Akṣa-hṛdaya

अक्ष-हृदयम्

अथ नलोपाख्याने ऋतुपर्ण-नल-संवादे साङ्ख्य-शास्त्र-सम्मत-संभाव्यता-सिद्धान्तः।

In the Nala episode — in the dialogue between Ṛtuparṇa and Nala — the doctrine of probability (saṃbhāvyatā), set forth in harmony with sāṅkhya teaching.

॥ शारदूलविक्रीडितम् ॥

Verse 1

पश्यैतं विभीतकं तरुवरं शाखा-प्रशाखा-कुलं
गण्यन्तेऽत्र न पल्लवानि सकलान्यप्रत्यक्षान्युत।
यद्वच्छास्त्र-विनिश्चितांश-कलनात् सर्वं विजानात्यसौ
तद्वज्ज्ञेय-समुच्चयेऽल्प-कणिका-ज्ञानेन सिद्धिर्भवेत् ॥ १ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Behold this great <em>vibhītaka</em> tree, a mass of branches and twigs: here one does not count every leaf, for many are beyond sight. Just as one who applies the śāstra-fixed rule for inferring parts from the whole understands everything, so in the sum of what is to be known, success comes even from grasping a small particle — do not be deluded.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 2</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">नैतद्भाग्य-वशेन केवलमहो नाकास्मिकं वर्तते<br /> व्यूहेऽस्मिन् गणितागतं हि नियमं पश्यस्व वै नैषध।<br /> एकस्मिन् निमिषे यथात्र गणिताः पर्णाः मया कोटिशः<br /> तथाऽक्ष-हृदयेऽपि संभव-कला ज्ञेया न मोहं व्रज ॥ २ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>This does not run on fortune alone, nor is it sheer chance; O Naiṣadha, see the law inherent in this array. As in one blink I count leaves here in crores, so too the art of possible outcomes in the heart of dice must be understood — do not wander in confusion.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 3</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">काकतालीय-न्यायेन यद्भवति तन्मिथ्या-प्रतीतिर्ध्रुवम्<br /> यादृच्छिक-भ्रमतः पृथक् कुरु सदा संवित्ति-शुद्धां मतिम्।<br /> बहूनां हि फलानां मेलन-वशाद् यन्मध्यमं लभ्यते<br /> तदेव हि सत्यं विद्धि नलं भो मा भ्रान्त्य-कूपे पत ॥ ३ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>What arises by the <em>kākatālīya</em> maxim is surely false appearance; ever apart from random drift, keep perception clear. What mean arises from combining many outcomes — that alone is truth; know it, O Nala, and do not fall into the well of error.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 4</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">यथा कृष्ण-हंसो ह्यचिन्तित-गतिः प्रलये समुत्तिष्ठते<br /> तथा भीष्म-घटना जगति सततं बुद्धेः परा वर्तते।<br /> मर्यादां प्रविभज्य कोश-निचयं दातव्य-मल्पं बुधैः<br /> यथा लभ्यते लाभ-राशि-रधिको नाशं विना सर्वथा ॥ ४ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>As the black swan rises unforeseen when delusion ends, so dread events in the world ever operate beyond (mere) wit. The wise apportion limits and stake a small share of their store, so gain may exceed the stake without ruin in every way.</p>

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<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ उपजातिः ॥

Verse 5

यथा विधात्रा विहितं विधानं
न तत्र शङ्का न च चापलं हि।
संभाव्यतायाः परमं रहस्यं
ज्ञात्वा जयस्व क्षणभङ्गुराक्षान् ॥ ५ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>As fate’s own ordinance is fixed — there is neither doubt nor fickleness. Knowing the highest secret of probability, master the dice that last but a moment.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 6</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">अनन्त-लोकेषु च ये विनीताः<br /> ते भाग्य-वन्तो न तु सत्य-वन्तः।<br /> यः काल-तत्त्वं कलयेत् सुधीमान्<br /> स एव मर्त्येषु भवेत् कुबेरः ॥ ६ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Those praised in endless worlds are lucky, not truthful. He who measures the nature of time — he alone among mortals becomes Kubera.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 7</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">यथैव केली-नियमो गरीयान्<br /> कोशस्य वृद्धौ निपुणः प्रदिष्टः।<br /> तथैव धर्मेऽपि च संपदश्च<br /> मर्याद-रक्षण-विधेः फलन्ति ॥ ७ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Just as the rule of play is taught as weighty and skilled for growing one’s purse, so in dharma and in wealth the precepts of guarding bounds bear fruit.</p>

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<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ अनुष्टुप् ॥

Verse 8

संभाव्यं द्विविधं प्रोक्तं काल-पुञ्ज-प्रभेदतः।
एकं वैयक्तिकं विद्धि सर्व-लोक-गतं परम् ॥ ८ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>The probable is taught as twofold, by distinction of heaps in time: know one as individual, the other as spread through all the world.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 9</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">यो न जानाति संभेदं स मुह्यति पदे पदे।<br /> ऋतं चानृत-मिश्रं हि जगदेतच्चराचरम् ॥ ९ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Whoever fails to know this distinction stumbles at every step; for this world, moving and still, mingles truth and untruth.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 10</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">त्वं विभीतक-पर्णानां गणनां पश्य तत्त्वतः।<br /> ततः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि कृष्ण-हंस-विनाशनम् ॥ १० ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>See the counting of <em>vibhītaka</em> leaves as it truly is; then I shall speak of the fall of the black swan (the illusion of the unseen).</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 11</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">अक्ष-हृदय-विज्ञानं गणितं परमं स्मृतम्।<br /> यत्र मोहः क्षयं याति सिद्धिर्भवति शाश्वती ॥ ११ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Knowledge of the heart of dice is reckoned the highest reckoning; where delusion wanes, success endures.</p>

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<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ शारदूलविक्रीडितम् ॥

Verse 12

यः पश्यत्यपवर्ग-मान-कलनं लाभे च हानेः समं
यश्चाकस्मिक-दुर्विपाक-समये धीरो न कम्पेत वै।
तस्यैव हि संविदो विजयिनी सिद्धा सदा वर्तते
तस्मै गणितात्मने नृपतये तुभ्यं ददाम्येतद ॥ १२ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>He who treats measured exit from play as equal in gain and loss, and in sudden ill outcome stands firm — for him alone winning awareness ever holds; to you, king of mathematical soul, I give this.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 13</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">साङ्ख्य-प्रसार-विधिना कुरु पङ्क्ति-भेदं<br /> यथा पिङ्गल-सूत्रितेन विहितं छन्दो-विचित्त्यां पुरा।<br /> शून्यं चैव तथा स्वरूप-कथनं द्वैतं च संमिश्रितं<br /> तथा विश्वमिदं विभाति सकलं संभाव्यता-मण्डले ॥ १३ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>By sāṅkhya’s expansion, divide into rows as Piṅgala once fixed for metre — void, twofold nature, duality mixed: so the whole world appears in the round of probability.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 14</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">ब्रह्माण्डेषु सहस्रशः प्रतिपदं दन्त-चिकित्सकः<br /> यो लक्षाधिपतिः क्वचित् क्वचन वा भिक्षुः पथि दृश्यते।<br /> तस्यैतज्जननं न कर्म-कुशलं नैवापि वीर्यं खलु<br /> केवल-यादृच्छिक-प्रवहणे कश्चित् समुत्तीर्यते ॥ १४ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Across myriad worlds, now a dentist is seen as lord of lakhs, now a beggar on the road — birth is not from deed-skill nor mere prowess; one is lifted only in the stream of chance.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 15</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">अतः सर्वस्व-होमं न कुरु नृपते दाव-वह्नौ कदा<br /> केली-नियम-स्थितो भव सदा कोशांश-रक्षणे।<br /> विभीतक-तरुः साक्षो गणित-पथ-प्रदर्शकः<br /> अक्ष-हृदय-प्रदानेन कलि-बाधां व्यपोहय ॥ १५ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>So never burn your all, O king, in ruin’s fire; stay within play’s rule, guarding a share of wealth. The <em>vibhītaka</em> is witness, pointing the path of reckoning; by this heart-of-dice teaching, cast off Kali’s trouble.</p>

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<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ अनुष्टुप् ॥

Verse 16

शून्ये शून्यता-विलीनं स्यात् सत्ये सत्यं प्रतिष्ठितम्।
संभाव्यता-प्रवाहेऽस्मिन् ज्ञानं नौका-समं स्मृतम् ॥ १६ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>In the void, things dissolve into voidness; in the real, truth stands firm. In this stream of probability, knowledge is likened to a boat.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 17</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">न लोके कश्चिदन्योऽस्ति यो जानाति भविष्यति।<br /> केवल-प्रज्ञा-बलेन तु परिधिं निश्चिनोति वै ॥ १७ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>No one knows the future as such; yet by intelligence alone one draws the boundary (of what can be said).</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 18</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">इति ते कथितं गुह्यं गणितं परमं पदम्।<br /> विभीतक-तरुं पश्य गणना-कौशलं कुरु ॥ १८ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Thus the hidden summit of reckoning is told. Gaze at the <em>vibhītaka</em> tree; train skill in counting.</p>

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<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ शारदूलविक्रीडितम् ॥

Verse 19

प्रत्यूषे सविता यथा विजयते तिमिरं निरस्यन्नलं
तथा ज्ञान-गभस्तिभिः कुरु रदं मोहस्य नाशं नृप।
अक्ष-क्रीडा-कलेय-मस्त-समये तर्केण शुद्धा सती
तव राज्यं तव कीर्ति-मव्यय-पदां दास्यत्यसंशयं खलु ॥ १९ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>As dawn’s sun scatters night, O Nala, so with knowledge’s rays shatter delusion, O king. When dice and the mingled cup run high, clear reason will — without doubt — yield realm and fame that does not fade.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 20</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">यावत् पर्ण-समूह-जाल-कलना शास्त्रागता दृश्यते<br /> तावद् विश्व-विभूति-तुलन-विधिः प्रज्ञा-वतां गोचरः।<br /> नलोऽपि ह्यभिवाद्य तं नृपवरं संप्राप्य विद्यां पराम्<br /> तत्याज कलि-संभवं भ्रम-महो जातो गणित-कोविदः ॥ २० ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>While the śāstra-taught mesh of counting leaf-masses is seen, so long the wise may compare worldly fortune. Nala too, bowing to that best of kings, gained supreme learning, shed Kali-born delusion, and became adept in reckoning.</p>

    </div>
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<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ अनुष्टुप् ॥

Verse 21

शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि काल-भेद-निदर्शनम्।
यत्र मुह्यन्ति विद्वांसो गणितागम-पारगाः ॥ २१ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Hear, king: I give an example of how time’s repetition divides cases — where even experts in reckoning lose their way.</p>

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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 22</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">शतेषु द्यूत-कारेषु यदि कश्चिद्विनाशवान्।<br /> षण्णवत्यास्तु साफल्यं समूहे तत्र दृश्यते ॥ २२ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Among a hundred separate casts (each player once), ninety-six successes appear in that whole cohort — the ensemble looks favorable even when individuals lose.</p>

    </div>
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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 23</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">परन्तु एक एवात्र शत-वारं क्षिपेद्यदि।<br /> तस्य नाशः सुनिश्चितो काल-चक्र-प्रवर्तनात् ॥ २३ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>But if one man here casts a hundred times, his ruin is sure — from time’s wheel turning.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 24</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">समूह-गणितं भिन्नं काल-प्रवाह-संख्यया।<br /> एतद्विज्ञान-हीनो यः स वै द्यूते प्रणश्यति ॥ २४ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Ensemble reckoning differs from reckoning by the count of trials in time’s flow; whoever lacks this knowledge perishes at dice.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 25</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">सत्त्वानामपि सर्वेषां भवितव्यं विचिन्त्य च।<br /> अक्ष-हृदय-तत्त्वज्ञो न कदाचिद् विपद्यते ॥ २५ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Reflecting on what must be for all beings, one who knows the heart of dice never comes to grief.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ उपजातिः ॥

Verse 26

कोशस्य वृद्धिं यदि वाञ्छसे त्वं
मा सर्व-स्वं दाव-पदे निधेहि।
यथाऽनुपातेन विवर्धते श्रीः
तथैव खेदः क्षय-काल-जातः ॥ २६ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>If you want your purse to grow, do not stake everything on ruin’s ground; as splendor swells by proportion, so sorrow swells from the season of loss.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
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<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 27</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">लाभांश-मानं प्रविभज्य धीरः<br /> स्व-मूल-धनेन समं प्रकुर्यात्।<br /> यथा लघुर्घात-पथेन संख्या<br /> वर्धेत तद्वत् कुरु भाग-धेयम् ॥ २७ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Split the gain-fraction, steady soul, and match stake to principal; as numbers grow by least steps, so apportion your shares.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 28</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">विनाश-बिन्दुं परिहृत्य नित्यं<br /> जीवेद् यदा तर्हि फलं प्रलप्स्ये।<br /> तस्माद् विरक्षेदति-सावधानः<br /> स्व-मूल-कोशं व्यसनैर्विहीनः ॥ २८ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Ever shy of the ruin-point, while you live you will harvest fruit; so the vigilant guard core wealth, free of calamity.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 29</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">स्व-चर्म-दानेन विना हि यस्तु<br /> उपदेशं ददाति प्रगल्भ-वाचा।<br /> तस्योपदेशो न हि सत्य-मूलः<br /> इति प्रविद्धि गणितस्य नीतिम् ॥ २९ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Who teaches without staking his own hide — his counsel is not truth-rooted; know this as reckoning’s ethic.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 30</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">यो द्यूत-कारो न ददाति दावं<br /> स्व-रक्त-मांसेन न तं शृणु त्वम्।<br /> कदापि न स्यात् फल-भागिताऽस्य<br /> विना विपत्त्या निज-प्राण-संस्थे ॥ ३० ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Who plays house yet pays no forfeit of flesh and blood — heed him not; without disaster touching his own life-stake, he never truly shares the fruit.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ वसन्ततिलका ॥

Verse 31

यादृच्छिके सु-वितते खलु विश्व-रङ्गे
कश्चिज्जनो विभव-शिखरं प्रयाति।
सामर्थ्य-हीन-मतिरपि च भाग्य-योगात्
तं प्राज्ञ-वर्ग-सहितं मनुते जनौघः ॥ ३१ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>On chance’s open stage, someone reaches fortune’s peak; though weak in judgment, the crowd, by luck’s bond, counts him among the wise.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 32</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">एतद्धि मौढ्यमखिलं मनुज-प्रकृत्याः<br /> यत् साफल्यं स्व-कृत-कर्म-फलं ब्रवीति।<br /> हानेस्तु दोष-मखिलं विधि-शासनाय<br /> दत्त्वा स्वयं निरपराध-पदे स्थितः स्यात् ॥ ३२ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>This is human nature’s folly — calling success the fruit of one’s own act, while charging every loss to fate, and standing blameless oneself.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 33</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">यत् कृष्ण-हंस-पतनं न हि पूर्व-दृष्टं<br /> तस्मिन्न् अतीव-विपुलो हि विनाश-योगः।<br /> तस्मात् प्रमाण-पथ-वर्जित-दृश्य-जाते<br /> मा संकुरुष्व गणितं गत-काल-मानैः ॥ ३३ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Where the black swan’s fall was never seen before, ruin’s odds are vast; so do not reckon by past clocks on sights that leave evidence’s road.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 34</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">मात्रा-वितान-कलनं यदि दीर्घ-पुच्छे<br /> तत्रापि शून्य-निपतस्तु सदा प्रसुप्तः।<br /> यो जाग्रति स्व-धन-रक्षण-बुद्धि-युक्तः<br /> स एव पार-मुपयाति भवाम्बु-राशेः ॥ ३४ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Even in long-tail spread, the null fall ever sleeps; whoever wakes guarding wealth — he alone reaches the far shore of becoming’s sea.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 35</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">ज्ञात्वैवमक्ष-हृदयं नल वीत-शोकः<br /> गच्छस्व राज्य-विभवं पुनरेव भोक्तुम्।<br /> नैवास्ति तत्र कलिरुग्र-विनाश-कारी<br /> यत्रास्ति साङ्ख्य-नियमेन जिता च बुद्धिः ॥ ३५ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Knowing thus the heart of dice, O Nala, quit sorrow; return to enjoy your realm. Fierce ruinous Kali is not there where intellect bows to sāṅkhya’s rule.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ अनुष्टुप् ॥

Verse 36

एवमुक्त्वा ऋतुपर्णो नलं सत्य-पराक्रमम्।
ददौ विद्यां तदा तस्मै अक्ष-हृदय-संज्ञिताम् ॥ ३६ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>So spoke Ṛtuparṇa and gave Nala, true in valor, the science named heart of dice.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 37</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">तामवाप्य नलो राजा कलि-दोष-विवर्जितः।<br /> गणितस्य प्रतापेन द्यूत-मोहं व्यपोहत ॥ ३७ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Receiving it, King Nala, freed of Kali’s taint, by reckoning’s power cast off dice-delusion.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 38</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">ज्ञानमेव परं चक्षुर्ज्ञानमेव परं बलम्।<br /> संभाव्यता-परिज्ञानात् सर्वं करतली-कृतम् ॥ ३८ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Knowledge is the highest eye, knowledge the highest strength; by full grasp of probability, all is held in the palm.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 39</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं संवादं नल-भूपयोः।<br /> गणित-तत्त्व-संयुक्तं स जयेत् सर्व-संकटान् ॥ ३९ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Whoever hears daily this dialogue of the two kings, rich in mathematical truth — overcomes every strait.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 40</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">इति साङ्ख्य-रहस्यं ते कथितं पार्थिवोत्तम।<br /> अक्ष-विद्यां समाश्रित्य जहि शत्रून् स्व-कर्मणा ॥ ४० ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Thus, best of kings, I have told sāṅkhya’s secret; by dice-science strike foes through your own deed.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ शार्दूलविक्रीडितम् ॥

Verse 41

सन्देहो यदशेष-वस्तु-निचयैः संजायते मानसे
तस्यैवापि हि मापनं गणित-गैः संचिन्त्यते सर्वदा।
यावत् सत्य-मिदं भवेत् तदधिकं शून्यत्व-माया-वृतं
सूचना-प्रभवं हि तत्त्व-मखिलं ज्ञानस्य बीजं स्मृतम् ॥ ४१ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>When doubt rises in mind from endless things, reckoning minds still measure it. Truth has its bound; beyond lies void veiled as illusion — all indicated being is knowledge’s seed.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 42</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">द्वैतस्यैव विकल्प-जाल-रचना यैः पिङ्गलैर्दर्शिता<br /> सैवाद्य प्रकृतौ समस्त-कलन-प्राण-स्वरूपा स्थिता।<br /> एकं चैव च शून्य-मक्षर-युगं सर्वस्व-निर्माण-कृत्<br /> तस्माद् द्यूत-विधिक्रमोऽपि तदन्तर्गतः संस्थितः ॥ ४२ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>The dual alternative-web the Pingalas showed — that same form is nature’s breath in all calculus; one, void, and the letter-pair build the whole; so gaming’s order dwells within it too.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>

॥ अनुष्टुप् ॥

Verse 43

यादृच्छिक-प्रवाहेऽस्मिन् नियमोऽस्ति सुनिश्चितः।
अदृश्योऽपि स विदुषां प्रत्यक्षी-भवति क्षणात् ॥ ४३ ॥

      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>In this random stream a firm law runs; though unseen, to the learned it flashes clear in an instant.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 44</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">तस्माद् राजन् समुत्तिष्ठ त्यज शोकं निरर्थकम्।<br /> विद्ययाऽनया सु-सम्पन्नः कुरु राज्यं अकण्टकम् ॥ ४४ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Therefore rise, king; drop vain grief; armed with this learning, rule without thorn.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 45</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">पुष्करं जहि सङ्ग्रामे द्यूत-क्रीडा-विशारदम्।<br /> न हि तस्य बलं किञ्चित् संभाव्यता-विदोऽग्रतः ॥ ४५ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Strike Puṣkara in war, skilled at dice; before one who knows probability his strength is nothing.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 46</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">अक्ष-सूत्र-मिदं यस्तु धारयत्यन्तरात्मना।<br /> न तं कलिः प्रबाधेत न च द्यूत-पराजयः ॥ ४६ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Who holds this dice-thread inwardly — neither Kali harms him nor gambling’s defeat.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 47</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">एतद्विज्ञान-सर्वस्वं मया ते परिकीर्तितम्।<br /> मननेन निदिध्यासात् साक्षात्-कुरु नराधिप ॥ ४७ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>This whole essence I have sung; by thought and steady meditation realize it, lord of men.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 48</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">विभीतक-तरोर्मूले यद् ज्ञानं समुपागतम्।<br /> तदेव तव जीवस्य मूलाधारं भविष्यति ॥ ४८ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>The knowledge won beneath the <em>vibhītaka</em> — that will be your life’s foundation.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 49</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">नमो गणिताय तस्मै यत्र विश्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।<br /> नमः प्रज्ञा-स्वरूपाय संभाव्यता-विदे नमः ॥ ४९ ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Homage to reckoning wherein the world rests; homage to wisdom’s form, to knowing probability.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="verse-card">
  <h3 class="verse-number">Verse 50</h3>
  <div class="sanskrit-text">इति ते कथितं सर्वं रहस्यं परमं मया।<br /> कुरुष्व यन्मनो-भीष्टं अक्ष-विद्या-बलाश्रितः ॥ ५० ॥</div>
  <div class="translation-block">
    <div class="prose-text" markdown="1">
      <p class="translation-label"><strong>Translation:</strong></p>
      <p>Thus the highest secret is told; do as your heart wills, upheld by dice-science’s strength.</p>

    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<hr class="section-rule" />

</section>