Nalopakhyana Parva — The departure of Brihadashva

Brihadashva said: When the great festivities began in the city which was full of joy, the king with a large army brought Damayanti (back to his capital).

Her father, that slayer of hostile heroes Bhima of great prowess and of high soul, also having honoured her duly, sent Damayanti (tc her husband's palace).

On the arrival of the Vidharbha princess accompanied by her son and daughter, king Nala passed his days in great happiness, like the chief of the celestials in the Nandana (garden). The greatly illustrious king, having regained his kingdom and becoming famous among the kings of the Jambudvipa, began once more to rule it.

He duly performed many sacrifices with large Dakshinas to the Brahmanas. O great king, you, too, with your relatives and friends, will soon perform many sacrifices.

foremost of meu, O best of the Bharata race that conqueror of the hostile cities, Nala, thus fell into great distress in consequence of his playing at dice.

O ruler of the earth, Nala alone suffered such great and terrible distress, but he regained his lost glory.

O son of Pandu, you, however, with Krishna (Draupadi) and your brothers, sport here in this great forest, with your heart fixed on virtue.

O king, what cause is there for your sorrow, when you are always mixing with the greatly exalted Brahmanas learned in the Vedas?

To recite the history of Naga Karkotaka, of Damayanti, of Nala and of the royal sage Rituparna, is destructive of evil (Kali).

O undeteriorating one, O ruler of men, this history, which is destructive of evil (Kali), is capable of comforting persons like you, when they hear it.

Considering that human exertion is always futile, you should joy or grieve at prosperity or adversity.

O great king, hearing this history, be comforted. Do not grieve. You should not be aggrieved at calamity.

Reflecting on the caprice of fate and futileness of human exertions, men of selfpossession never allow themselves to be aggrieved.

Those who recite the great history of Nala and those who often hear it are never touched by calamity.

He, who hears this excellent and old history, gets all his desires fulfilled and obtains wealth and

Sons, grandsons, animals, a high position, health and joy. There is no doubt in this.

O king, the fear, that you entertain that some one would again summon you to play, I shall dispel.

O greatly powerful hero, O son of Kunti, I am an expert in the science of dice. I am pleased with you; learn it from me, I shall tell it to you.

Vaishampayana said : Thereupon with great joy the king (Yudhishthira) thus spoke to Brihadashva, “O exalted one. I desire to learn the science of dice from you."

Thereupon he taught the science to the illustrious son of Pandu. Having taught it, the great ascetic went to Asvasira to bathe.

When Brihadashva had gone away, he (Yudhishthira) heard that the son of Pritha Savyasachi (Arjuna) was engaged in severe asceticism, living on air. He heard this from the greatly intelligent Brahmanas and ascetics who came to him from various directions and from places of pilgrimage, from mountains and forests. He heard that the mighty Partha (Arjuna) was engaged in such fearful asceticism that none else, before him, had done it.

He heard that Dhananjaya Partha (Arjuna) engaged in asceticism, observing vows of silence and deep in meditation, appeared like the blazing deity, Dharma.

O king, having heard that his beloved brother, the son of Kunti, Yaja (Arjuna) was thus undergoing asceticism in the great forest Yudhishthira began to grieve.

Thus burning in grief, Yudhishthira sought consolation in the great forest and talked with the Brahmanas learned in all Shastras.