Critical Edition
बृहदश्व उवाच वृते तु नैषधे भैम्या लोकपाला महौजसः यान्तो ददृशुरायान्तं द्वापरं कलिना सह
M. N. Dutt: Brihadashva said: After the daughter of Bhima had accepted the king of the Nishadhas as her husband, the protectors of the worlds, of great energy, met, when they were returning, Dvapara accompanied by Kali, approaching towards them.
अथाब्रवीत्कलिं शक्रः संप्रेक्ष्य बलवृत्रहा द्वापरेण सहायेन कले ब्रूहि क्व यास्यसि
M. N. Dutt: Shakra, the slayer of Vala and Vritra, beholding Kali, said to him, 'O Kali, tell me, whither are you going with Dvapara as your companion?'
ततोऽब्रवीत्कलिः शक्रं दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम् गत्वाहं वरयिष्ये तां मनो हि मम तद्गतम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Kali replying to Shakra's words said, 'Hearing the Svayamvara of Damayanti, I am going there. I shall take her to be my wife; for my heart has been captivated by her?'
तमब्रवीत्प्रहस्येन्द्रो निर्वृत्तः स स्वयंवरः वृतस्तया नलो राजा पतिरस्मत्समीपतः
M. N. Dutt: Indra smilingly said to him, “That Svayamvara is now over; king Nala has been accepted by her as her husband even in our presence.
एवमुक्तस्तु शक्रेण कलिः कोपसमन्वितः देवानामन्त्र्य तान्सर्वानुवाचेदं वचस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Thus spoken to by Shakra, Kali, the viler among the celestials, waxing worth, said to them (celestials) all, the following words:
देवानां मानुषं मध्ये यत्सा पतिमविन्दत ननु तस्या भवेन्न्याय्यं विपुलं दण्डधारणम्
M. N. Dutt: "In as much as neglecting the divinities she has accepted a man for her husband, it is but severe cquitable that she shall suffer punishment?”
एवमुक्ते तु कलिना प्रत्यूचुस्ते दिवौकसः अस्माभिः समनुज्ञातो दमयन्त्या नलो वृतः
M. N. Dutt: When Kali had spoken in the above manner, the celestials replied, “With our permission, Nala has been chosen by Damayanti.
कश्च सर्वगुणोपेतं नाश्रयेत नलं नृपम् यो वेद धर्मानखिलान्यथावच्चरितव्रतः
AI Translation: Who would not take refuge in Nala, the king, who is endowed with all good qualities, Who knows all the duties and practices the vows as they are?
Supplementary Passages:
3.55.8 K1.2 B Dc Dn D4-6 T G (G1 missing) ins. after 8 (Dc2, which om. 8, ins. after 7): M ins. line 1 only after 8ab: *230 योऽधीते चतुरो वेदान्सर्वानाख्यानपञ्चमान् नित्यं तृप्ता गृहे यस्य देवा यज्ञेषु धर्मतः अहिंसानिरतो यश्च सत्यवादी दृढव्रतः
यस्मिन्सत्यं धृतिर्दानं तपः शौचं दमः शमः ध्रुवाणि पुरुषव्याघ्रे लोकपालसमे नृपे
AI Translation: In whom truth, fortitude, generosity, austerity, purity, self-control, and tranquility are established, In the tiger among men, in the king equal to the guardians of the world,
Supplementary Passages:
3.55.9 K2 B Dc Dn D4.6 ins. after 9: K1, after 230*: *231 एवंरूपं नलं यो वै कामयेच्छपितुं कले
आत्मानं स शपेन्मूढो हन्याच्चात्मानमात्मना एवंगुणं नलं यो वै कामयेच्छपितुं कले
AI Translation: That fool would curse himself and kill himself with himself. One who would wish to curse Nala, who has such qualities,
कृच्छ्रे स नरके मज्जेदगाधे विपुलेऽप्लवे एवमुक्त्वा कलिं देवा द्वापरं च दिवं ययुः
M. N. Dutt: O Kali, he that wishes to pronounce malediction on Nala of such qualities, sinks into the vast, unfathomable, lake of hell replete with various torments. "Thus speaking to Kali and Dvapara the celestials repaired to heaven.
ततो गतेषु देवेषु कलिर्द्वापरमब्रवीत् संहर्तुं नोत्सहे कोपं नले वत्स्यामि द्वापर
AI Translation: Then, when the gods had gone, Kali said to Dvapara: "I will not be able to bear the anger, O Dvapara. I shall stay in Nala.
भ्रंशयिष्यामि तं राज्यान्न भैम्या सह रंस्यते त्वमप्यक्षान्समाविश्य कर्तुं साहाय्यमर्हसि
AI Translation: I will banish him from the kingdom, so that he will not enjoy himself with Bhima. You too, having entered the dice, should help.
Supplementary Passages:
3.55.13 After 13, T G (G1 missing) ins.: *232 मम प्रिये कृते तस्मिन्कृतवांश्च भविष्यसि