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.
दमयन्ती तु यं हंसं समुपाधावदन्तिके। स मानुषीं गिरं कृत्वा दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत्
Damayanti approached the swan that was nearest, and it spoke to her in human speech.
दमयन्ति नलो नाम निषधेषु महीपतिः। अश्विनोः सदृशो रूपे न समास्तस्य मानुषाः
Damayanti, there is a king named Nala among the Nishadhas; in beauty he is like the Ashvins, and no man equals him.
[कन्दर्प इव रूपेण मूर्तिमानभवत्स्वयम्।] तस्य वै यदिभार्या त्वं भवेथा वरवर्णिनि। सफलंते भवेज्जन्म रूपं चेदं सुमध्यमे
Like Kama himself, he is beauty embodied; if you, O fair-complexioned one, become his wife, your birth and your lovely form, O slender-waisted, will be fulfilled.
वयं हि देवगन्धर्वमनुष्योरगराक्षसान्। दृष्टवन्तो न चास्माभिर्दृष्टपूर्वस्तथाविधः
We have seen gods, gandharvas, humans, serpents, and rakshasas, but never before have we seen one such as him.
त्वं चापि रत्नं नारीणां नरेषु च नलो वरः। विशिष्टाया विशिष्टेन संगमो गुणवान्भवेत्
You are the jewel among women, and Nala is the best among men; the union of the distinguished with the distinguished would be virtuous.
एवमुक्ता तु हंसेन दमयन्ती विशांपते। अब्रवीत्तत्र तं हंसं त्वमप्येवं नलं वद
Thus addressed by the swan, Damayanti said to it: 'You must speak of me to Nala in the same way.'
तथेत्युक्त्वाऽण्डजः कन्यां विदर्भस्य विशांपते। पुनरागम्य निषधान्नले सर्वं न्यवेदयत्
The bird replied, 'So be it,' and, returning from Vidarbha, reported everything to Nala, king of the Nishadhas.
दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वचो हंसस्य भारत। तदा प्रभृति न स्वस्था नलं प्रति बभूव सा
Damayanti, hearing the words of the swan, from that moment was no longer at ease regarding Nala.
ततश्चिन्तापरा दीना विवर्णवदना कृशा। बभूवदमयन्ती तु निःश्वासपरमा तदा
Then Damayanti became absorbed in thought, distressed, pale-faced, and thin, sighing deeply.
ऊर्ध्वदृष्टिर्ध्यानपरा बभूवोन्मत्तदर्शना। पाण्डुवर्णा क्षणेनाथ हृच्छयाविष्टचेतना
Her gaze was upward, absorbed in meditation, appearing distracted; her complexion became pale in an instant, her mind seized by love.
न शय्यासनभोगेषु रतिं विन्दति कर्हिचित्। न नक्तं न दिवा शेते हाहेति रुदती मुहुः
She never finds pleasure in lying down, sitting, or enjoying comforts; neither at night nor during the day does she sleep, but cries out 'Alas!' again and again.
तामस्वस्थां तदाकारां सख्यस्ता जज्ञिरिङ्गितैः
Her friends perceived her condition and appearance as disturbed and gloomy, through her gestures.
ततो विदर्भपतये दमयन्त्याः सखीजनः। न्यवेदयत्तामस्वस्थां दमयन्तीं नरेश्वरः
Then Damayantī’s companions informed the king of Vidarbha about her troubled state.
तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपतिर्भीमो दमयन्तीसखीगणात्। किमर्थं दुहिता मेऽद्यनातिस्वस्थेव लक्ष्यते
Hearing this from Damayantī’s group of friends, King Bhīma asked, 'Why does my daughter seem so unwell today?'
स समीक्ष्य महीपालः स्वां सुतां प्राप्तयौवनाम्। अपश्यदात्मना कार्यं दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम्
Observing his daughter, who had reached youth, the king saw that he must arrange Damayantī’s svayaṃvara.
स सन्निपातयामास महीपालान्विशांपतिः। एषोऽनुभूयतां चीराः स्वयंवर इति प्रभो
The lord of the people gathered the kings and said, 'Let the svayaṃvara be held for her, as is customary.'
श्रुत्वा तु पार्थिवाः सर्वे दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम्। अभिजग्मुस्ततो वीरा राजानो भीमशासनात्
Hearing of Damayantī’s svayaṃvara, all the kings came there, summoned by Bhīma’s command.
हस्त्यश्वरथघोषेण नादयन्तो वसुंधराम्। विचित्रमाल्याभरणैर्बलैर्दृश्यैः स्वलंकृतैः
With the sounds of elephants, horses, and chariots resounding across the earth, adorned with wondrous garlands, ornaments, and splendid armies, they arrived beautifully arrayed.
तेषां भीमो महाबाहुः पार्थिवानां महात्मनाम्। यथार्हमकरोत्पूजां तेऽवसंस्तत्र पूजिताः
Bhīma, mighty-armed, honored those great-hearted kings as was fitting; they remained there, duly worshipped.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सुराणामृषिसत्तमौ। अटमानौ महात्मानाविन्द्रलोकमितो गतौ
At that very time, two eminent sages among the gods, wandering, departed from Indra’s realm.