Kali Expelled from Nala's Body
Nala has just learned the secret of dice from King Rituparna. The knowledge breaks the demon Kali's hold over him — and Kali emerges from Nala's body, vomiting the serpent venom that had tormented him for years. Nala, furious, prepares to curse the demon who ruined his life.
When Nala learned the knowledge of the dice, something inside him broke open.
Kali emerged from his body — vomiting continuously from his mouth the virulent venom of Karkotaka, the serpent king who had bitten Nala years ago and transformed him into a misshapen charioteer. Along with the poison came the fire of Kali's curse itself: the long oppression that had made the king thin, that had stolen his control over his own self, that had driven him to abandon his wife in the forest. All of it issued out.
Kali's self was freed from the poison. He assumed his own form.
Nala, lord of the Nishadhas, was angry. He wished to curse him.
Kali was frightened. He trembled. He joined his hands in salutation.
"O king! Control your anger. I will give you supreme fame. In anger, Indrasena's mother had cursed me earlier, when you had abandoned her — and I have been sorely oppressed since then. O Indra among kings! O invincible one! I have lived inside you in great misery. I have burnt day and night from the venom of the king of the serpents. If anyone from the world of men recounts your deeds incessantly, he shall have no reason to be scared of danger from me."
On hearing these words, King Nala controlled the wrath in his soul.
The frightened Kali quickly entered the vibhitaka tree — the same tree whose fruits Rituparna had counted. When Kali had been conversing with Nala, he had been invisible to others.
King Nishadha, the destroyer of enemy warriors, was cured of his fever. Kali had been destroyed. The king had counted the number of fruit. He was extremely delighted and was again endowed with his earlier radiance.
Then the energetic one ascended the chariot and drove the swift steeds. Having been possessed by Kali, the vibhitaka has come to acquire a bad reputation. Nala's heart was delighted. He repeatedly urged those supreme horses and they travelled like birds. The great-minded king proceeded in the direction of Vidarbha.
When Nala had gone a long distance, Kali also returned home.
King Nala was freed from his fever. But though he was free of Kali, he was still separated from his old form. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 367