SECTION –LXI
(Nalopakhyana Parva Continued)
"Vrihadaswa said, 'After Varshneya had gone
away, Pushkara won from the righteous Nala that latter's kingdom and what else
of wealth he had. And unto Nala, O king, who had lost his kingdom, Pushkara
laughingly said, 'Let the play go on. But what stake hast thou now? Damayanti
only remaineth; all else of thine hath been won by me. Well, if thou likest,
that Damayanti be our stake now.' Hearing these words of Pushkara the virtuous
king felt as if his heart would burst in rage, but he spake not a word. And
gazing at Pushkara in anguish, king Nala of great fame took all the ornaments
off every part of his body. And attired in a single piece of cloth, his body
uncovered, renouncing all his wealth, and enhancing the grief of friends, the
king set out. And Damayanti, clad in one piece of cloth, followed him behind as
he was leaving the city. And coming to the outskirts of the city, Nala stayed
there for three nights with his wife. But Pushkara, O king, proclaimed through
the city that he that should show any attention to Nala, would be doomed to
death. And on account of these words of Pushkara and knowing his malice towards
Nala, the citizens, O Yudhishthira, no longer showed him hospitable regards.
And unregarded though deserving of hospitable regards, Nala passed three nights
in the outskirts of the city, living on water alone. And afflicted with hunger,
the king went away in search of fruit and roots, Damayanti following him
behind. And in agony of famine, after many days, Nala saw some birds with
plumage of golden hue. And thereupon the mighty lord of the Nishadhas thought
within himself, 'These will be my banquet today and also my wealth.' And then
he covered them with the cloth he had on--when bearing up that garment of his,
the birds rose up to the sky. And beholding Nala nude and melancholy, and
standing with face turned towards the ground, those rangers of the sky
addressed him, saying, 'O thou of small sense, we are even those dice. We had
come hither wishing to take away thy cloth, for it pleased us not that thou
shouldst depart even with thy cloth on.' And finding himself deprived of his
attire, and knowing also that the dice were departing (with it), the virtuous
Nala, O king, thus spake unto Damayanti, 'O faultless one, they through whose
anger I have been despoiled of my kingdom, they through whose influence
distressed and afflicted with hunger, I am unable to procure sustenance, they
for whom the Nishadhas offered me not any hospitality, they, O timid one, are
carrying off my cloth, assuming the form of birds. Fallen into this dire
disaster, I am afflicted with grief and deprived of my senses, I am thy lord,
do thou, therefore, listen to the words I speak for thy good. These many roads
lead to the southern country, passing by (the city of) Avanti and the Rikshavat
mountains. This is that mighty mountain called Vindhya; yon, the river
Payasvini running sea-wards, and yonder are the asylums of the ascetics,
furnished with various fruit and roots. This road leadeth to the country of the
Vidarbhas--and that, to the country of the Kosalas. Beyond these roads to the
south is the southern country.' Addressing Bhima's daughter, O Bharata, he
distressed king Nala spake those words unto Damayanti over and over again.
Thereupon afflicted with grief, in a voice choked with tears, Damayanti spake
unto Naishadha these piteous words, 'O king, thinking of thy purpose, my heart
trembleth, and all my limbs become faint. How can I go, leaving thee in the
lone woods despoiled of thy kingdom and deprived of thy wealth, thyself without
a garment on, and worn with hunger and toil? When in the deep woods, fatigued
and afflicted with hunger, thou thinkest of thy former bliss, I will, O great
monarch, soothe thy weariness. In every sorrow there is no physic equal unto
the wife, say the physicians. It is the truth, O Nala, that I speak unto thee.'
Hearing those words of his queen, Nala replied, 'O slender-waisted Damayanti,
it is even as thou hast said. To a man in distress, there is no friend or
medicine that is equal unto a wife. But I do not seek to renounce thee,
wherefore, O timid one, dost thou dread this? O faultless one, I can forsake
myself but thee I cannot forsake.' Damayanti then said, 'If thou dost not, O
mighty king, intend to forsake me, why then dost thou point out to me the way
to the country of the Vidarbhas? I know, O king, that thou wouldst not desert
me. But, O lord of the earth, considering that thy mind is distracted, thou
mayst desert me. O best of men, thou repeatedly pointest out to me the way and
it is by this, O god-like one, that thou enhancest my grief. If it is thy
intention that I should go to my relatives, then if it pleaseth thee, both of
us will wend to the country of the Vidarbhas. O giver of honours, there the
king of the Vidarbhas will receive thee with respect. And honoured by him, O
king, thou shall live happily in our home.'"
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