Damayanti when deserting — royal Nala fled, ere long Blazing in the forest jungle — he a mighty fire beheld; Thence as of a living being — from the midst a voice he heard: “Hasten, Nala!” oft and loudly — “Punyasloka, haste,” it cried.
“Fear thou not,” king Nala answered — plunging in the ruddy flame; There he saw the king of serpents — lying, coiled into a ring. There with folded hands the serpent — trembling, thus to Nala spake: “Me, Karkotaka, the Serpent — know, thou sovereign of men;
Narada, the famous hermit— I deceived, the holy sage; He in righteous indignation — smote me with this awful curse: Stay thou there as one unmoving — till king Nala passing by, Lead thee hence; save only Nala — none can free thee from this curse.
Through this potent execration — I no step have power to move; I the way to bliss will show thee — if thou sav'st me from this fate. I will show thee noble friendship — serpent none is like to me; Lightly shall I weigh, uplift me — in thy hand, with speed, O king.”
Thus when spake the king of serpents — to a finger's size he shrank; Him when Nala lightly lifted — to the unburning space he passed. To the air all cool and temperate — brought him, by the flame unreached. As he fain on th’ earth would place him — thus Karkotaka began.
“Move thou now, O king, and slowly — as thou movest, count thy steps. Then the best of all good fortune — will I give thee, mighty armed!” Ere the tenth step he had counted— him the sudden serpent bit: As he bit him, on the instant — all his kingly form was changed.
There he stood, and gazed in wonder — Nala, on his altered form. In his proper shape the serpent — saw the sovereign of men. Then Karkotaka the serpent — thus to Nala comfort spake: “Through my power thy form is altered — lest thou should'st be known of men.
He through whom thou'rt thus afflicted — Nala, with intensest grief, Through my poison, shall in anguish — ever dwell within thy soul. All his body steeped in poison — till he free thee from thy woe, Shall he dwell within thee prison'd — in the ecstacy of pain.
So from him, by whom, thou blameless!— sufferest such unworthy wrong, By the curse I lay upon him — my deliverance shall be wrought. Fear not thou the tusked wild boar — foeman fear not thou, O king, Neither Brahmin fear, nor Sages— safe through my prevailing power.
King, this salutary poison — gives to thee nor grief nor pain; In the battle, chief of Rajas — victory is ever thine. Go thou forth, thyself thus naming — Vahuca, the charioteer, To the royal Rituparna — in the dice all-skilful he;
To Ayodhya's pleasant city — sovereign of Nishadha! go; He his skill in dice will give thee — for thy skill in taming steeds: Of Ikshwàku's noble lineage — he will be thy best of friends. Thou the skill in dice possessing — soon wilt rise again to bliss;
With thy consort reunited — yield not up thy soul to grief. Thou thy kingdom, thou thy children — wilt regain, the truth I speak. When again thou would'st behold thee — in thy proper form, O king, Summon me to thy remembrance — and this garment put thou on:
In this garment clad resum'st thou — instantly thy proper form.” Saying thus, of vests celestial — gave he to the king a pair. And king Nala, thus instructed — gifted with these magic robes, Instantly the king of serpents — vanished from his sight away.
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