स निकृत्याजतो राजा पुष्करेणेति नः श्रुतम्। वनवासं सुदुःखार्तो भार्यया न्यवसत्सह
That king, as we have heard, was defeated by deceit by Pushkara, and, greatly afflicted, dwelt in the forest with his wife.
न तस्य दासा न रथो न भ्राता न च भान्धवाः। वने निवसतो राजन्नश्रूयन्त कदाचन
While he lived in the forest, O king, there were no servants, no chariot, no brother, nor any relatives ever heard of with him.
भवान्हि संवृतो वीरैर्भ्रातृभिर्देवसंमितैः। ब्रह्मकल्पैर्द्विजाग्र्यैश्च तस्मान्नार्हसि शोचितुम्
But you are surrounded by heroic brothers equal to the gods, and foremost Brahmins like those of old; therefore, you should not grieve.
विस्तरेणाहमिच्छामि नलस्य सुमहात्मनः। चरितं वदतांश्रेष्ठ तन्ममाख्यातुमर्हसि
I wish to recount in detail the deeds of the great-souled Nala; O best of speakers, please relate them to me.
आसीद्राजा नलो नाम वीरसेनसुतो बली। उपपन्नो गुणैरिष्टै रूपवानश्वकोविदः
There was a king named Nala, son of Virasena, mighty and endowed with all desirable virtues, handsome, and skilled in the knowledge of horses.
यज्वा दानपतिर्दक्षः सदा शीलपुरस्कृतः'। अतिष्ठन्मनुजेन्द्राणां मूर्ध्नि देवपतिर्यथा। उपर्युपरि सर्वेषामादित्य इव तेजसा
He was a performer of sacrifices, a lord of charity, adept, always upholding good conduct; he stood foremost among kings, like the lord of the gods himself, surpassing all in brilliance like the sun.
ब्रह्मण्यो वेदविच्छ्ररो निषधेषु महीपतिः। अक्षप्रियः सत्यवादी महानक्षौहिणीपतिः
Devoted to Brahmins, learned in the Vedas, he was the ruler of the Nishadhas, fond of dice, a speaker of truth, and the lord of a great army.
ईप्सितो नरनारीणामुदारः संयतेन्द्रियः। रक्षिता धन्विनां श्रेष्ठः साक्षादिव मनुः स्वयम्
Desired by men and women, generous, with senses under control, protector and best among archers, he was like Manu himself in person.
तथैवासीद्विदर्भेषु भीमो भीमपराक्रमः। शूरः सर्वगुणैर्युक्तः प्रजाकामः स चाप्रजाः
Likewise, in Vidarbha there was Bhima, of terrible prowess, heroic, endowed with all virtues, desiring offspring, yet without children.
स प्रजार्थे परं यत्नमकरोत्सुसमाहितः। तमभ्यगच्छद्ब्रह्मर्षिर्दमनो नाम भारत
He made great and earnest efforts for the sake of progeny; to him came the Brahmarshi named Damana, O Bharata.
तं स भीमः प्रजाकामस्तोषयामास धर्मवित्। महिष्या सह राजेनद्र सत्कारेण सुवर्चसम्
That Bhima, desiring children and versed in righteousness, honored the illustrious sage together with his queen, with great respect.
तस्मै प्रसन्नो दमनः सभार्याय वरं ददौ। कन्यारत्नं कुमारांश्च त्रीनुदारान्महायशाः
Pleased with him, Damana, of great fame, granted him a boon for himself and his wife: a jewel of a daughter and three noble sons.
दमयन्तीं दमं दान्तं दमनं च सुवर्चसम्। उपपन्नान्गुणैः सर्वैर्भीमान्भीमपराक्रमान्
Damayanti, Dama, Danta, and Damana, all endowed with every virtue, were born to Bhima, who was of terrible prowess.
दमयन्ती तु रूपेण तेजसा वपुषा श्रिया। सौभाग्येन च लोकेषु यशः प्राप सुमध्यमा
Damayanti, slender-waisted, attained fame among the worlds for her beauty, radiance, form, fortune, and auspiciousness.
अथ तां वयसि प्राप्ते दासीनां समलंकृतम्। शतं सखीनां च तदा पर्युपास्ते शचीमिव ।। [शतं शतं सखीनां च पर्युपासच्छचीमिव ।।]
Then, when she came of age, she was attended by a hundred ornamented maidservants and a hundred companions, just as Sachi is attended.
तत्र स्म राजते भैमी सर्वाभरणभूषिता। सखीमध्येऽनवद्याङ्गी विद्युत्सौदामनी यथा
There, Bhima's daughter shone, adorned with all ornaments, flawless among her companions, like a lightning flash among clouds.
अतीव रूपसंपन्ना श्रीरिवायतलोचना। न देवेषु न यक्षेषु तादृग्रूपवती क्वचित्
Exceedingly endowed with beauty, with large eyes like the goddess of fortune herself, there was none among gods or yakshas who possessed such beauty.
मानुषेष्वपि चान्येषु दृष्टपूर्वाऽथवा श्रुता। चित्तप्रमाथिनी बाला देवानामपि सुन्दरी
Nor among other humans, whether seen or heard of before, was there such a maiden, enchanting the minds even of the gods with her beauty.
नलश्च नरशार्दूलो रूपेणाप्रतिमो भुवि। कंदर्प इव रूपेण मूर्तिमानभवत्स्वयम्
And Nala, tiger among men, was unrivaled on earth in beauty, appearing in form as if embodied Kama himself.
तस्याः समीपे तु नलं प्रशशंसुः कुतूहलात्। नैषधस्य समीपे तु दमयन्तीं पुनः पुनः
People praised Nala near her out of curiosity, and likewise, Damayanti near the Nishadha king, again and again.
तयोरदृष्टः कामोऽभूच्छृण्वतोः सततं गुणान्। अन्योन्यं प्रतिकौन्तेय स व्वर्धत हृच्छयः
Though they had not seen each other, love arose as they constantly heard of each other's virtues, O son of Kunti; that longing grew ever stronger in their hearts.
अशक्नवन्नलः कामं तदा धारयितुं हृदा। अन्तःपुरसमीपस्थे वन आस्ते रहोगतः
Nala could not contain his love in his heart; though he was near the women's quarters, he would go alone into the forest.
स ददर्शै ततो हंसाञ्जातरूपपरिच्दान्। वने विचरतां तेषामेकं जग्राह पक्षिणम्
Then he saw swans with radiant plumage wandering in the forest, and he caught one of those birds.
ततो।डन्तरिक्षगो वाचं व्याजहार नलं तदा। हन्तव्योस्मि न तेराजन्करिष्यामि तवप्रियम्
At that moment, the bird in his grasp spoke to Nala from the air, saying: 'I am to be killed, but I will do what pleases you.'
दमयन्तीसकाशे त्वां कथयिष्यामि नैषध। यथा त्वदन्यं पुरुषं न सा मंस्यति कर्हिचित्
I will speak of you to Damayanti, O Nala, so that she will never consider any man other than you.
तव चैव यथा भार्या भविष्यति तथाऽनघ। विधास्यामि नरव्याघ्र सोऽनुजानातु मां भवान्
And I will arrange, O blameless one, that she will become your wife; let the tiger among men permit me to go.
एवमुक्तस्ततो हंसमुत्ससर्ज महीपतिः। ते तु हंसाः समुत्पत्य विदर्भानगमंस्ततः
Thus addressed, the king released the swan; and the swans took flight and went to Vidarbha.
विदर्भनगरीं गत्वा दमयन्त्यास्तदान्तिके। निपेतुस्ते गरुत्मन्तः सा ददर्शाथ तान्खगान्
Having reached the city of Vidarbha, the swans landed near Damayanti; she saw those birds.
सा तानद्भुतरूपान्वै दृष्ट्वा सखिगणावृता। हृष्टा ग्रहीतुं खगमांस्त्वरमाणोपचक्रमे
Surrounded by her companions, she saw those birds of wondrous form, and, delighted, she hurried to catch them.
अथ हंसा विससृपुः सर्वतः प्रमदावने। एकैकशस्तदा कन्यास्तान्हंसान्समुपाद्रवन्
Then the swans scattered throughout the pleasure garden, and each maiden chased after a swan.