्ष्णेय इति विश्रुतः ⁠। स नले विद्रुते भद्रे भाङ्गासुरिमुपस्थितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

Said बाहुक  — O भद्रे! The name of the third person is वार्ष्णेय. He was the charioteer of the virtuous king नल. When नल went over to the forest, he then joined ऋतुपर्ण as his attendant.

अहमप्यश्वकुशलः सूतत्वे च प्रतिष्ठितः ⁠। ऋतुपर्णेन सारथ्ये भोजने च वृतः स्वयम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

Even I am skilled in अश्व-विद्या and capable of discharing the role of a charioteer; this is why king ऋतुपर्णने on his own appointed me in the position of a charioteer and is giving me salary for this role.

केशिन्युवाच अथ जानाति वार्ष्णेयः क्व नु राजा नलो गतः ⁠। कथं च त्वयि वा तेन कथितं स्यात् तु बाहुक ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

केशिनी then asked — O बाहुक! Does वार्ष्णेय know where has king नल gone to or has he told anything at all in connection with King नल?

बाहुक उवाच

इहैव पुत्रौ निक्षिप्य नलस्य शुभकर्मणः ⁠। गतस्ततो यथाकामं नैष जानाति नैषधम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

बाहुक replied — O भद्रे! All वार्ष्णेय  told me is that he has left the two children of नल in this place after which he went over to अयोध्या – he does not know anything else about King नल.

न चान्यः पुरुषः कश्चिन्नलं वेत्ति यशस्विनि ⁠। गूढश्चरति लोकेऽस्मिन् नष्टरूपे महीपतिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

O यशस्विनि! There is no other person who knows the whereabouts of King नल. It appears that the earlier form of king नल has disappeared – and he is moving about in this world in a hidden manner.

आत्मैव तु नलं वेद या चास्य तदनन्तरा ⁠। न हि वै स्वानि लिङ्गानि नलः शंसति कर्हिचित् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

The आत्मा of नल knows where he is as well as his inner self – there is no one else. This is because King नल does not appear in front of anyone in his original form and signs.

केशिन्युवाच

योऽसावयोध्यां प्रथमं गतोऽसौ ब्राह्मणस्तदा ⁠। इमानि नारीवाक्यानि कथयानः पुनः पुनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

केशिनीने said — When the ब्राह्मण went over to अयोध्या, he talked about various events which the women over there told him

क्व नु त्वं कितवच्छित्त्वा वस्त्रार्धं प्रस्थितो मम ⁠। उत्सृज्य विपिने सुप्तामनुरक्तां प्रियां प्रिय ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

O my loving gambler! Why did you leave your loving wife abandoning her when she was sleeping and tearing half of her dress?

सा वै यथा समादिष्टा तथाऽऽस्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी ⁠। दह्यमाना दिवा रात्रौ वस्त्रार्धेनाभिसंवृता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

In whatever form you left her, she remains in the same state today also and she continues to wait for you. Wearing half a cloth, this young woman is suffering day and night with pangs of separation from you.

तस्या रुदन्त्याः सततं तेन दुःखेन पार्थिव ⁠। प्रसादं कुरु मे वीर प्रतिवाक्यं वदस्व च ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

O वीर भूमिपाल! She is always crying in sorrow for you and kindly have mercy on your loving wife and reply to her question.

तस्यास्तत् प्रियमाख्यानं प्रवदस्व महामते ⁠। तदेव वाक्यं वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छत्यनिन्दिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

O महामते! In response to this, kindly convey any words that will offer relief to दमयन्ती. The  साध्वी princess of विदर्भ wishes to listen to your words again.

एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रतिवचस्तस्य दत्तं त्वया किल ⁠। यत् पुरा तत् पुनस्त्वत्तो वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छति ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

O बाहुक! When you listened to these words, whatever response you had earlier given to the ब्राह्मण, वैदर्भी wishes to listen to the same response again from you

बृहदश्व उवाच

एवमुक्तस्य केशिन्या नलस्य कुरुनन्दन ⁠। हृदयं व्यथितं चासीदश्रुपूर्णे च लोचने ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

बृहदश्व मुनि said — O युधिष्ठिर! When केशिनी uttered these words, the heart of king नल became very dejected. Both his eyes were filled with tears.

स निगृह्यात्मनो दुःखं दह्यमानो महीपतिः ⁠। वाष्पसंदिग्धया वाचा पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

The king of निषध was getting destroyed experience the fire of sorrow; so he controlled the force of the fire of दु:ख and repeated the earlier words again in a shaky voice.

बाहुक उवाच

वैषम्यमपि सम्प्राप्ता गोपायन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ⁠। आत्मानमात्मना सत्यो जितः स्वर्गो न संशयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

बाहुक said — Women born in a good family tend to protect themselves successfully even when they encounter a great difficulty. Doing this, they obtain both स्वर्ग and सत्य – there is no doubt about it.

रहिता भर्तृभिश्चापि न क्रुध्यन्ति कदाचन ⁠। प्राणांश्चारित्रकवचान् धारयन्ति वरस्त्रियः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

Even when abandoned by their husband, the best women do not get angry on them. They are always protected by the armour of good habits which these women take on to protect themselves.

विषमस्थेन मूढेन परिभ्रष्टसुखेन च ⁠। यत् सा तेन परित्यक्ता तत्र न क्रोद्‌धुमर्हति ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

That man was in deep difficulty and became confused once all modes of experiencing सुख left him. In such a condition, he abandoned his wife – for this reason, one must not show anger towards him.

प्राणयात्रां परिप्रेप्सोः शकुनैर्हृतवाससः ⁠। आधिभिर्दह्यमानस्य श्यामा न क्रोद्‌धुमर्हति ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

When he was making efforts to sustain his life, the birds flew away taking his single cloth following which he experienced numerous types of mental agonies – for this reason, the dusky one must not be angry on that man.

सत्कृतासत्कृता वापि पतिं दृष्ट्वा तथाविधम् ⁠। राज्यभ्रष्टं श्रिया हीनं क्षुधितं व्यसनाप्लुतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

Whether the husband has behaved well with her or not; it is better for her to forgive her husband who was experiencing difficulty since he was bereft of kingdom as well as wealth and further experiencing hunger and thirst and fully drowned under the ocean of calamities.

एवं ब्रुवाणस्तद् वाक्यं नलः परमदुर्मनाः ⁠। न वाष्पमशकत् सोढुं प्ररुरोद च भारत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

In this manner, repeating the words stated earlier led to the mind of नल become very sorrowful. O भारत! He was unable to contain his tears and started crying profusely.

ततः सा केशिनी गत्वा दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत् ⁠। तत् सर्वं कथितं चैव विकारं तस्य चैव तम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

Thereafter, केशिनी went inside the palace and recounted the entire discussion to दमयन्ती. Every word uttered by बाहुक as well as his physical expressions while making such statements were conveyed by her to दमयन्ती

दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा भृशं शोकपरायणा ⁠। शङ्कमाना नलं तं वै केशिनीमिदमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

गच्छ केशिनि भूयस्त्वं परीक्षां कुरु बाहुके ⁠। अब्रुवाणा समीपस्था चरितान्यस्य लक्षय ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

यदा च किंचित् कुर्यात् स कारणं तत्र भामिनि ⁠। तत्र संचेष्टमानस्य लक्षयन्ती विचेष्टितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

न चास्य प्रतिबन्धेन देयोऽग्निरपि केशिनि ⁠। याचते न जलं देयं सर्वथा त्वरमाणया ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

बृहदश्व मुनि said — O युधिष्ठिर! Listening to all this, दमयन्ती too became immersed in sorrow. In her heart, she came to the conclusion that बाहुक is नल only and she therefore told केशिनी in this way

O केशिनि! Go again and put बाहुकto test but this time, do not talk to him. Just go close to him and find out what actions he is doing.

O भामिनि! Whenever he does any work, look at every body movement while performing any type of work as well with a particular focus on the specific reason why such an expression or body movement may have been undertaken.

O केशिनि! Even when he makes a request, do not give him access to fire and similarly, do not give him water (even when he seeks for it).

एतत् सर्वं समीक्ष्य त्वं चरितं मे निवेदय ⁠। निमित्तं यत् त्वया दृष्टं बाहुके दैवमानुषम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

यच्चान्यदपि पश्येथास्तच्चाख्येयं त्वया मम ⁠। दमयन्त्यैवमुक्ता सा जगामाथ च केशिनी ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

निशम्याथ हयज्ञस्य लिङ्गानि पुनरागमत् ⁠। सा तत् सर्वं यथावृत्तं दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत् ⁠। निमित्तं यत् तया दृष्टं बाहुके दैवमानुषम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

After closely observing the specific actions of बाहुक, do come over to convey to me. If you see बाहुक performing any divine or uniquely special human acts or any other unique gesture, focus on those too and come over and convey to me.

After listening to दमयन्ती, केशिनी again went over again (where बाहुक was located) to observe the unique gestures made by the horse expert बाहुक and then returned back (to the palace).

Whatever divine and special unique aspects she observed, she conveyed these in exactly the same manner to दमयन्ती

केशिन्युवाच दृढं शुच्युपचारोऽसौ न मया मानुषः क्वचित् ⁠। दृष्टपूर्वः श्रुतो वापि दमयन्ति तथाविधः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

ह्रस्वमासाद्य संचारं नासौ विनमते क्वचित् ⁠। तं तु दृष्ट्वा यथाऽसंगमुत्सर्पति यथासुखम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

संकटेऽप्यस्य सुमहान् विवरो जायतेऽधिकः ⁠। ऋतुपर्णस्य चार्थाय भोजनीयमनेकशः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

प्रेषितं तत्र राज्ञा तु मांसं चैव प्रभूतवत् ⁠। तस्य प्रक्षालनार्थाय कुम्भास्तत्रोपकल्पिताः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

केशिनी said — Oदमयन्ती! All his actions are uniquely pure. I have not seen or even heard of any human being before who is like this.

Even when he is passing through a doorway that is small, he does not bend down. Seeing him, the door itself expands to ensure that his forehead does not touch the doorway.

Even constricted places become like places of leisure for him. King भीम had sent various types of food ingredients to King ऋतुपर्ण. These had sufficient quantities of items like banana, etc as well as meat* and to wash them, there were many empty pots over there.

*In certain dictionaries of संस्कृत, मांसं given here as meat is understood as bunch of fruits. While I have continued with the use of the word meat in later श्लोकs, one may take this to mean bunch of fruits too (and of course, consult any experts of language to figure out the truth).

ते तेनावेक्षिताः कुम्भाः पूर्णा एवाभवंस्ततः ⁠। ततः प्रक्षालनं कृत्वा समधिश्रित्य बाहुकः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

तृणमुष्टिं समादाय सवितुस्तं समादधत् ⁠। अथ प्रज्वलितस्तत्र सहसा हव्यवाहनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

तदद्भुततमं दृष्ट्वा विस्मिताहमिहागता ⁠। अन्यच्च तस्मिन् सुमहदाश्चर्यं लक्षितं मया ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

यदग्निमपि संस्पृश्य नैवासौ दह्यते शुभे ⁠। छन्देन चोदकं तस्य वहत्यावर्जितं द्रुतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

However, as soon as बाहुक saw these empty pots, the pots became full of water. Using this, बाहुक washed all ingredients with water and put them on the stove. He then took a small bunch of blades of grass and burnt them using rays of the Sun. Just like that, fire became manifest.

I was wonderstruck when I saw these unique actions and I therefore returned (quickly to convey these to you). There is one more special aspect I observed in बाहुक

O शुभे! Even when he touches अग्नि, he does not get burnt. And even though the vessel had small drops of water, the quantum of water increased significantly on its own as required by him.

अतीव चान्यत् सुमहदाश्चर्यं दृष्टवत्यहम् ⁠। यत् स पुष्पाण्युपादाय हस्ताभ्यां ममृदे शनैः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

मृद्यमानानि पाणिभ्यां तेन पुष्पाणि नान्यथा ⁠। भूय एव सुगन्धीनि हृषितानि भवन्ति हि ⁠। एतान्यद्भुतलिङ्गानि दृष्ट्वाहं द्रुतमागता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

बृहदश्व उवाच दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा पुण्यश्लोकस्य चेष्टितम् ⁠। अमन्यत नलं प्राप्तं कर्मचेष्टाभिसूचितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

There is one more unique act I observed over there. He was kneading the piece of meat* in his hands and interestingly, the piece did not get destroyed but instead, it became larger and some form of fragrance started emanating from it. Seeing all this, I returned running back to you.

*Note – in certain dictionaries of संस्कृत, the word

बृहदश्व मुनि said — O युधिष्ठिर! After listening to all these acts, दमयन्ती came to the clear conclusion that this person is the virtuous नल only who has come here. Listening to his acts and expressions, he recognized him.

सा शङ्कमाना भर्तारं बाहुकं पुनरिङ्गितैः ⁠। केशिनीं श्लक्ष्णया वाचा रुदती पुनरब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

पुनर्गच्छ प्रमत्तस्य बाहुकस्योपसंस्कृतम् ⁠। महानसाद् द्रुतं मांसमानयस्वेह भाविनि ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

सा गत्वा बाहुकस्याग्रे तन्मांसमपकृष्य च ⁠। अत्युष्णमेव त्वरिता तत्क्षणात् प्रियकारिणी ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

Listening to all his actions, she apprehensions became stronger that this person बाहुक is her husband only. Then she started crying and told केशिनी in a sweet voice — O सखि! May I request you to go again over there and when the attention of बाहुक is distracted, get over here a part of that meat that he cooked and bring this over here from the kitchen. केशिनी was a loving well-wisher of दमयन्ती – she immediately went over when बाहुक was distracted, then she immediately took out a small part of the cooked item and brought it over (to दमयन्ती).

दमयन्त्यै ततः प्रादात् केशिनी कुरुनन्दन ⁠। सो चिता नलसिद्धस्य मांसस्य बहुशः पुरा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

O कुरुनन्दन! केशिनी handed over the cooking item to दमयन्ती and दमयन्ती then tasted the item.

प्राश्य मत्वा नलं सूंत प्राक्रोशद् भृशदुःखिता ⁠। वैक्लव्यं परमं गत्वा प्रक्षाल्य च मुखं ततः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

मिथुनं प्रेषयामास केशिन्या सह भारत ⁠। इन्द्रसेनां सह भ्रात्रा समभिज्ञाय बाहुकः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

अभिद्रुत्य ततो राजा परिष्वज्याङ्कमानयत् ⁠। बाहुकस्तु समासाद्य सुतौ सुरसुतोपमौ ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

भृशं दुःखपरीतात्मा सुस्वरं प्ररुरोद ह ⁠। नैषधो दर्शयित्वा तु विकारमसकृत् तदा ⁠। उत्सृज्य सहसो पुत्रौ केशिनीमिदमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

After consuming the item, दमयन्ती got fully convinced that the charioteer बाहुक is none other than her own नल. This made her again become imbued with sorrow and she started crying again. And her excitement increased. O भारत! Then she washed her face and she sent over her two children to बाहुक. नल immediately recognized both इन्द्रसेना and her brother इन्द्रसेन and ran forward to embrace both of them and he then placed both of them on his lap. Having got hold of both children who were looking like the children of the देवताs, he became immersed in sorrow and started crying profusely. And while he was unable to contain his expressions, looking at केशिनी, he immediately left the children and told her in this way

इदं च सदृशं भद्रे मिथुनं मम पुत्रयोः ⁠। अतो दृष्ट्वैव सहसा बाष्पमुत्सृष्टवानहम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

बहुशः सम्पतन्तीं त्वां जनः संकेतदोषतः ⁠। वयं च देशातिथयो गच्छ भद्रे यथासुखम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

O भद्रे! Both these children seem like my son and her daughter; this is why my eyes became teary as soon as I saw them. ये दोनों बालक मेरे पुत्र और पुत्रीके समान हैं, इसीलिये इन्हें देखकर सहसा मेरे नेत्रोंसे आँसू बहने लगे ⁠।⁠।⁠

O भद्रे! You keep coming here again and again and people may get suspicious if you keep coming here and more particularly since I am a guest here, you must happily return to your palace.

बृहदश्व उवाच

सर्वं विकारं दृष्ट्वा तु पुण्यश्लोकस्य धीमतः ⁠। आगत्य केशिनी सर्वं दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्ती ततो भूयः प्रेषयामास केशिनीम् ⁠। मानुः सकाशं दुःखार्ता नलदर्शनकाङ्क्षया ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

परीक्षितो मे बहुशो बाहुको नलशङ्कया ⁠। रूपे मे संशयस्त्वेकः स्वयमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

बृहदश्व मुनि said — O युधिष्ठिर! केशिनी conveyed the complete expressions made by the highly intelligent and virtuous नल to दमयन्ती.

Listening to this, now, दमयन्ती became much more excited and wanted to personally meet नल – she then sent केशिनी over to meet her mother.

(and asked her to convey this to her mother)  O Mother! In my mind, I have a good deal of conviction that the person who has come here as बाहुक is नल only; I have taken multiple tests and he has cleared all these tests. The only lingering challenge is that his physical features are not the same – and to address this challenge, I wish to go over personally to find out the truth.

स वा प्रवेश्यतां मातर्मां वानुज्ञातुमर्हसि ⁠। विदितं वाथवा ज्ञातं पितुर्मे संविधीयताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्ता तु वैदर्भ्या सा देवी भीममब्रवीत् ⁠। दुहितुस्तमभिप्रायमन्वजानात् स पार्थिवः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

सा वै पित्राभ्यनुज्ञाता मात्रा च भरतर्षभ ⁠। नलं प्रवेशयामास यत्र तस्याः प्रतिश्रयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

तां स्म दृष्ट्वैव सहसा दमयन्तीं नलो नृपः ⁠। आविष्टः शोकदुःखाभ्यां बभूवाश्रुपरिप्लुतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

O Mother! Either you call बाहुक in my palace or give me permission to go over to meet बाहुक

Personally. Based on whatever option you like, kindly convey this to my father or if you do not want to ask him, allow me yourself to choose one of the suggested course of action.

When दमयन्ती asked, her mother, the queen conveyed the wish of her daughter to the king of विदर्भ भीम, following which the king gave the permission.

O भरतकुलभूषण! Taking permission of both father and the mother, दमयन्ती called King नल into her palace where she was herself living. And the moment king नल saw दमयन्ती, overcome with sorrow and unhappiness, tears kept streaming down his eyes.

तं तु दृष्ट्वा तथायुक्तं दमयन्ती नलं तदा ⁠। तीव्रशोकसमाविष्टा बभूव वरवर्णिनी ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

ततः काषायवसना जटिला मलपङ्किनी ⁠। दमयन्ती महाराज बाहुकं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

पूर्वं दृष्टस्त्वया कश्चिद् धर्मज्ञो नाम बाहुक ⁠। सुप्तामुत्सृज्य विपिने गतो यः पुरुषः स्त्रियम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

अनागसं प्रियां भार्यां विजने श्रममोहिताम् ⁠। अपहाय तु को गच्छेत् पुण्यश्लोकमृते नलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

And looking at the state of नल, the beautiful दमयन्ती too broke down with intense depression.

O महाराज! Then, wearing stained dress that is immersed in dirt and filth, she asked बाहुक

O बाहुक! Have you ever seen a person who is aligned to धर्म who has abandoned his wife alone in the forest while she was sleeping?

It can only be the virtuous King नल who can abandon his blameless loving wife, who went off to sleep owing to tiredness.

किमु तस्य मया बाल्यादपराद्धं महीपतेः ⁠। यो मामुत्सृज्य विपिने गतवान् निद्रयार्दिताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

साक्षाद् देवानपाहाय वृतो यः स पुरा मया ⁠। अनुव्रतां साभिकामां पुत्रिणीं त्यक्तवान् कथम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

अग्नौ पाणिं गृहीत्वा तु देवानामग्रतस्तथा ⁠। भविष्यामीति सत्यं तु प्रतिश्रुत्य क्व तद् गतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्त्या ब्रुवन्त्यास्तु सर्वमेतदरिंदम ⁠। शोकजं वारि नेत्राभ्यामसुखं प्रास्रवद् बहु ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

I do not know how I may have troubled the king since I was a kid owing to which he decided to leave me unprotected in the forest.

During स्वयंवर, I abandoned the देवताs to choose नल as my husband. I am his follower, his भक्त, one who loves him continually and also the mother of his children, even then, why did he chose to abandon me?

In front of अग्नि and the देवताs, he caught my hand and took a vow”. And even after taking such a vow, if he has abandoned me, where has his alignment to सत्य gone?

O शत्रुदमन युधिष्ठिर! When दमयन्ती was talking like this, नल’s eyes kept on shedding tears owing to दु:ख and sadness.

अतीव कृष्णसाराभ्यां रक्तान्ताभ्यां जलं तु तत् ⁠। परिस्रवन् नलो दृष्ट्वा शोकार्तामिदमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

मम राज्यं प्रणष्टं यन्नाहं तत् कृतवान् स्वयम् ⁠। कलिना तत् कृतं भीरु यच्च त्वामहमत्यजम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

यत् त्वया धर्मकृच्छ्रे तु शापेनाभिहतः पुरा ⁠। वनस्थया दुःखितया शोचन्त्या मां दिवानिशम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

स मच्छरीरे त्वच्छापाद् दह्यमानोऽवसत् कलिः ⁠। त्वच्छापदग्धः सततं सोऽग्नावग्निरिवाहितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

While the pupils of his eyes were black but the edge of the eyes were red. And while continuing to shed tears, नल replied to दमयन्ती with a dejected tone

O भीरु! Why I have abandoned the kingdom or why I have abandoned you; both are on account of कलियुग – I am personally not responsible for these actions.

When you were in the forest earlier and were covered with sadness on my account and when you saw me in धर्मसंकट, you had cursed, it is that कलियुग who entered by body and driven by the fire of your curse, he remained within my body burning inside. Just like fire present within fire, कलि always stayed within my body burning with the fire generated by your curse.

मम च व्यवसायेन तपसा चैव निर्जितः ⁠। दुःखस्यान्तेन चानेन भवितव्यं हि नौ शुभे ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

विमुच्य मां गतः पापस्ततोऽहमिह चागतः ⁠। त्वदर्थं विपुलश्रोणि न हि मेऽन्यत् प्रयोजनम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

कथं नु नारी भर्तारमनुरक्तमनुव्रतम् ⁠। उत्सृज्य वरयेदन्यं यथा त्वं भीरु कर्हिचित् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

दूताश्चरन्ति पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां नृपतिशासनात् ⁠। भैमी किल स्म भर्तारं द्वितीयं वरयिष्यति ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

O शुभे! With my efforts and तपस्या (may also be understood as discipline or taken as penance), कलियुग got defeated. Thus, all our दुःख should come to an end now.

O सुन्दरी! The पापी कलियुग has left me know and this is why I have come here to obtain you back. Beyond this, there is no other reason for me to come here.

O भीरु! Now tell me, how can a woman who is in love and a भक्त of her husband leave her husband and work to get married to another man? Just as how you are doing right now

The messengers of king of विदर्भ, taking his permission, are going across all hands and conveying a message that दमयन्ती is looking to select a second husband.

स्वैरवृत्ता यथाकाममनुरूपमिवात्मनः ⁠। श्रुत्वैव चैवं त्वरितो भाङ्गासुरिरुपस्थितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा नलस्य परिदेवितम् ⁠। प्राञ्जलिर्वेपमाना च भीता वचनमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्त्युवाच न मामर्हसि कल्याण दोषेण परिशङ्कितुम् ⁠। मया हि देवानुत्सृज्य वृतस्त्वं निषधाधिप ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

तवाभिगमनार्थं तु सर्वतो ब्राह्मणा गताः ⁠। वाक्यानि मम गाथाभिर्गायमाना दिशो दश ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

When King ऋतुपर्ण heard that दमयन्ती has the freedom to make decisions on her own and can select a husband as per her own will, he became very eager to come over here to participate in the event.

दमयन्ती shook when she heard the dejected tone of नल and becoming scared, she folded her hands and stated

दमयन्ती said — O कल्याणमय निषधनरेश! You cannot make an accusation against me and doubt my character. You should know that I have even abandoned देवताs in order to select you as my husband.

In fact, it was me who asked multiple ब्राह्मणs to move across the land to locate you and asked them to utter the words I conveyed to them to all people in the form of a song.

ततस्त्वां ब्राह्मणो विद्वान् पर्णादो नाम पार्थिव ⁠। अभ्यगच्छत् कोसलायामृतुपर्णनिवेशने ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

तेन वाक्ये कृते सम्यक् प्रतिवाक्ये तथाऽऽहृते ⁠। उपायोऽयं मया दृष्टो नैषधानयने तव ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

त्वामृते न हि लोकेऽन्य एकाह्ना पृथिवीपते ⁠। समर्थो योजनशतं गन्तुमश्वैर्नराधिप ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

स्पृशेयं तेन सत्येन पादावेतौ महीपते ⁠। यथा नासत्कृतं किंचिन्मनसापि चराम्यहम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

O राजन्! And according to this plan, a scholarly ब्राह्मण named पर्णाद had gone to the palace of ऋतुपर्ण in the kingdom of अयोध्या.

He managed to place my words in that palace and whatever response he received from you, he managed to remember this and bring this back to me. O निषधराज! After this, the only solution I could think of to bring you here, I went ahead with this (which is to tell ऋतुपर्ण about स्वयंवर).

O नरेश्वर! O पृथ्वीनाथ! I knew very well that in this world, there is no other man here you can drive a chariot hauled by horses within one day and cross hundred योजन and reach my palace.

O महीपते! Even in my mind, I have never harboured thoughts or actions that are against धर्म and taking a vow of this सत्य, I will bow down to touch your feet.

अयं चरति लोकेऽस्मिन् भूतसाक्षी सदागतिः ⁠। एष मे मुञ्चतु प्राणान् यदि पापं चराम्यहम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३२ ⁠।⁠।

यथा चरति तिग्मांशुः परेण भुवनं सदा ⁠। स मुञ्चतु मम प्राणान् यदि पापं चराम्यहम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३३ ⁠।⁠।

चन्द्रमाः सर्वभूतानामन्तश्चरति साक्षिवत् ⁠। स मुञ्चतु मम प्राणान् यदि पापं चराम्यहम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३४ ⁠।⁠।

एते देवास्त्रयः कृत्स्नं त्रैलोक्यं धारयन्ति वै ⁠। विब्रुवन्तु यथा सत्यमेतद् देवास्त्यजन्तु माम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३५ ⁠।⁠।

The continual वायु-देवता keeps moving throughout the world; therefore, it is the witness of all beings (and all their actions). If I have done any act of पाप, may it take away my life right now.

The high intensity rays of सूर्य manifest all across the world from above. If I have done any act of पाप, may it take away my life right now.

The अभिमान देवता of the mind for all beings is चन्द्र which resides in the अन्तःकरण of all beings as witness. If I have done any act of पाप, may it take away my life right now.

These three aforementioned देवता take charge of all त्रिलोक – whatever I have uttered till now, may these देवताs clarify (the truth of words) on their own. If I am lying, let these देवताs abandon me.

एवमुक्तस्तथा वायुरन्तरिक्षादभाषत ⁠। नैषा कृतवती पापं नल सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३६ ⁠।⁠।

राजञ्छीलनिधिः स्फीतो दमयन्त्या सुरक्षितः ⁠। साक्षिणो रक्षिणश्चास्या वयं त्रीन् परिवत्सरान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३७ ⁠।⁠।

उपायो विहितश्चायं त्वदर्थमतुलोऽनया ⁠। न ह्येकाह्ना शतं गन्ता त्वामृतेऽन्यः पुमानिह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३८ ⁠।⁠।

उपपन्ना त्वया भैमी त्वं च भैम्या महीपते ⁠। नात्र शङ्का त्वया कार्या संगच्छ सह भार्यया ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३९ ⁠।⁠।

When दमयन्ती stated this way, वायु-देवता spoke these words from अन्तरिक्ष-लोक  — Oनल! I am telling the truth, this दमयन्ती has not undertaken any पापकर्म

O राजन्! दमयन्ती has always protected your great character at all times. For the last three years, we have been protecting her fully and witness to all her actions.

To obtain you back, दमयन्ती has herself come out with a wonderful solution; since in this world, there is no man other than you who can ride a chariot at the speed of hundred योजन in a single day.

O राजन्! The daughter of भीम, दमयन्ती is a deserving one to you and you too are deserving to  दमयन्ती.  You must not raise any doubt with respect to her character – kindly engage with your wife free of any doubt.

तथा ब्रुवति वायौ तु पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात ह ⁠। देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्ववौ च पवनः शिवः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४० ⁠।⁠।

तदद्भुतमयं दृष्ट्वा नलो राजाथ भारत ⁠। दमयन्त्यां विशङ्कां तामुपाकर्षदरिंदमः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४१ ⁠।⁠।

ततस्तद् वस्त्रमजरं प्रावृणोद् वसुधाधिपः ⁠। संस्मृत्य नागराजं तं ततो लेभे स्वकं वपुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४२ ⁠।⁠।

स्वरूपिणं तु भर्तारं दृष्ट्वा भीमसुता तदा ⁠। प्राक्रोशदुच्चैरालिङ्ग‍य पुण्यश्लोकमनिन्दिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४३ ⁠।⁠।

When वायुदेव uttered these words, there was a rain of flowers from the sky, the drums of देवताs started beating and the atmosphere too became auspicious.

O युधिष्ठिर! Witnessing this unique occurrence, the king नल, destroyer of enemies, abandoned any lingering doubt he may have harboured on दमयन्ती.

Then, the protector of earth (King नल) remembered नागराज कर्कोटक and wore the divine clothes given by him around his body. And almost immediately, he regained his original (previous) form.

And one seeing her virtuous husband in his original स्वरूप, the loyal साध्वी दमयन्ती embraced him and started crying loudly.

भैमीमपि नलो राजा भ्राजमानो यथा पुरा ⁠। सस्वजे स्वसुतौ चापि यथावत् प्रत्यनन्दत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४४ ⁠।⁠।

ततः स्वोरसि विन्यस्य वक्त्रं तस्य शुभानना ⁠। परीता तेन दुःखेन निःशश्वासायतेक्षणा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४५ ⁠।⁠।

तथैव मलदिग्धाङ्गीं परिष्वज्य शुचिस्मिताम् ⁠। सुचिरं पुरुषव्याघ्रस्तस्थौ शोकपरिप्लुतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४६ ⁠।⁠।

ततः सर्वं यथावृत्तं दमयन्त्या नलस्य च ⁠। भीमायाकथयत् प्रीत्या वैदर्भ्या जननी नृप ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४७ ⁠।⁠।

King राजा नल was shining as brightly as earlier. He too embraced दमयन्ती and cajoled for their kids too sweetly.

Thereafter, the lady with a beautiful face and wide eyes, दमयन्ती, kept the face of नल over her chest and kept on crying taking deep breaths.

In this way, embracing the lady with pure smiles and filled with dirt, King नल too stood still reflecting on the difficult experiencing both had been through.

O राजन्! Thereafter, the mother of दमयन्ती happily conveyed the happenings between नल and दमयन्ती in entirety to King भीमसेन. 

ततोऽब्रवीन्महाराजः कृतशौचमहं नलम् ⁠। दमयन्त्या सहोपेतं कल्ये द्रष्टा सुखोषितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४८ ⁠।⁠।

ततस्तौ सहितौ रात्रिं कथयन्तौ पुरातनम् ⁠। वने विचरितं सर्वमूषतुर्मुदितौ नृप ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४९ ⁠।⁠।

गृहे भीमस्य नृपतेः परस्परसुखैषिणौ ⁠। वसेतां हृष्टसंकल्पौ वैदर्भी च नलश्च ह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५० ⁠।⁠।

स चतुर्थे ततो वर्षे संगम्य सह भार्यया ⁠। सर्वकामैः सुसिद्धार्थो लब्धवान् परमां मुदम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५१ ⁠।⁠।

Then King भीम said — Let नल spend time there only for now. When they have a good sleep, wake up and have their bath, etc., I will meet both of them morning.

O राजन्! Thereafter, the couple kept on talking about their memories in the forest and other happenings and happily exchanging their memories with each other. 

Both नल and दमयन्ती always sought to see each other happy and both spent their time in the palace of भीम with complete happiness.

Meeting his loving wife after four years, he felt as if all his longings for happiness have been fully met and नल became immersed in extreme happiness over there.

दमयन्त्यपि भर्तारमासाद्याप्यायिता भृशम् ⁠। अर्धसंजातसस्येव तोयं प्राप्य वसुंधरा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५२ ⁠।⁠।

सैवं समेत्य व्यपनीय तन्द्रां शान्तज्वरा हर्षविवृद्धसत्त्वा ⁠। रराज भैमी समवाप्तकामा शीतांशुना रात्रिरिवोदितेन ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५३ ⁠।⁠।

Just like a half-ready farmland becomes joyful on receiving a good rainfall, in that way, दमयन्ती too became very happy after obtaining her husband.

Just as the night full moon brings all around happiness, in that way, after meeting her husband, दमयन्ती too shed laziness and with a satisfied and joyful heart, she was extremely happy since all her desires had been met fully.

अथ तां व्युषितो रात्रिं नलो राजा स्वलंकृतः ⁠। वैदर्भ्या सहितः काले ददर्श वसुधाधिपम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

ततोऽभिवादयामास प्रयतः श्वशुरं नलः ⁠। ततोऽनु दमयन्ती च ववन्दे पितरं शुभा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

तं भीमः प्रतिजग्राह पुत्रवत् परया मुदा ⁠। यथार्हं पूजयित्वा च समाश्वासयत प्रभुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

बृहदश्व मुनि said — O युधिष्ठिर! Thereafter, after night, King नल wore proper clothing and ornaments and went over to meet King भीम along with दमयन्ती.

After purifying himself with स्नान and other कर्म, King नलने met his father-in-law with due respect and bowed down to him. Thereafter, even the lady with great features, bowed down to her father.

King भीमने received नल and his daughter with complete happiness and paid all respects to them in the appropriate manner and also assured them (of protection, help, etc).

नलेन सहितां तत्र दमयन्तीं पतिव्रताम् ⁠। तामर्हणां नलो राजा प्रतिगृह्य यथाविधि ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

परिचर्यां स्वकां तस्मै यथावत् प्रत्यवेदयत् ⁠। ततो बभूव नगरे सुमहान् हर्षजः स्वनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

जनस्य सम्प्रहृष्टस्य नलं दृष्ट्वा तथाऽऽगतम् ⁠। अशोभयच्च नगरं पताकाध्वजमालिनम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

सिक्ताः सुमृष्टपुष्पाढ्या राजमार्गाः स्वलंकृताः ⁠। द्वारि द्वारि च पौराणां पुष्पभङ्गः प्रकल्पितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

King नल accepted all due पूजा rituals done for him graciously and he too served (or undertook due rituals) for his father-in-law in the appropriate way. Thereafter, the citizens of the country also shouted aloud in happiness witness the due respect and rituals undertaken for King नल in the kingdom of विदर्भ.

The king of विदर्भ decorated कुण्डिनपुर with rows of flags and banners giving a unique look to the city. The city streets were cleaned and water was sprayed on the streets (to prevent dust from flying all around). The streets were also decorated with flowers. To ensure that the houses of the citizens are fragrant, flowers were placed across the city to facilitate this.

अर्चितानि च सर्वाणि देवतायतनानि च ⁠। ऋतुपर्णोऽपि शुश्राव बाहुकच्छद्मिनं नलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्त्या समायुक्तं जहृषे च नराधिपः ⁠। तमानाय्य नलं राजा क्षमयामास पार्थिवम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

स च तं क्षमयामास हेतुभिर्बुद्धिसम्मितः ⁠। स सत्कृतो महीपालो नैषधं विस्मिताननः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

उवाच वाक्यं तत्त्वज्ञो नैषधं वदतां वरः ⁠।  दिष्ट्या समेतो दारैः स्वैर्भवानित्यभ्यनन्दत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

All देवमन्दिर were beautified and the पूजा was undertaken of the मूर्ति of all देवताs. When King ऋतुपर्ण came to know that the charioteer who worked under him under the name of बाहुक was King नल and he has now met दमयन्ती, he too was overjoyed with the news.

He called on King नल and sought his forgiveness.

The wise नल too expressed in various words seeking forgiveness (from king ऋतुपर्ण). When he received welcome from नल, King ऋतुपर्ण, who was skilled in the spoken word as well as a तत्त्वज्ञ, smiled and spoke

O निषधनरेश! It is indeed extremely fortunate that you will finally met your wife with whom you were separated. Saying this, he too felicitated King नल

किंचित् तु नापराधं ते कृतवानस्मि नैषध ⁠। अज्ञातवासे वसतो मद्‌गृहे वसुधाधिप ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

यदि वाबुद्धिपूर्वाणि यदि बुद्ध‍यापि कानिचित् ⁠। मया कृतान्यकार्याणि तानि त्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

(and again stated) O नैषध! O भूपालशिरोमणे! You were staying in my house in a hidden manner; if I have done any wrongful act with you at that time, kindly forgive me.

If during that time, knowingly or unknowingly, I have behaved inappropriately with you, kindly forgive my conduct.

नल उवाच

न मेऽपराधं कृतवांस्त्वं स्वल्पमपि पार्थिव ⁠। कृतेऽपि च न मे कोपः क्षन्तव्यं हि मया तव ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

पूर्वं ह्यपि सखा मेऽसि सम्बन्धी च जनाधिप ⁠। अत ऊर्ध्वं तु भूयस्त्वं प्रीतिमाहर्तुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

सर्वकामैः सुविहितैः सुखमस्म्युषितस्त्वयि ⁠। न तथा स्वगृहे राजन् यथा तव गृहे सदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

इदं चैव हयज्ञानं त्वदीयं मयि तिष्ठति ⁠। तदुपाकर्तुमिच्छामि मन्यसे यदि पार्थिव ⁠। एवमुक्त्वा ददौ विद्यामृतुपर्णाय नैषधः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

नल replied—O राजन्! You have not done even a single wrongful act and even if you have done so (which I do not remember), I do not harbour any anger within my heart. I am compelled to certainly forgive all actions of yours.

O जनेश्वर! Even earlier, you had been my friend and relative and even now, you must continue to shower me with a lot of love.

O राजन्! All my desires were met in a satisfactory manner when I was living at your place and I was always living happily over there. O महाराज! In your palace, the rest that I obtained, such type of rest is not available even at my place.

The अश्वविज्ञान is lying with me as a legacy. O राजन्! If you are fine, I will be pleased to offer this विज्ञान to you- speaking in this way, the king of निषध, नल, taught अश्वविद्या to ऋतुपर्ण

स च तां प्रतिजग्राह विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ⁠। गृहीत्वा चाश्वहृदयं राजन् भाङ्गासुरिर्नृपः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

निषधाधिपतेश्चापि दत्त्वाक्षहृदयं नृपः ⁠। सूतमन्यमुपादाय ययौ स्वपुरमेव ह ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

ऋतुपर्णे गते राजन् नलो राजा विशाम्पते ⁠। नगरे कुण्डिने कालं नातिदीर्घमिवावसत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

O युधिष्ठिर! ऋतुपर्ण was a good student and received the secretive (or subtle) अश्वविद्या in a शास्त्रीय विधि. Also, he again taught the finer nuances of  द्यूतविद्या to the king of निषध, नल, and then taking another charioteer with him, he returned to his own kingdom. O राजन्! After ऋतुपर्ण left, King नल stayed for some time in कुण्डिनपुर – it seemed as if this time got over very quickly

Contd……