जनमेजय उवाच अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोकं महात्मनि। युधिष्ठिरप्रभृतयः किमकुर्वत पाण्डवाः॥
Janamejaya said : When the illustrious son of Pritha (Arjuna) had gone to the region of Indra with a view of obtain the arms, what did Yudhishthira and the other Pandavas do?
वैशम्पायन उवाच अस्त्रहेतोर्गते पार्थे शक्रलोकं महात्मनि। आवसन् कृष्णया साधु काम्यके भरतर्षभाः॥
Vaishampayana said : When the illustrious son of Pritha had gone to the region of Indra for obtaining the arms then those foremost ones of the Bharata race lived with Krishna (Draupadi) in the forest of Kamyaka.
ततः कदाचिदेकान्ते विविक्त इव शाद्वले। दुःखार्ता भरतश्रेष्ठा निषेदुः सह कृष्णया॥ धनंजयं शोचमानाः साश्रुकण्ठाः सुदुःखिताः। तद्वियोगार्दितान् सर्वाञ्छोकः समभिपुप्लुवे॥
Thereupon those excellent ones of the seated one day with Krishna on a clean and solitary turf (in the forest). They were greatly afflicted with grief; their voices were choked up with the tears and also they were overwhelmed with sorrow on account of the absence of Dhananjaya. A flood of grief passed over them, tormented as they were by his separation.
धनंजयवियोगाच्च राज्यभ्रंशाच्च दुःखिताः। अथ भीमो महाबाहुर्युधिष्ठिरमभाषत॥
Thereupon the heroic Bhima, afflicted with sorrow for the separation of Dhananjaya and the loss of kingdom, addressed Yudhishthira in the following terms.
निदेशात् ते महाराज गतोऽसौ भरतर्षभः। अर्जुनः पाण्डुपुत्राणां यस्मिन् प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठिताः॥
"O great king, this chief of the Bharata race Arjuna, has gone away in obedience to your command. On him depend the very lives of the sons of Pandu.
यस्मिन् विनष्टे पाञ्चालाः सह पुत्रैस्तथा वयम्। सात्यकिर्वासुदेवश्च विनश्येयुर्न संशयः॥
Losing Arjuna, we with all our sons, the Panchalas, as also the Satyaki and Vasudeva, are sure to die.
योऽसौ गच्छतिधर्मात्मा बहून् क्लेशान् विचिन्तयन् भवन्नियोगाद् बीभत्सुस्ततो दुःखतरं नु किम्॥
For what can we grieve more than this, that the righteous Vibhatsu goes away at your behest, thinking upon the various sorrows?
यस्य बाहू समाश्रित्य वयं सर्वे महात्मनः। मन्यामहे जिताना तौ परान् प्राप्ता च मेदिनीम्॥
Relying upon the strength of arms of that illustrious hero, we can take for granted that our enemies are already vanquished and the possession of the earth is ours,
यस्य प्रभावान्न मया सभामध्येधनुष्मतः। नीता लोसममुं सर्वेधार्तराष्ट्राः ससौबलाः॥
But for the intervention of that mightyarmed hero in the meeting of warriors, I could not send the descendants of Dhritarashtra with
ते वयं बाहुबलिनः क्रोधमुत्थितमात्मनः। सहामहे भवन्मूलं वासुदेवेन पालिताः॥
We are supported by Vasudeva and are the mightiest warriors. We were constrained to suppress the wrath that had been awakened in ourselves, because you are the cause of that anger.
वयं हि सह कृष्णेन हत्वा कर्णमुखान् परान्। स्वबाहुविजितां कृत्स्ना प्रशासेम वसुन्धराम्॥
As a matter of fact, assisted by Krishna, having slain all our foes with Karna at their head, we are in a position to rule the whole rld, conquered by the might of our own arms.
भवतो द्यूतदोषेण सर्वे वयमुपप्लुताः। अहीनपौरुषा बाला बलिभिर्बलवत्तराः॥
Although we are not devoid of manliness yet we are the most unfortunate and that is for the reason of your gambling vice. Meanwhile the foolish sons of Dhritarashtra are growing very strong with the tributes (collected from the dependant chiefs).
क्षात्रधर्म महाराज त्वमवेक्षितुमर्हसि। न हिधर्मो महाराज क्षत्रियस्य वनाश्रयः॥
O great king, it is necessary for you to keep in view the duties of a Kshatriya. O great king, to live in the forest should not be his duty.
राज्यमेव परंधर्मं क्षत्रियस्य विदुर्बुधाः। स क्षत्रधर्मविद् राजा माधर्म्यान्नीनशः पथः॥
The sages have said that the duty of a Kshatriya is to rule the kingdom. O king, you, are versed in the Kshatriya moralities, should not go astray from the path of your duty, the most righteous as you are.
प्राग् द्वादशसमा राजन्धार्तराष्ट्रान् निहन्महि। निवर्त्य च वनात् पार्थमानाय्य च जनार्दनम्॥
Calling back Partha and Janardana, let us, O king, go away from the forest and slay the descendants of Dhritarashtra even before the expiry of pledged period of twelve years.
व्यूढानीकान् महाराज जवनेव महामते। धार्तराष्ट्रानमुं लोकं गमयामि विशाम्पते।॥ सर्वानहं हनिष्यामिधार्तराष्ट्रान् ससौबलान्। दुर्योधनं च कर्णं च यो वान्यः प्रतियोत्स्यते॥
O great monarch, O high-souled one, O king of kings, I shall send the sons of Dhritarashtra to the other world (even if they are encircled by their soldiers in battle-array) by the very push of our arms. I shall slay all the sons of Dhritarashtra accompanied by the Subalas, Duryodhana and Karna and others who will encounter me (or us) in battle.
मया प्रशमिते पश्चात् त्वमेष्यसि वनात् पुनः। एवं कृते न ते दोषा भविष्यन्ति विशाम्पते॥
The enemies thus being slain by me, you may come back to the forest again, O king of kings, there will be no fault of yours if thus acted.
यज्ञैश्च विविधैस्तात कृतं पापमरिंदम। अवधूय महाराज गच्छेम स्वर्गमुत्तमम्॥
O sir, O chastiser of foes, if thus a sin be committed, we are able to wash it off by the performance of various sacrifices and we may ascend a superior heaven.
एवमेतद् भवेद् राजन् यदि राजा न बालिशः। अस्माकं दीर्घसूत्रः स्याद् भवान्धर्मपरायणः॥
O monarch, such may happen, if our king be not foolish or procrastinating. Indeed you are, O king, righteous.
निकृत्या निकृतिप्रज्ञा हन्तव्या इति निश्चयः। न हि नैकृतिकं हत्वा निकृत्या पापमुच्यते॥
Undoubtedly the deceitful persons should be done away with deceitful means. Surely it is no sin. to destroy them by frauds.
तथा भारतधर्मेषुधर्मज्ञैरिह दृश्यते। अहोरात्रं महाराज तुल्यं संवत्सरेण ह॥
O Bharata, O great prince, the pious, who are conversant in morality, have regarded a day and a night as equivalent to an entire year.
तथैव वेदवचनं श्रूयते नित्यदा विभो। संवत्सरो महाराज पूर्णो भवति कृच्छ्रतः॥
O illustrious one, the Veda text is often heard to signify that a year, O great monarch, passes away like a day, if one is engaged in strict devotion.
यदि वेदाः प्रमाणास्ते दिवसादूर्ध्वमच्युत। त्रयोदश समाः कालो ज्ञायतां परिनिष्ठितः॥
Therefore regard, O one of unfading glory, accepting the authority of the Vedas, the period of thirteen years equal to a day or so.
कालो दुर्योधनं हन्तुं सानुबन्धमरिंदम। एकाचां पृथिवीं सर्वां पुरा राजन् करोति सः॥
O chastiser of foes, this is the (proper) time to kill Duryodhana with all his attendants. Otherwise, O prince, he will bring the whole world under his subjection.
द्यूतप्रियेण राजेन्द्र तथा तद् भवता कृतम्। प्रायेणाज्ञातचर्यायां वयं सर्वे निपातिताः॥
O most excellent of princes, this has been the out-come of your love for gambling. We are almost ruined by your promise to live one year undiscovered.
न तं देशं प्रपश्यामि यत्र सोऽस्मान् सुदुर्जनः। न विज्ञास्यति दुष्टात्मा चारैरिति सुयोधनः॥
I do not find a country where, if we live, that wicked and evil-natured Suyodhana will not be able to discover us by his spies.
अधिगम्य च सर्वान् नो वनवासमिमं ततः। प्रव्राजयिष्यति पुनर्निकृत्याधमपूरुषः॥
And having thus traced us, that stupid one will again deceitfully banish us (to live in exile) into the woods.
यद्यस्मानभिगच्छेत पापः स हि कथंचन। अज्ञातचर्यामुत्तीर्णान् दृष्ट्वा च पुनराह्वयेत्॥
If that sinful wretch beholds us to return from the woods after the expiration of that period of our undiscovered life, he will again invite us to game at dice.
द्यूतेन ते महाराज पुन तमवर्तत। भवांश्च पुनराहतो द्यूते नैवापनेष्यति॥
O great prince, the game of chance will once more begin. And then being again summoned at dice, we are sure to be banished.
स तथाक्षेषु कुशलो निश्चितो गतचेतनः। चरिष्यसि महाराज वनेषु वसतीः पुनः॥
He (the king) is unskilled at dice and beyond doubt he looses his senses when at dice. Therefore, O great monarch, you shall have again to live in the woods.
यद्यस्मान् सुमहाराज कृपणान् कर्तुमर्हसि। यावज्जीवमवेक्षस्व वेदधर्मांश्च कृत्स्नशः॥ निकृत्या निकृतिप्रज्ञो हन्तव्य इति निश्चयः। अनुज्ञातस्त्वया गत्वा यावच्छक्ति सुयोधनम्॥ यथैव कक्षमुत्सृष्टो दहेदनिलसारथिः। हनिष्यामि तथा मन्दमनुजानातु मे भवान्॥
O great prince, if it behoves you not to make us miserable for life, observe fully the teaching of the Vedas, which lay down, that verily the deceitful ought to be destroyed by the deceitful means. If I but have your command, I would go forth (to Hastinapur) and even as fire consumes heap of grass, would slay that wicked Suyodhana with all my power. It behoves you therefore, O charioteer, to grant me permission."
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं ब्रुवाणं भीमं तुधर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। उवाच सान्त्वयन् राजा मूर्युपाघ्राय पाण्डवम्॥
And king Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, having consoled and smelling the crown of the head of that son of Pandu, Bhima, who thus (as above) addressed, spoke thus.
असंशयं महाबाहो हनिष्यसि सुयोधनम्। वर्षात् त्रयोदशादूर्ध्वं सह गाण्डीवधन्वना॥
“You shall, O mighty-armed warrior, assisted by the wielder of the Gandiva, slay, without doubt, Suyodhana after the expiration of the pledged period of thirteen years.
यत् त्वमाभाषसे पार्थ प्राप्तः काल इति प्रभो। अनृतं नोत्सहे वक्तुं न ह्येतन्मम विद्यते॥
O son of Pritha, as for what you say, that “O Lord, the period is complete," I dare not tell a lie, for it never finds place in my heart.
अन्तरेणापि कौन्तेय निकृति पापनिश्चयम्। हन्ता त्वमसि दुर्धर्ष सानुबन्धं सुयोधनम्॥
O son of Kunti, you shall without the help of deceit, which is doubtlessly a sin, slay that irrepressible Suyodhana with all his adherents."
एवं ब्रुवति भीमं तुधर्मराजे युधिष्ठिरे। आजगाम महाभागो बृहदश्वो महानृषिः॥
Whilst Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, was thus speaking to Bhima, there came before him that great and most illustrious sage, Brihadashva.
तमभिप्रेक्ष्यधर्मात्मा सम्प्राप्तधर्मचारिणम्। शास्त्रवन्मधुपर्केण पूजयामासधर्मराट्॥
That righteous and high-souled monarch, Yudhishthira, worshipped the virtuous ascetic with the respectful offerings of Madhuparka (made of honey, curd clarified-butter, sugar and milk in a small cup made of some metal) whom he beheld standing before him.
आश्वस्तं चैनमासीनमुपासीनो युधिष्ठिरः। अभिप्रेक्ष्य महाबाहुः कृपणं बह्वभाषत॥
When the great sage was seated, the mightyarmed Yudhishthira, having supplied him with the refreshments, sat before him, looking and spoke to him in the most piteous terms.
अक्षयूते च भगवन्धनं राज्यं च मे हृतम्। आहूय निकृतिप्रज्ञैः कितवैरक्षकोविदैः॥
"O almighty one, summoned by those evilminded and mischievous but skillful gamblers at dice. I have been deprived of my wealth and kingdom (through gambling).
अनक्षज्ञस्य हि सतो निकृत्या पापनिश्चयैः। भार्या च मे सभां नीता प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी॥
I am not an expert at dice, the sinful men, having recourse to the foul means, defeated me at dice and even brought my wife, who is dearer to me that life itself, into the midst of the assembly (of herocs).
पुन तेन मां जित्वा वनवासं सुदारुणम्। प्रावाजयन् महारण्यमजिनैः परिवारितम्॥
And defeating me at dice a second time, they have exiled me into the fearful woods, where I lead a disastrous life, clad in deer-skin.
अहं वने दुर्वसतीर्वसन् परमदुःखितः। अक्षयूताधिकारे च गिरः शृण्वन् सुदारुणाः॥ आतोनां सुहृदां वाचो द्यूतप्रभृति शंसताम्। अहं हृदि श्रिताः स्मृत्वा सर्वरात्रीविचिन्तयन्॥
Greatly afflicted with sorrow, I am at present leading a very distressful life in the woods. The cruel speeches which I heard uttered (by my enemies) on the occasion of the past. Gambling and the expressions of my afflicted friends regarding the game and other subjects, live still fresh in my heart and when remembered, they put me into serious thinking during the whole night.
यस्मिश्चैव समस्तानां प्राणा गाण्डीवधन्वनि। विना महात्मना तेन गतसत्त्व इवाभवम्॥
I am, even as deprived of my life, as I am in destitute of that high-souled wielder of the Gandiva, on whom depend the very lives of us all.
कदा द्रक्ष्यामि बीभत्सुं कृतास्त्रं पुनरागतम्। प्रियवादिनमक्षुद्रं दयायुक्तमतन्द्रितः॥
Ah! when shall I see the swift-speaking and liberal Vibhatsu, who is so full of the milk of human kindness and aptitude, coming back to us with all the arms collected from heaven!
अस्ति राजा मया कश्चिदल्पभाग्यतरो भुवि। भवता दृष्टपूर्वो वा श्रुतपूर्वोऽपि वा क्वचित्। न मत्तो दुःखिततरः पुमानस्तीति मे मतिः॥
Is there a prince, on the earth, who is more wretched than I am? Have you ever heard of or seen such a one before. So far as I think, there is no such person, who is more afflicted with grief than myself."
बृहदश्व उवाच यद् ब्रवीषि महाराज न मत्तो विद्यते क्वचित्। अल्पभाग्यतरः कश्चित् पुमानस्तीति पाण्डव॥ अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि यदि शुश्रूषसेऽनघ। यस्त्वत्तो दुःखितारो राजाऽऽसीत् पृथिवीपते॥
Brihadashva said: O great prince, O son of Pandu, you say that on this earth there is no such a person more wretched than yourself. O sinless monarch, I will narrate to you if you would listen to me, the history of a king who was (really) more miserable than yourself.
वैशम्पायन उवाच अथैनमब्रवीद् राजा ब्रवीतु भगवानिति। इमामवस्थां सम्प्राप्तं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पार्थिवम्॥
Vaishampayana said: Thereupon the king spoke to the great sage, "O most glorious one, relate as I am desirous to hear, the history of the king who had fallen in the most distressful condition of life.”
बृहदश्व उवाच शृणु राजन्नवहितः सह भ्रातृभिरच्युत। यस्त्वत्तो दुःखिततरो राजाऽऽसीत् पृथिवीपते॥
Brihadashva said : O prince, O you that never lapse hear attentively, with your brothers the history of the king who was more miserable than yourself.
निषधेषु महीपालो वीरसेन इति श्रुतः। तस्य पुत्रोऽभवन्नामा नलोधर्मार्थकोविदः॥
O great king, there lived a famous prince among the Nishadhas, who was known by the name of Virasena. He had a son, named Nala, who was versed in religion (virtue) and (in the knowledge of acquiring) wealth).
स निकृत्या जितो राजा पुष्करेणेति नः श्रुतम्। वनवासं सुदुःखार्तो भार्यया न्यवसत् सह॥
We have heard that the king was deceitfully defeated by Pushkara; and in consequence defeated by Pushkara; and in consequence thereof he dwelt in the forest with his spouse, pressed with distress.
न तस्य दासा न रथो न भ्राता न च बान्धवाः। वने निवसतो राजच्छिष्यन्ते स्म कदाचन॥
O king, while living in the forest, Nala had neither servants nor chariots, (nor charioteers), neither he had a brother or friends with him.
भवान् हि संवृतो वीरैर्धातृभिर्देवसम्मितैः। ब्रह्मकल्पैर्द्विजावयैश्च तस्मान्नार्हसि शोचितुम्॥
But you are encircled by your war-like brothers, who are equal to the celestials and also by the best of the twice-born Brahmanas, who arelike unto Brahma himself. Consequently, O king, you should not lament.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच विस्तरेणाहमिच्छामि नलस्य सुमहात्मनः। चरितं वदतां श्रेष्ठ तन्ममाख्यातुमर्हसि॥
Yudhishthira said: O foremost of the story-tellers, I am very desirous of hearing in detail the history of that illustrious king, Nala. It behoves you therefore, to tell me.