MATH or MAGIC!

Mahabharata: Vana Parva: Chapter 72

Vrihadasva said: "Like a bird coursing through the sky, Nala soon crossed rivers and mountains, and woods and lakes." While the car was coursing at speed, king Rituparna saw his upper garment fly off and drop down to the ground. Immediately he told Nala: "I intend to recover it. O highly intelligent one, retain these speedy steeds until Varshneya brings back my garment."

(Nala's reply gave the king an idea of the great speed they were travelling at:) "The sheet was dropped down far away. We have travelled one yojana thence. It is futile to recover it."

(King Rituparna had never before seen his royal steeds flying at such speed and agility, and greatly admired Nala's skill in handling them). The king then saw a Vibhitaka tree laden with fruits in a forest (and decided to impress Nala with his own prowess in mathematics). He did a quick mental calculation sizing up the leaves and fruits on the tree as well as those lying on the ground, and also the difference between the two figures, and casually announced the results to Nala: "O Vahuka, this tree's leaves and fruits that are lying on the ground exceed those that are on it by one hundred and one. The two branches of the tree have fifty millions of leaves, and two thousand and ninety-five fruits."

(Stunned by this revelation), Vahuka immediately halted the chariot and replied that it is beyond his perception to ascertain the correctness of the king's calculations: "But I will ascertain it by the direct evidence of my senses, by cutting down the Vibhitaka...and actually counting; then it will no longer be a matter of speculation. In thy presence, O Raja, I will count the fruits and leaves. Let Varshneya hold the reins of the horses for a while."

King Rituparna said: "There is no time to lose." But Vahuka answered with humility: "Stay thou a short while, or, if thou art in a hurry, go ahead, making Varshneya thy charioteer. The road ahead lies direct and even."

(Seeing Nala's quiet determination), King Rituparna relented: "O Vahuka, thou art the only charioteer, there is none other comparable in this world. And, O thou versed in horse lore, it is through thy help that I expect to go to the Vidarbhas today...whatever thy wish, I will grant it if you take me to the country of the Vidarbhas today, and make me see the sun rise there."

Vahuka answered: "After having counted, I shall proceed to Vidarbha. Do thou agree to my words?" The king reluctantly told him: "Count. Upon counting the leaves and fruits of a portion of this branch, thou wilt be satisfied of the truth of my assertion."

Vahuka quickly alighted from the car, and felled that tree. He was struck with wonder upon counting the fruits and finding the results to be exactly what the king had forecast. "O monarch, this thy power is wonderful. I desire to know the art by which thou has ascertained all this."

The king said: "Know that I am proficient at dice besides being well-versed in numbers." Vahuka implored unto him: "Impart unto me this knowledge and, O bull among men, take from me my knowledge of horses." King Rituparna, intent upon proceeding speedily, and tempted by the equine science, said: "So be it. As solicited by thee, receive this science of dice from me, and, O Vahuka, let my equine science remain with thee in trust."

Thus king Rituparna imparted unto Nala the mathematical science of dice and numbers. As soon as Nala become acquainted with that science, Kali, long afflicted (by Damayanti's curse and Karkotaka's poison) immediately came out of his body, incessantly vomitting out the virulent poison of Karkotaka. The fire of the curse too left Kali.

(Seeing Kali) King Nala became furious and was bent upon cursing him for all the suffering he had endured. Frightened and trembling, Kali said with palms joined in supplication to Nala while remaining invisible to others: "Control thy wrath, O king! I will render thee illustrious. Indrasena's mother had formerly cursed me in anger when she had been deserted by thee. Ever since that time, undergoing sore affliction, I have been miserably burning night and day with the venom of the prince of snakes while residing within thee. O mighty monarch, O unconquered one, I seek thy protection. If thou dost not curse me who am frightened and seek thy protection, then those men who will attentively recite thy history, shall be even free from fear on my account."

Thus addressed by Kali, king Nala controlled his wrath. The frightened Kali immediately entered into the Vibhitaka tree. By the touch of Kali, the Vibhitaka tree fell into disrepute from that time.

Freed from his afflictions, king Nala, filled with great joy and exuberance, mounted the chariot and proceeded energetically, urging the fleet horses forward in the direction of the Vidharbhas. Those foremost of steeds sprang into the air once again as if endowed with wings. After Nala had gone far away, Kali also returned to his own abode.

Thus freed from Kali's association, that lord of the Earth, king Nala, became freed from calamity although he did not yet assume his previous regal form.