वार्ष्णेयं तु ततो भैमी सान्त्वयञ् श्लक्ष्णया गिरा ॥
उवाच देशकालज्ञा प्राप्तकालम् अनिन्दिता ॥
जानीषे त्वं यथा राजा सम्यग्वृत्तः सदा त्वयि ॥
तस्य त्वं विषमस्थस्य साहाय्यं कर्तुम् अर्हसि ॥
यथा यथा हि नृपतिः पुष्करेणेह जीयते ॥
तथा तथास्य द्यूते वै रागो भूयो ऽभिवर्धते ॥
यथा च पुष्करस्याक्षा वर्तन्ते वशवर्तिनः ॥
तथा विपर्ययश् चापि नलस्याक्षेषु दृश्यते ॥
सुहृत्स्वजनवाक्यानि यथावन् न शृणोति च ॥
नूनं मन्ये न शेषो ऽस्ति नैषधस्य महात्मनः ॥
यत्र मे वचनं राजा नाभिनन्दति मोहितः ॥
शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नास्मि सारथे कुरु मद्वचः ॥
न हि मे शुध्यते भावः कदा चिद् विनशेद् इति ॥
नलस्य दयितान् अश्वान् योजयित्वा महाजवान् ॥
इदम् आरोप्य मिथुनं कुण्डिनं यातुम् अर्हसि ॥
मम ज्ञातिषु निक्षिप्य दारकौ स्यन्दनं तथा ॥
अश्वांश् चैतान् यथाकामं वस वान्यत्र गच्छ वा ॥
vārṣṇeyaṃ tu tato bhaimī sāntvayañ ślakṣṇayā girā ||
uvāca deśakālajñā prāptakālam aninditā ||
jānīṣe tvaṃ yathā rājā samyagvṛttaḥ sadā tvayi ||
tasya tvaṃ viṣamasthasya sāhāyyaṃ kartum arhasi ||
yathā yathā hi nṛpatiḥ puṣkareṇeha jīyate ||
tathā tathāsya dyūte vai rāgo bhūyo 'bhivardhate ||
yathā ca puṣkarasyākṣā vartante vaśavartinaḥ ||
tathā viparyayaś cāpi nalasyākṣeṣu dṛśyate ||
suhṛtsvajanavākyāni yathāvan na śṛṇoti ca ||
nūnaṃ manye na śeṣo 'sti naiṣadhasya mahātmanaḥ ||
yatra me vacanaṃ rājā nābhinandati mohitaḥ ||
śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ prapannāsmi sārathe kuru madvacaḥ ||
na hi me śudhyate bhāvaḥ kadā cid vinaśed iti ||
nalasya dayitān aśvān yojayitvā mahājavān ||
idam āropya mithunaṃ kuṇḍinaṃ yātum arhasi ||
mama jñātiṣu nikṣipya dārakau syandanaṃ tathā ||
aśvāṃś caitān yathākāmaṃ vasa vānyatra gaccha vā ||
When Brihatsena had brought Varshneya with trustworthy men, the daughter of Bhima spoke to him gently, knowing the right time and place: "You know how the king has always dealt rightly with you. Now that he is in distress, you must help him. The more the king loses to Pushkara, the more his attachment to the game grows. The dice obey Pushkara, while in Nala's hands they show the opposite turn. He no longer heeds the words of friends and kin; I think that nothing is left now of the great-souled lord of Nishadha. Even my own word, the king, in his bewilderment, will not accept. I take refuge in you, charioteer: do as I ask. My heart is not at peace, fearing that he may perish. Harness Nala's beloved swift horses, set this pair of children upon the chariot, and go to Kundina. Leave the children with my kinsfolk, and the chariot and horses as well; then stay there as you wish, or go wherever you please."
9d10f5380d35 · published Jul 16, 2026, 4:54:08 PM UTC
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In disaster, Damayanti's first thought is to save the children. Her love for Nala does not blind her: she understands that the innocent must be carried beyond the reach of the approaching ruin.