SECTION –LXXII
(Nalopakhyana Parva Continued)
"Vrihadaswa said, 'Like a bird coursing
through the sky, Nala soon crossed rivers and mountains, and woods and lakes.
And while the car was coursing thus, that conqueror of hostile cities, the
royal son of Bhangasura, saw his upper garment drop down on the ground. And at
soon as his garment had dropped down the high-minded monarch, without loss of
time, told Nala, 'I intend to recover it. O thou of profound intelligence,
retain these steeds endued with exceeding swiftness until Varshneya bringeth
back my garment.' Thereupon Nala replied unto him, 'The sheet is dropped down
far away. We have travelled one yojana thence. Therefore, it is incapable of
being recovered.' After Nala had addressed him thus, O king, the royal son of
Bhangasura came upon a Vibhitaka tree with fruits in a forest. And seeing that
tree, the king hastily said to Vahuka, 'O charioteer, do thou also behold my
high proficiency in calculation. All men do not know everything. There is no one
that is versed in every science of art. Knowledge in its entirety is not found
in any one person, O Vahuka, the leaves and fruits of this tree that are lying
on the ground respectively exceed those that are on it by one hundred and one.
The two branches of the tree have fifty millions of leaves, and two thousand
and ninety five fruits. Do thou examine these two branches and all their
boughs.' Thereupon staying the car Vahuka addressed the king, saying, 'O
crusher of foes, thou takest credit to thyself in a matter which is beyond my
perception. But, O monarch, I will ascertain it by the direct evidence of my
senses, by cutting down the Vibhitaka. O king, when I actually count, it will
no longer be matter of speculation. Therefore, in thy presence, O monarch, I
will hew down this Vibhitaka. I do not know whether it be not (as thou hast
said). In thy presence, O ruler of men, I will count the fruits and leaves. Let
Varshneya hold the reins of the horses for a while.' Unto the charioteer the
king replied, 'There is no time to lose.' But Vahuka answered with humility,
'Stay thou a short space, or, if thou art in a hurry, go then, making Varshneya
thy charioteer. The road lies direct and even.' And at this, O son of the Kuru
race, soothing Vahuka, Rituparna said, 'O Vahuka, thou art the only charioteer,
there is none other in this world. And, O thou versed in horse lore, it is
through thy help that I expect to go to the Vidarbhas. I place myself in thy
hands. It behoveth thee not to cause any obstacle. And, O Vahuka, whatever thy
wish. I will grant it if taking me to the country of the Vidarbhas to-day, thou
makest me see the sun rise.' At this, Vahuka answered him, saying, 'After
having counted (the leaves and fruits of the) Vibhitaka, I shall proceed to
Vidarbha, do thou agree to my words. Then the king reluctantly told him,
'Count. And on counting the leaves and fruits of a portion of this branch, thou
wilt be satisfied of the truth of my assertion.' And thereupon Vahuka speedily
alighted from the car, and felled that tree. And struck with amazement upon
finding the fruits, after calculation, to be what the king had said, he
addressed the king, saying, 'O monarch, this thy power is wonderful. I desire,
O prince, to know the art by which thou hast ascertained all this.' And at this
king, intent upon proceeding speedily, said unto Vahuka. 'Know that I am
proficient at dice besides being versed in numbers. And Vahuka said unto him,
'Impart unto me this knowledge and, O bull among men, take from me my knowledge
of horses.' And king Rituparna, having regard to the importance of the act that
depended upon Vahuka's good-will, and tempted also by the horse-lore (that his
charioteer possessed), said, 'So be it.' As solicited by thee, receive this
science of dice from me, and, O Vahuka, let my equine science remain with thee
in trust.' And saying this, Rituparna imparted unto Nala the science (he
desired). And Nala upon becoming acquainted with the science of dice, Kali came
out of his body, incessantly vomiting from his mouth the virulent poison of
Karkotaka.
And when Kali, afflicted (by Damayanti's curse)
came out (of Nala's body), the fire of that curse also left Kali. Indeed, long
had been the time for which the king had been afflicted by Kali, as if he were
of unregenerate soul. And Kala the ruler of the Nishadhas, in wrath, was bent
upon cursing Kali, when the latter, frightened, and trembling, said with joined
hands, 'Control thy wrath, O king! I will render thee illustrious. Indrasena's
mother had formerly cursed me in anger when she had been deserted by thee. Ever
since that time undergoing sore affliction I resided in thee, O mighty monarch,
O unconquered one, miserably and burning night and day with the venom of the
prince of snakes. I seek thy protection. If thou dost not curse me who am
affrighted and seek thy protection, then those men that will attentively recite
thy history, shall be even free from fear on my account.' And thus addressed by
Kali, king Nala controlled his wrath. And thereupon the frightened Kali
speedily entered into the Vibhitaka tree. And while the Kali was conversing
with Naishadha, he was invisible to others. And delivered from his afflictions,
and having counted the fruits of that tree, the king, filled with great joy and
of high energy, mounted on the car and proceeded with energy, urging those
fleet horses. And from the touch of Kali the Vibhitaka tree from that hour fell
into disrepute. And Nala, with a glad heart, began to urge those foremost of
steeds which sprang into the air once and again like creatures endued with
wings. And the illustrious monarch drove (the car) in the direction of the
Vidarbhas. And after Nala had gone far away, Kali also returned to his abode.
And abandoned by Kali, O king, that lord of earth, the royal Nala, became freed
from calamity though he did not assume his native form.'"
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