Critical Edition
बृहदश्व उवाच स नदीः पर्वतांश्चैव वनानि च सरांसि च अचिरेणातिचक्राम खेचरः खे चरन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Brihadashva said: As the bird course through the sky, so he (king Nala) speedily crossed the rivers, mountains, woods and lakes.
तथा प्रयाते तु रथे तदा भाङ्गस्वरिर्नृपः उत्तरीयमथापश्यद्भ्रष्टं परपुरंजयः
M. N. Dutt: While the car was thus coursing, the conqueror of hostile towns, the king Vangasura, saw his sheet drop down upon the ground.
ततः स त्वरमाणस्तु पटे निपतिते तदा ग्रहीष्यामीति तं राजा नलमाह महामनाः
AI Translation: Then, when the cloth fell, he quickly The great-minded king said to Nala, "I shall seize it."
निगृह्णीष्व महाबुद्धे हयानेतान्महाजवान् वार्ष्णेयो यावदेतं मे पटमानयतामिति
AI Translation: "O you of great intellect, restrain these very swift horses. " "O Varshneya, bring me this cloth,"" he said."
नलस्तं प्रत्युवाचाथ दूरे भ्रष्टः पटस्तव योजनं समतिक्रान्तो न स शक्यस्त्वया पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, Nala said to him in reply, “Your garment had dropped down far away; that is, we had advanced about eight miles from that place. It is, therefore, impossible to recover it.”
एवमुक्ते नलेनाथ तदा भाङ्गस्वरिर्नृपः आससाद वने राजन्फलवन्तं बिभीतकम्
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, having been thus addressed by Nala, the royal son of Vangasura came near a tree, called Vibhitaka with fruits, in the wood.
तं दृष्ट्वा बाहुकं राजा त्वरमाणोऽभ्यभाषत ममापि सूत पश्य त्वं संख्याने परमं बलम्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding the tree, the king instantly said to Bahuka: “O charioteer, do you also see my great power of calculation.
सर्वः सर्वं न जानाति सर्वज्ञो नास्ति कश्चन नैकत्र परिनिष्ठास्ति ज्ञानस्य पुरुषे क्वचित्
M. N. Dutt: All men do not know all things; in fact, there is none, who is acquainted with all the branches of knowledge. In one person, the knowledge in its entirety, is not centered.
वृक्षेऽस्मिन्यानि पर्णानि फलान्यपि च बाहुक पतितानि च यान्यत्र तत्रैकमधिकं शतम् एकपत्राधिकं पत्रं फलमेकं च बाहुक
AI Translation: O Bāhuka, on this tree, there are leaves and fruits, and those that have fallen on the ground, each one hundred more than the previous. A leaf with one more leaf, and a fruit with one more fruit,
Supplementary Passages:
3.70.9 After 9ab, B4 ins.: *321 संख्यातानि मयैतानि सर्वाण्यस्य वनस्पतेः On the other hand, after 9ab, D1 reads 10ab, which in turn is followed by a variant of 10cd: *322 प्रविलुप्तस्य शाखे द्वे पश्चान्या या प्रशाखिका After 9, D1 ins.: *323 अयुतं चैव पत्राणामनयोरपि शाखयोः while D3 ins.: *324 लक्ष्यं ह्यशीतिसाहस्रं पत्रेषु च फलेषु च
पञ्च कोट्योऽथ पत्राणां द्वयोरपि च शाखयोः प्रचिनुह्यस्य शाखे द्वे याश्चाप्यन्याः प्रशाखिकाः आभ्यां फलसहस्रे द्वे पञ्चोनं शतमेव च
AI Translation: There are five hundred million leaves on the two branches, and two branches of the tree, and the other branches, and from these two there are two thousand fruits, and five hundred.
ततो रथादवप्लुत्य राजानं बाहुकोऽब्रवीत् परोक्षमिव मे राजन्कत्थसे शत्रुकर्शन
AI Translation: Then Bahuka, having descended from the chariot, said to the king: "O king, you are boasting as if you were not seeing me, O destroyer of enemies.
Supplementary Passages:
3.70.11 After 11, K2.4 Dn D5 ins.: *325 प्रत्यक्षमेतत्कर्तास्मि शातयित्वा बिभीतकम्
अथ ते गणिते राजन्विद्यते न परोक्षता प्रत्यक्षं ते महाराज गणयिष्ये बिभीतकम्
AI Translation: Then, O king, when they are counted, there is no uncertainty. O great king, I shall count the bībhitaka tree directly.
अहं हि नाभिजानामि भवेदेवं न वेति च संख्यास्यामि फलान्यस्य पश्यतस्ते जनाधिप मुहूर्तमिव वार्ष्णेयो रश्मीन्यच्छतु वाजिनाम्
M. N. Dutt: O ruler of men, I will number the fruits of the tree, while you will see it. Let Varshneya pull up the reins of the horses for a moment."
तमब्रवीन्नृपः सूतं नायं कालो विलम्बितुम् बाहुकस्त्वब्रवीदेनं परं यत्नं समास्थितः
AI Translation: The king said to the charioteer, "This is not the time to delay." Bahuka, having made great effort, said to him,
प्रतीक्षस्व मुहूर्तं त्वमथ वा त्वरते भवान् एष याति शिवः पन्था याहि वार्ष्णेयसारथिः
AI Translation: Wait a moment, or you may hurry, For this is the path of the good, and the charioteer is the son of Vasudeva.
अब्रवीदृतुपर्णस्तं सान्त्वयन्कुरुनन्दन त्वमेव यन्ता नान्योऽस्ति पृथिव्यामपि बाहुक
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of the Kuru race, king Rituparna, having comforted Bahuka, addressed him, saying: "O Bahuka, there is none else in this world, who is like you, as a charioteer.
त्वत्कृते यातुमिच्छामि विदर्भान्हयकोविद शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नोऽस्मि न विघ्नं कर्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: O you versed in the equestrian science, I desire to go to the country of the Vidharbhas with your assistance. May I obtain your protection. It is necessary for you not to cause any obstacle.
कामं च ते करिष्यामि यन्मां वक्ष्यसि बाहुक विदर्भान्यदि यात्वाद्य सूर्यं दर्शयितासि मे
M. N. Dutt: O Bahuka, I shall fulfill your desire, (that is, whatever you will tell me) if you take me today to the country of the Vidharbhas and make me see the sun-rise."
अथाब्रवीद्बाहुकस्तं संख्यायेमं बिभीतकम् ततो विदर्भान्यास्यामि कुरुष्वेदं वचो मम
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Bahuka answered him, saying: "Having counted the (leaves and fruits of) Vibhitaka tree. I shall go to the country of the Vidharbhas. Act up to my words."
अकाम इव तं राजा गणयस्वेत्युवाच ह सोऽवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं शातयामास तं द्रुमम्
AI Translation: The king said to him, "Count it, as if you did not want it." He quickly got down from the chariot and cut down the tree.
Supplementary Passages:
3.70.20 K2 Dn ins. after 20ab: K4, after 20: *326 एकदेशं च शाखायाः समादिष्टं मयानघ गणयस्वाश्वतत्त्वज्ञ ततस्त्वं प्रीतिमावह K4 cont.: *327 ततस्तं बाहुको राजञ्छाखैकोद्देशमप्युत फलानि परिसंख्यातुं त्वरमाणोपचक्रमे
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो राजानमिदमब्रवीत् गणयित्वा यथोक्तानि तावन्त्येव फलानि च
M. N. Dutt: Then again he numbered all the fruits; and found out the truth of what the king had said; and, thus struck with astonishment, he addressed the monarch, saying,
अत्यद्भुतमिदं राजन्दृष्टवानस्मि ते बलम् श्रोतुमिच्छामि तां विद्यां यथैतज्ज्ञायते नृप
AI Translation: O king, I have seen this great wonder of your strength. I wish to hear that knowledge by which this is known, O king.
तमुवाच ततो राजा त्वरितो गमने तदा विद्ध्यक्षहृदयज्ञं मां संख्याने च विशारदम्
AI Translation: Then the king said to him, "Go quickly." "Know me to be skilled in the knowledge of the heart of the eye and in calculation."
बाहुकस्तमुवाचाथ देहि विद्यामिमां मम मत्तोऽपि चाश्वहृदयं गृहाण पुरुषर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Then Bahuka said to him" "O foremost of men, do you impart this art to me and take from me my knowledge, regarding the management of horses."
ऋतुपर्णस्ततो राजा बाहुकं कार्यगौरवात् हयज्ञानस्य लोभाच्च तथेत्येवाब्रवीद्वचः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon king Rituparna, for the reason of the great importance of his business and also for his extreme desire to acquire the knowledge of horses, agreed to what Bahuka had said.
यथेष्टं त्वं गृहाणेदमक्षाणां हृदयं परम् निक्षेपो मेऽश्वहृदयं त्वयि तिष्ठतु बाहुक एवमुक्त्वा ददौ विद्यामृतुपर्णो नलाय वै
M. N. Dutt: "As you have asked, do you take from me my great skill at dice. O Bahuka, let my knowledge of horses remain with you in trust. Thus saying, king Rituparna gave Nala his knowledge of the play at dice.
Supplementary Passages:
3.70.26 After 26, D1.2 ins.: *328 ददावेकमना भूत्वा शुचिः पुरुषसत्तमः
तस्याक्षहृदयज्ञस्य शरीरान्निःसृतः कलिः कर्कोटकविषं तीक्ष्णं मुखात्सततमुद्वमन्
AI Translation: From the body of that one who knows the heart of the dice, Kali has emerged, constantly vomiting the sharp poison of Karkoṭaka from his mouth,
कलेस्तस्य तदार्तस्य शापाग्निः स विनिःसृतः स तेन कर्शितो राजा दीर्घकालमनात्मवान्
AI Translation: From that afflicted Kali, the fire of the curse emerged. That king, afflicted by that, became devoid of self for a long time.
Supplementary Passages:
3.70.28 After 28, G2 ins.: *329 तं भ्रान्तरूपं निःशोभं संक्लिष्टमकरोत्कलिः
ततो विषविमुक्तात्मा स्वरूपमकरोत्कलिः तं शप्तुमैच्छत्कुपितो निषधाधिपतिर्नलः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Kali, with his soul freed from the poison, assumed his own form. Then Nala, the prince of the Nishadhas, became angry and was intent upon cursing him.
तमुवाच कलिर्भीतो वेपमानः कृताञ्जलिः कोपं संयच्छ नृपते कीर्तिं दास्यामि ते पराम्
M. N. Dutt: Kali became frightened; and, trembling with fear, folded his hands; and said to him this: “O king, restrain your anger and, in return, I will impart you great fame.
इन्द्रसेनस्य जननी कुपिता माशपत्पुरा यदा त्वया परित्यक्ता ततोऽहं भृशपीडितः
M. N. Dutt: The mother of Indrasena cursed ine in wrath long ago, that is, at the time when she had been left by you. From that time forward I have greatly been oppressed (by that curse).
अवसं त्वयि राजेन्द्र सुदुःखमपराजित विषेण नागराजस्य दह्यमानो दिवानिशम्
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of kings, O unconquered one, burning day and night in the poison of the prince of the snakes, I most miserably resided within you.
Supplementary Passages:
3.70.32 K2.3 B D (except D1.2.5) ins. after 32: K1, after 33: *330 शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नोऽस्मि शृणु चेदं वचो मम
ये च त्वां मनुजा लोके कीर्तयिष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिताः मत्प्रसूतं भयं तेषां न कदाचिद्भविष्यति
AI Translation: And those who, in this world, will praise you with diligence, For them, there will never be any fear from me.
Supplementary Passages:
3.70.33 After 33, S (except M1) ins.: *331 न तेषां मानसं किंचिच्छरीरं वाचिकं तथा भविष्यति नृणां राजन्कीर्तयिष्यन्ति ये नलम् S (except M1) cont.: K2 B D (except B1.2.5) ins. after 33: K1 ins. after 32: *332 भयार्तं शरणं यातं यदि मां त्वं न शप्स्यसे
एवमुक्तो नलो राजा न्ययच्छत्कोपमात्मनः ततो भीतः कलिः क्षिप्रं प्रविवेश बिभीतकम् कलिस्त्वन्येन नादृश्यत्कथयन्नैषधेन वै
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Kali became terrified and instantly entered into the three Vibhitaka. While Kali, thus conversing with the king of the Nishadhas, was invisible to others.
Supplementary Passages:
3.70.34 After 34cd, D1.2 ins.: *333 कलिसंसर्गदोषेण अपवित्रो बिभीतकः
ततो गतज्वरो राजा नैषधः परवीरहा संप्रनष्टे कलौ राजन्संख्यायाथ फलान्युत
AI Translation: Then the king of Nishadha, who had conquered his enemies, was free from fever. When the Kali age had passed, O king, and the fruits of the calculation were lost,
मुदा परमया युक्तस्तेजसा च परेण ह रथमारुह्य तेजस्वी प्रययौ जवनैर्हयैः बिभीतकश्चाप्रशस्तः संवृत्तः कलिसंश्रयात्
AI Translation: Filled with supreme joy and supreme splendor, Mounting his chariot, the radiant one set out with swift horses. Bibhītaka, though not auspicious, became so due to the reliance on Kali.
Supplementary Passages:
3.70.36 After 36, K4 D1-3 ins.: *334 ततः प्रभृति राजेन्द्र लोकेऽस्मिन्पाण्डुनन्दन
हयोत्तमानुत्पततो द्विजानिव पुनः पुनः नलः संचोदयामास प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना
AI Translation: Like birds flying up again and again, the best of horses, Nala urged them on with a delighted mind.
विदर्भाभिमुखो राजा प्रययौ स महामनाः नले तु समतिक्रान्ते कलिरप्यगमद्गृहान्
AI Translation: The great-minded king, with his face turned towards Vidarbha, set out. When Nala had passed, Kali also went home.
ततो गतज्वरो राजा नलोऽभूत्पृथिवीपते विमुक्तः कलिना राजन्रूपमात्रवियोजितः
M. N. Dutt: When Nala went a long way off, Kali too returned home. Thus prince Nala, having been left by Kali, became delivered from all afflictions. But, O monarch, that ruler of the earth did not regain his native form.