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.
नारदः पर्वतश्चैव महाप्राज्ञौ महाव्रतौ। देवराजस् भवनं विविशाते सुपूजितौ
Nārada and Parvata, wise and steadfast in great vows, entered the palace of the lord of gods, splendidly honored.
तावर्चयित्वा मघवा ततः कुशलमव्ययम्। पप्रच्छानामयं चापि तयोः सर्वगतं विभुः
Having worshipped them, Maghavān then asked after their unchanging welfare, and the illustrious one inquired about their universal well-being.
आवयोः कशलं देव सर्वत्रगतमीश्वर। लोके च मघवन्कृत्स्नो नृपाः कुशलिनो विभो
O god, our welfare is everywhere, O lord; and in the world, O Maghavān, all the kings are well, O illustrious one.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पप्रच्छ बलवृत्रहा। धर्मज्ञाः पृथिवीपालास्त्यक्तजीवितयोधिनः
Hearing Nārada’s words, the slayer of Vṛtra asked, 'Are the earth’s rulers righteous, fighting to the death?'
शस्त्रेण निधनं काले ये गच्छन्त्यपराड्युखाः। अयं लोकोऽक्षयस्तेषां यथैव मम कामधुक्
Those who meet death in battle at the proper time, without turning away, their world is inexhaustible, just as my wish-fulfilling cow.
क्वनु ते क्षत्रियाः शूरा नहि पश्यामि तानहम्। आगच्छतो महीपालान्दयितामनिथीन्मम
Where are those heroic Kṣatriyas? I do not see them coming, those kings, my beloved guests.
एवमुक्तस्तु शक्रेण नारदः प्रत्यभाषत। शृणु मे मघवन्येन न दृश्यन्ते महीक्षितः
Thus addressed by Śakra, Nārada replied, 'Hear from me, Maghavān, why the kings are not seen.'
विदर्भराज्ञो दुहिता दमयन्तीति विश्रुता। रूपेण समतिक्रान्ता पृथिव्यां सर्वयोषितः
The daughter of the king of Vidarbha, famed as Damayantī, has surpassed all women on earth in beauty.
तस्याः स्वयंवरः शक्र भविता नचिरादिव। तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो राजपुत्राश्च सर्वशः
O Indra, her svayamvara will take place very soon; all the kings and princes will go there.
तां रत्नभूतां लोकस्य प्रार्थयन्तो महीक्षितः। काङ्क्षन्ति स्म विशेषेण बलवृत्रनिषूदन
Desiring her, who is like a jewel among women, the rulers of the earth especially longed for her, O slayer of Vritra.