Brihadashva said: -
1. After the daughter of Bhima had accepted the king of the Nishadhas as her husband, the protectors of the worlds, of great energy, met, when they were returning, Dvapara accompanied by Kali, approaching towards them.
2. Shakra, the slayer of Vala and Vritra, beholding Kali, said to him, ‘O Kali, tell me, whither are you going with Dvapara as your companion?’
3. Thereupon Kali replying to Shakra’s words said, ‘Hearing the Svayamvara of Damayanti, I am going there. I shall take her to be my wife; for my heart has been captivated by her?’
4. Indra smilingly said to him, “That Svayamvara is now over; king Nala has been accepted by her as her husband even in our presence.”
5. Thus spoken to by Shakra, Kali, the viler among the celestials, waxing worth, said to them (celestials) all, the following words: -
6. “In as much as neglecting the divinities she has accepted a man for her husband, it is but equitable that she shall suffer severe punishment?”
7. When Kali had spoken in the above manner, the celestials replied, ‘With our permission, Nala has been chosen by Damayanti.
8-10. Also what maiden would not accept Nala as her lord, who is endued with all (excellent) qualities, who is acquainted with all systems of religion, who is a strict observer of vows, who has studied the four Vedas as also the Puranas that are styled the fifth; in whose house the deities are always satisfied by sacrifices performed in accordance with the rules prescribed for their observance; who never does any harm to any one, who is truthful and of unshaken vows; in whom truthfulness, forgiveness, knowledge, rigid austerities, purity, self-control and quiescence are ever present; who is the foremost of kings, like the guardians of the worlds.
11. O Kali, that foolish creature, that desires to imprecate Nala of this description, does surely curse his own self and does kill himself by his own agency.
12. O Kali, he that wishes to pronounce malediction on Nala of such qualities, sinks into the vast, unfathomable, lake of hell replete with various torments. ‘Thus speaking to Kali and Dvapara the celestials repaired to heaven.
13-14. After the celestials had disappeared, Kali said to Dvapara, ‘O Dvapara, I cannot restrain my wrath, I will enter into the Nala and disposes him of his kingdom. He shall not any longer hold any dalliance with the daughter of Bhima. Placing yourself at the dice, you ought to help me.
Thus ends fifty-eighth chapter, the colloquy between Kali and the celestials, in the Nalopakhyana of the Vana Parva.