Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 3.69
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3.69.1
श्रुत्वा वचः सुदेवस्य ऋतुपर्णो नराधिपः ।
सारथीन्स समानीय वार्ष्णेयप्रभृतीन्नृपः।
कथयामास यद्वृत्तं ब्राह्मणेन श्रुतं तथा ॥ ३.६९.१ ॥
Having heard Sudeva's words, King Ṛtuparṇa summoned his charioteers, Vārṣṇeya and the others, and told them what had happened, as he had heard it from the brahmin.
3.69.2
बाहुकं च समाहूय दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम् ।
सान्त्यञ्श्र्लक्ष्णया वाचा बाहुकं प्रत्यभाषत ॥ ३.६९.२ ॥
Calling Bāhuka, he spoke to him in soothing and gentle words about Damayantī's svayaṃvara.
3.69.3
विदर्भान्यातुमिच्छामि दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम् ।
एकाह्ना हयतत्त्वज्ञ मन्यसे यदि बाहुक ॥ ३.६९.३ ॥
Bāhuka, knower of horses! I wish to go to Vidarbha for Damayantī's svayaṃvara in a single day; if you think it can be done, tell me.
3.69.4
एवमुक्तस्य कौन्तेय तेन राज्ञा नलस्य ह ।
व्यदीर्यत मनो दुःखात्प्रदध्यौ च महामनाः ॥ ३.६९.४ ॥
Son of Kuntī, when the king had spoken thus, Nala's heart was rent with grief, and the great-souled one fell into deep thought.
3.69.5
दमयन्ती भवेदेवं किंनु दुःखेन मोहिता ।
अस्मदर्थे भवेद्बाऽयमुपायश्चिन्तितो महान् ॥ ३.६९.५ ॥
Could Damayantī have been bewildered by grief in this way? Perhaps this great stratagem was devised for my sake.
3.69.6
नृशंसं बत वैदर्भी कर्तुकामा तपस्विनी ।
यया क्षुद्रेण निकृताकृपणा पापबुद्धिना।
स्त्रीस्वभावश्चलो लोके मम दोषश्च दारुणः ॥ ३.६९.६ ॥
The Vidarbha princess, austere as she is, has perhaps wished to act cruelly. Deceived by that base, evil-minded man, she has become pitiable. The nature of women in this world is fickle, and my fault is terrible.
3.69.7
मम शोकेन संविग्ना नैराश्यात्तनुमध्यमा ।
नैवं सा कर्हिचित्कुर्यात्सापत्या च विशेषतः ॥ ३.६९.७ ॥
Distressed by my grief and slender-waisted from despair, she would never act thus, least of all toward a co-wife.
3.69.8
यदत्र सत्यं वाऽसत्यं गत्वा वेत्स्यामि निश्चयम् ।
ऋतुपर्णस्य वै काममात्मार्थं च करोम्यहम् ॥ ३.६९.८ ॥
Whether this is true or false, I shall go there and learn it for certain; I will do this for the sake of Ṛtuparṇa's desire and for my own purpose.
3.69.9
इति निश्चित्य मनसा बाहुको दीनमानसः ।
कृतालुरुवाचेदमृतुपर्णं जनाधिपम् ॥ ३.६९.९ ॥
Having resolved this in his mind, the sorrowful Bāhuka, with folded hands, spoke these words to Ṛtuparṇa, lord of the people.
3.69.10
प्रतिजानामि ते वाक्यं गमिष्यामि नराधिप ।
एकाह्ना पुरुषव्याघ्र विदर्भनगरीं नृप।
तत्रादित्योदये काले श्वो विदर्भान्गमिष्यसि ॥ ३.६९.१० ॥
I give you my word, lord of men, I shall go. O tiger among men, king, in a single day to the city of Vidarbha; there, at sunrise, tomorrow you will reach the Vidarbhas.
3.69.11
एवमुक्तोऽब्रवीद्राजा बाहुकं प्रहसन्निव ।
किं ते कामं करोम्यद्य तुष्टोऽस्मि तव बाहुक ॥ ३.६९.११ ॥
Thus addressed, the king said to Bāhuka, as if smiling: "What is your desire? Today I will fulfil it; Bāhuka, I am pleased with you."
3.69.12
यावद्यानमिदं सज्जमृतुपर्ण करोम्यहम् ॥ ३.६९.१२ ॥
While this chariot is being readied, Ṛtuparṇa, I am making it ready.
3.69.13
ततः परीक्षामश्वानां चक्रे राजन्स बाहुकः ।
अश्वशालामुपागम्य भागस्वरिनृपाज्ञया ॥ ३.६९.१३ ॥
Then, O king, Bāhuka, at the king's command, went to the horse-stable and tested the horses.
3.69.14
स त्वर्यमाणो बहुश ऋतुपर्णन बाहुकः ।
अश्वाञ्जिज्ञासमानो वै विचार्य च पुनःपुनः।
अध्यगच्छत्कृशानश्वान्समर्थानध्वनि क्षमान् ॥ ३.६९.१४ ॥
Hastened by Ṛtuparṇa, Bāhuka, wishing to know the horses, considered again and again, and indeed found lean horses that were capable and able to endure on the road.
3.69.15
तेजोबलसमायुक्तान्कुलशीलसमन्वितान् ।
वर्जिताँल्लक्षणैर्हीनैः पृथुप्रोथान्महाहनून् ॥ ३.६९.१५ ॥
Endowed with vigour and strength, of good lineage and character, free of ill marks, broad-nostrilled and great-jawed.
3.69.16
शुद्धान्दशभिरावर्तैः सिन्धुजान्वातरंहसः ।
दृश्यमानान्कृशानङ्गैर्जवेनाप्रतिमान्पथि ॥ ३.६९.१६ ॥
Pure, marked with ten whorls, born in the Sindhu country, swift as the wind; lean in appearance yet unrivalled in speed on the road.
3.69.17
तान्दृष्ट्वा दुर्बलान्नाजा प्राह कोपसमन्वितः ।
किमिदं प्रार्थितं कर्तुं प्रलब्धव्या न ते वचम् ॥ ३.६९.१७ ॥
Seeing those weak horses, the king, filled with anger, said: "Why have you chosen this? Let me not be deceived by your word."
3.69.18
कथमल्पबलप्राणा वक्ष्यन्तीमे हया रथम् ।
महानध्वा स चैकाह्ना गन्तव्यः कथमीदृशैः ॥ ३.६९.१८ ॥
How will these horses, with so little strength and life, draw the chariot? How can that great road be covered in a single day with such horses?
3.69.19
एको ललाटे द्वे मूर्ध्नि द्वौद्वौ पार्श्वोपपार्श्वयोः ।
द्वौद्वौ वक्षसि विज्ञैर्यौ प्रयाणे चैक एव तु ॥ ३.६९.१९ ॥
One on the forehead, two on the head, two each on the flanks and sub-flanks, two each on the chest; these are the marks the wise know on a journey, yet only one of them is truly auspicious.
3.69.20
एते हया गमिष्यन्ति विदर्भान्नात्र संशयः ।
यानन्यान्मन्यसे राजन्ब्रूहि तान्योजयामिते ॥ ३.६९.२० ॥
These horses will reach Vidarbha, without doubt. O king, if you think others are better, tell me, and I will yoke those instead.
3.69.21
त्वमेव हयतत्त्वज्ञः कुशलो ह्यसि बाहुक ।
यान्मन्यसे समर्थास्त्वं क्षिप्रं तानेव योजय ॥ ३.६९.२१ ॥
Bāhuka, you alone are the knower of the nature of horses and you are skilled. Quickly yoke those you judge capable.
3.69.22
ततः सदश्वांश्चतुरः कुलशीलसमन्वितान् ।
योजयामास कुशलो जवयुक्तान्रथे नलः ॥ ३.६९.२२ ॥
Then the skilled Nala yoked to the chariot four excellent horses, endowed with good lineage and disposition, fit for speed.
3.69.23
ततो युक्तं रथं राजा समारोहत्त्वरान्वितः ।
अथ पर्यपतन्भूमौ जानुभिस्ते हयोत्तमाः ॥ ३.६९.२३ ॥
Then the king, hastening, mounted the yoked chariot; and then those best of horses fell to the ground on their knees.
3.69.24
ततो नरवरः श्रीमान्नलो राजा विशांपते ।
सान्त्वयामास तानश्वांस्तेजोबलसमन्वितान् ॥ ३.६९.२४ ॥
Then O lord of the people, the glorious king Nala, best of men, soothed those horses endowed with spirit and strength.
3.69.25
रश्मिभिश्च समुद्यम्य नलो यातुमियेष सः ।
सूतमारोप्य वार्ष्णेयं जवमास्थाय वै परम् ॥ ३.६९.२५ ॥
Taking up the reins, Nala desired to go. Having set the charioteer Vārṣṇeya on the chariot, he resorted to supreme speed.
3.69.26
ते चोद्यमाना विधिवद्बाहुकेन हयोत्तमाः ।
समुत्पेतुरिवाकाशं रथिनं मोहयन्ति च ॥ ३.६९.२६ ॥
Urged duly by Bāhuka, those excellent horses leaped up as if into the sky, and bewildered the charioteer.
3.69.27
तथा तु दृष्ट्वा तानश्वान्वहतो वातरंहसः ।
अयोध्याधिपतिः श्रीमान्विस्मयं परमं ययौ ॥ ३.६९.२७ ॥
Seeing those horses draw the chariot swift as the wind, the glorious lord of Ayodhyā was filled with great astonishment.
3.69.28
रथघोषं तु तं श्रुत्वा हयसंग्रहणं च तत् ।
वार्ष्णेयश्चिन्तयामास बाहुकस्य हयज्ञताम् ॥ ३.६९.२८ ॥
Hearing that sound of the chariot and that manner of controlling the horses, the Vārṣṇeya reflected on Bāhuka's skill with horses.
3.69.29
किंनु स्यान्मातलिरयं देवराजस्य सारथिः ।
तथा तल्लक्षणं वीरे बाहुके दृश्यते महत् ॥ ३.६९.२९ ॥
Could this be Mātali, the charioteer of Indra, king of the gods? In the hero Bāhuka such great marks are indeed seen.
3.69.30
शालिहोत्रोऽथ किंतु स्याद्धयानां कुलतत्त्ववित् ।
मानुपं समनुप्राप्तो वपुः परमशोभनम् ॥ ३.६९.३० ॥
Or could this be Śālihotra, the knower of the lineages of horses, who has assumed a human form of supreme beauty?
3.69.31
उताहोस्विद्भवेद्राजा नलः परपुरंजयः ।
सोयं नृपतिरायात इत्येवं समचिन्तयत् ॥ ३.६९.३१ ॥
Or perhaps this is King Nala, conqueror of enemy cities. Thinking, 'This king has come,' he considered thus.
3.69.32
अथवाऽयंनलात्प्राप्तो विद्यां तामेव बाहुकः ।
तुल्यं हि लक्षये ज्ञानं बाहुकस्य नलस्य च ॥ ३.६९.३२ ॥
Or else this Bāhuka obtained that very knowledge from Nala. I perceive that the knowledge of Bāhuka and of Nala is equal.
3.69.33
अपिचेदं वयस्तुल्यं बाहुकस्य नलस्य च ।
नायं नलो महावीर्यस्तद्विद्यश्च भविष्यति ॥ ३.६९.३३ ॥
Moreover, the age of Bāhuka and of Nala is the same. This one is not the mighty Nala, nor will he be one who knows that science.
3.69.34
प्रच्छन्ना हि महात्मानश्चरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम् ।
दैवेन विधिना युक्ताः शास्त्रोक्तैश्च निरूपणैः ॥ ३.६९.३४ ॥
Great souls wander this earth concealed, endowed by divine ordinance and by the manners taught in the scriptures.
3.69.35
भवेन्न मतिभेदो मे गात्रवैरूप्यता प्रति ।
प्रमाणात्परिहीनस्तु भवेदिति मतिर्मम ॥ ३.६९.३५ ॥
I should have no disagreement about the deformity of the limbs. My opinion is that he may be somewhat deficient in stature.
3.69.36
वयःप्रमाणं तत्तुल्यं रूपेण तु विपर्ययः ।
नलं सर्वगुणैर्युक्तं मन्ये बाहुकमन्ततः ॥ ३.६९.३६ ॥
The measure of age is the same, but in appearance it is the reverse. In the end, I think Bāhuka is Nala, endowed with all virtues.
3.69.37
एवं विचार्य बहुशो वार्ष्णोयः पर्यचिन्तयत् ।
हृदयेन महाराज पुण्यश्लोकस्य सारथिः ॥ ३.६९.३७ ॥
Thus, having considered again and again, the son of Vṛṣṇi reflected in his heart, O great king, the charioteer of the one of holy renown.
3.69.38
ऋतुपर्णश्च राजेनद्रो बाहुकस्य हयज्ञताम् ।
चिन्तयन्मुमुदे राजा सहवार्ष्णेयसारथिः ॥ ३.६९.३८ ॥
King Ṛtuparṇa, lord of kings, rejoiced as he reflected on Bāhuka's skill with horses, together with the charioteer, the son of Vṛṣṇi.
3.69.39
ऐकाग्र्यं च तथोत्साहं हयसंग्रहणं च तत् ।
कौशलं चापि संप्रेक्ष्य परां सुदमवाप ह ॥ ३.६९.३९ ॥
Seeing his one-pointed attention, his like enthusiasm, his control of the horses, and that skill, he obtained supreme delight.