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.
एतस्मिन्कथ्यमाने तु लोकपालाश्च साग्निकाः। आजग्मुर्देवराजस्य समीपममरोत्तमाः
As this was being discussed, the guardians of the worlds, along with Agni, the best of immortals, came to the king of the gods.
ततस्ते शुश्रुवुः सर्वे नारदस्य वचो महत्। श्रुत्वैव चाब्रुवन्हृष्टा गच्छामो वयमप्युत
Then all of them heard the great words of Narada; and, delighted upon hearing, they said, 'Let us also go.'
ततः सर्वे महाराज सगणाः सहवाहनाः। विदर्भानभिजग्मुस्ते यतः सर्वे महीक्षितः
Then, O great king, all of them, with their retinues and vehicles, went to Vidarbha, where all the rulers of the earth had gathered.
नलोपि राजा कौन्तेय श्रुत्वा राज्ञां समागमम्। अभ्यगच्छददीनात्मा दमयन्तीमनुव्रतः
King Nala, son of Kunti, having heard of the assembly of kings, also went there, devoted to Damayanti, though his heart was troubled.
अथ देवाः पथि नलं ददृशुर्भूतले स्तितम्। साक्षादिव स्थितं मूर्त्या मन्मथं रूपसंपदा
Then, on the way, the gods saw Nala standing on the earth, appearing in form and beauty just like the god of love himself.
तं दृष्ट्वा लोकपालास्ते भ्राजमानं यथा रविम्। तस्थुर्विगतसंकल्पा विस्मिता रूपसंपदा
Seeing him shining like the sun, the guardians of the worlds stood amazed, their intentions stilled, astonished by his beauty.
ततोऽन्तरिक्षे विष्टभ्य विमानानि दिवौकसः। अब्रुवन्नैषधं राजन्नवतीर्य नभस्तलात्
Then, O king, the gods, having stationed their celestial chariots in the sky, spoke to Nala, descending from the heavens.
भोभो निषधराजेन्द्र नल सत्यव्रतो भवात्। अस्माकं कुरु साहाय्यं दूतो भव नरोत्तम
O lord of Nishadha, Nala, you who are true to your word, help us; become our messenger, O best of men.
तेभ्यः प्रतिज्ञाय नलः करिष्य इति भारत। अथैतान्परिपप्रच्छ कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थितः
Having promised them, 'I will do it,' Nala, with joined palms, respectfully asked them:
के वै भवन्तः कश्चासौ यस्याहं दूत ईप्सितः। किंच तत्रमया कार्यं कथयध्वं यथातथम्
Who are you, and for whom am I to be the desired messenger? Tell me truly what I am to do there.