Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 3.58
हिन्दी · தமிழ் · తెలుగు · ಕನ್ನಡ · മലയാളം · বাংলা · मराठी · ગુજરાતી · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ · ଓଡ଼ିଆ · اردو · English · Español · Français · Deutsch · Português · Русский · 中文 · 日本語 · العربية · Bahasa Indonesia · ไทย
3.58.1
ततस्तु याते वार्ष्णेये पुण्यश्लोकस्य दीव्यतः ।
पुष्करेण हृतं राज्यं यच्चापि वसु किंचन ॥ ३.५८.१ ॥
Then, after the Vārṣṇeya had departed, while the one of holy renown (Nala) was gambling, Puṣkara took away his kingdom and whatever wealth he had.
3.58.2
हृतराज्यं नलं राजन्प्रहसन्पुष्करोऽब्रवीत् ।
द्यूतं प्रवर्ततां भूयः प्रतिपाणोऽस्ति कस्तव ॥ ३.५८.२ ॥
To Nala, who had lost his kingdom, Puṣkara said laughing, O king: 'Let the dice game go on again. What stake do you have in return?'
3.58.3
शिष्टा ते दमयन्त्येका सर्वमन्यद्धृतं मया ।
दमयन्त्याः पणः साधु वर्ततां यदि मन्यसे ॥ ३.५८.३ ॥
'Only Damayantī is left to you; I have won everything else. If you agree, let the game proceed fairly with Damayantī as your stake.'
3.58.4
पुष्रेणैवमुक्तस्य पुण्यश्लोकस्य मन्युना ।
व्यदीर्यतेव हृदयं न चैनं किंचिदब्रवीत् ॥ ३.५८.४ ॥
When Puṣkara had spoken thus, the heart of Nala, the one of holy renown, was as if torn apart with anguish; and he said nothing to him at all.
3.58.5
ततः पुष्करमालोक्य नलः परममन्युमान् ।
उवाच विद्यतेऽन्यच्च धनं मम नराधम ॥ ३.५८.५ ॥
Then Nala, looking at Puṣkara and filled with great anger, said: 'O lowest of men, I still have other wealth.'
3.58.6
षणरूपेण निक्षिप्य पुण्यश्लोकः सुदुर्मनाः ।
उत्तरीयं तथा वस्त्रं तस्याश्चाभरणानि च।
उन्सृज्य सर्वगात्रभ्यो भूषणानि सहायशाः ॥ ३.५८.६ ॥
The one of holy renown (Nala), deeply dejected, staked as a wager his upper garment and her cloth and ornaments, taking off the adornments from all his limbs; he was left without help.
3.58.7
सुकवासा ह्यसंवीतः सुहृच्छोकविवर्धनः ।
निश्चक्राम ततोराजा त्यक्त्वा सुविपुलां श्रियम् ॥ ३.५८.७ ॥
Though well-clad in appearance but in truth unclothed, the king who increased the grief of his friends then went forth, abandoning his vast prosperity.
3.58.8
दमयन्त्येकवस्त्राऽथ गच्छन्तं पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् ।
स तया नगराभ्याशे त्रिरात्रं नैपधोऽवसत् ॥ ३.५८.८ ॥
Then Damayantī, clad in a single garment, followed him from behind as he went away. That Naiṣadha stayed near the city for three nights.
3.58.9
पुष्करस्तु महाराज धोषयामास वै पुरे ।
नले यः सम्यगातिष्ठेत्स गच्छेद्वध्यतां मम ॥ ३.५८.९ ॥
But, great king, Puṣkara proclaimed in the city: whoever properly attends upon Nala shall be put to death by me.
3.58.10
पुष्करस्य तु वाक्येन तस्य विद्वेषणेन च ।
पौरा न तस्य सत्कारं कृतवन्तो युधिष्ठिर ॥ ३.५८.१० ॥
By Puṣkara's command and by his hatred, O Yudhiṣṭhira, the citizens did not show him honour.
3.58.11
स तथा नगराभ्याशे सत्कारार्हो न सन्कृतः ।
त्रिरत्रमुषितो राजा जलमात्रेण वर्तयन् ॥ ३.५८.११ ॥
Though worthy of honour, that king near the city was not honoured. For three nights he dwelt there, sustaining himself on water alone.
3.58.12
पीड्यमानः क्षुधा तत्र फलमृलानि कर्पयन् ।
प्रातिष्ठत ततो राजा दमयन्ती तमन्वगात् ॥ ३.५८.१२ ॥
Afflicted by hunger there, gathering fruits and roots, the king then set out, and Damayantī followed him.
3.58.13
क्षुधया पीड्यमानम्तु नलो बहुतिथेऽहनि ।
अपश्यच्छकुनान्कांश्चिद्धिरण्यसदृशच्छदान् ॥ ३.५८.१३ ॥
Afflicted by hunger, Nala, after many days, saw some birds whose feathers were like gold.
3.58.14
स चिन्तयामास तदा निषधाधिपतिर्बली ।
अस्ति भक्ष्यो ममाद्यापि वसु चेदं भविष्यति ॥ ३.५८.१४ ॥
Then the mighty lord of the Niṣadhas thought: 'Even today there is food for me, and this will become wealth.'
3.58.15
ततस्तानन्तरीयेण वाससा स समावृणोत् ।
तस्य तद्वस्त्रमादाय सर्वे जग्मुर्विहायसा ॥ ३.५८.१५ ॥
Then he covered them with his upper garment; but they all took that garment and flew away through the sky.
3.58.16
उत्पतन्तः खगा वाक्यमेतदाहुस्ततो नलम् ।
दृष्ट्वा दिग्वाससं भूमौ स्थितं दीनमधोमुखम् ॥ ३.५८.१६ ॥
Rising into the air, the birds spoke these words to Nala, seeing him standing on the ground, wretched, face downcast, clothed only in the directions.
3.58.17
वयमक्षाः सुदुर्बुद्धे तववासो जिहीर्षवः ।
आगता न हि नः प्रीतिः सवाससि गते त्वयि ॥ ३.५८.१७ ॥
'O most foolish one! We are the dice; we have come to take your garment. When you were clothed, we had no delight in you.'
3.58.18
नान्समीक्ष्य गतानक्षानात्मानं च विवाससम् ।
पुण्यश्लोकस्तदा राजा दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत् ॥ ३.५८.१८ ॥
Having seen the dice gone and himself naked, King Nala, of holy renown, then spoke to Damayantī.
3.58.19
येषां प्रकोपादैश्वर्यान्प्रच्युतोऽहमनिन्दिते ।
प्राणयात्रां न विन्देयं दुःखितः क्षुधयाऽन्वितः ॥ ३.५८.१९ ॥
O blameless one, through the wrath of those men I have fallen from my sovereignty; now I cannot even find the means to sustain life, afflicted and overcome by hunger.
3.58.20
येषां कृते न सत्कारमकुर्वन्मयि नैषधाः ।
इमे ते शकुना भूत्वा वासश्चाषहरन्ति मे ॥ ३.५८.२० ॥
For whose sake the Naiṣadhas gave me no honor, these very birds have now become and are carrying off my garment.
3.58.21
वैषम्यं परमं प्राप्तो दुःखितो गतचेतनः ।
भर्ता तेऽहं निबोधेदं वचनं हितमात्मनः ॥ ३.५८.२१ ॥
I, your husband, fallen into the utmost adversity, sorrowful and bereft of my wits, now speak to you; listen to these words for your own good.
3.58.22
एते गच्छन्ति वहवः पन्थानो दिणापथम् ।
अवन्तीमृक्षवन्तं च समतिक्रम्य पर्वतम् ॥ ३.५८.२२ ॥
These many paths go toward the southern route; passing beyond Avantī and the Ṛkṣavat mountain, they lead on.
3.58.23
एष विन्ध्यो महाशैलः पयोष्णी च समुद्रगा ।
आश्रमाश्च महर्षीणां बहुमूलफलान्विताः ॥ ३.५८.२३ ॥
Here is the great mountain Vindhya, and the Payoṣṇī river that flows to the sea, and the hermitages of the great sages, abounding in roots and fruits.
3.58.24
एष पन्था विदर्भाणामेष यास्यति कोसलान् ।
अतःपरं च देशोऽयं दक्षिणो दक्षिणापथः ॥ ३.५८.२४ ॥
This path belongs to the Vidarbhas, and this one will lead to the Kosalas; beyond this, this country is the southern route, the Dakṣiṇāpatha.
3.58.25
एतद्वाक्यं नलो राजा दमयन्तीं समाहितः ।
उवाचासकृदार्तो हि भैमीमुद्दिश्य भारत ॥ ३.५८.२५ ॥
King Nala, distressed and composed, spoke these words again and again, addressing Bhaimī Damayantī, O Bhārata.
3.58.26
ततः सा वाष्पकलया वाचा दुःखेन कर्शिता ।
उवाच दमयन्ती तं नैषधं करुणं वचः ॥ ३.५८.२६ ॥
Then Damayantī, worn by sorrow, her voice choked with tears, spoke piteous words to the king of the Niṣadhas.
3.58.27
उद्वेषते मे हृदयं सीदन्त्यङ्गानि सर्वशः ।
तव पार्थिव संकल्पं चिन्तयन्त्याः पुनः पुनः ॥ ३.५८.२७ ॥
My heart trembles, and all my limbs grow weak, O king, as I keep brooding again and again over your resolve.
3.58.28
हृतराज्यं हृतद्रव्यं विवस्त्रं क्षुच्छ्रमान्वितम् ।
कथमुत्सृज्य गच्छेयमहं त्वां निर्जने वने ॥ ३.५८.२८ ॥
With your kingdom and wealth taken, clad in rags, afflicted by hunger and weariness, how could I abandon you and go away in this desolate forest?
3.58.29
श्रान्तस्य ते क्षुधार्तस्य चिन्तयानस्य तत्सुखम् ।
वने घोरे महाराज नाशयिष्याम्यहं क्लमम् ॥ ३.५८.२९ ॥
O great king, weary, afflicted by hunger and brooding, I will give you comfort here in this terrible forest and dispel your exhaustion.
3.58.30
न च भार्यासमं किंचिन्नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम् ।
नित्यं हि सर्वदुःखेषु सत्यमेतद्व्रवीमि ते ॥ ३.५८.३० ॥
For a distressed man there is no medicine equal to a wife. In all sorrows this is always true, and this is what I tell you.
3.58.31
एवमेतद्यथाऽऽन्थ त्वं दमयन्ति सुमध्यमे ।
नास्ति बार्यासमं मित्रं नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम् ॥ ३.५८.३१ ॥
Yes, Damayantī, slender-waisted one, it is as you say: for a man in distress there is no friend and no remedy equal to a wife.
3.58.32
न चाहं त्यक्तुकामस्त्वां किमलं भीरु शङ्कसे ।
त्यजेयमहमात्मानं न चैव त्वामनिन्दिते ॥ ३.५८.३२ ॥
I have no wish to abandon you. Why, timid one, do you fear so vainly? I might abandon myself, but I would never abandon you, blameless one.
3.58.33
यदि मां त्वं महाराज न विहातुमिहच्छसि ।
तत्किमर्थं विदर्भाणां पन्थाः समुपदिश्यते ॥ ३.५८.३३ ॥
Great king, if you do not wish to abandon me here, then why is the road to Vidarbha being pointed out?
3.58.34
अवैमि चाहं नृपते न तु मां त्यक्तुमर्हसि ।
चेतसा त्वपकृष्टेन मां त्यजेथा महीपते ॥ ३.५८.३४ ॥
I know that you deserve not to abandon me, O king. But, lord of the earth, if your mind has been debased, you would abandon me.
3.58.35
पन्थानं हि ममाभीक्ष्णमाख्यासि च नरोत्तम ।
अतो निमित्तं शोकं मे वर्धयस्यमरोपम ॥ ३.५८.३५ ॥
Best of men, you point out the road to me again and again, and so, godlike one, you increase the cause of my grief.
3.58.36
यदि चायमभिप्रायस्तव राजन्भविष्यति ।
सहितावेव गच्छावो विदर्भान्यदि मन्यसे ॥ ३.५८.३६ ॥
O king, if this is indeed your intention, and if you think it fitting, let us both go together to Vidarbha.
3.58.37
विदर्भराजस्तत्र त्वां पूजयिष्यति मानद ।
तेन त्वं पूजितो राजन्सुखं वत्स्यसि नो गृहे ॥ ३.५८.३७ ॥
The king of Vidarbha will honor you there, O giver of honor. Honored by him, O king, you will dwell happily in our house.