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.
एवमुक्ते नैषधेन मघवानभ्यभाषत। अमरान्वै निबोधास्मान्दमयन्त्यर्थमागतान्
When thus addressed by Nala, Maghavan spoke: 'Know us to be immortals, come for Damayanti's sake.'
अहमिन्द्रोऽयमग्निश्च तथैवायमपांपतिः। शरीरान्तकरो नॄणां यमोऽयमपि पार्थिव
I am Indra, this is Agni, this is Varuna, and this, O king, is Yama, the ender of men.
त्वं वै समागतानस्मान्दमयन्त्यै निवेदय। लोकपाला महेन्द्राद्याः समायान्ति दिदृक्षवः
You must inform Damayanti that we, the guardians of the worlds led by Mahendra, have come desiring to see her.
प्राप्तुमिच्छन्ति देवास्त्वां शक्रोऽग्निर्वरुणो यमः। तेषामन्यतमं देवं पतित्वे वरयस्व ह
The gods—Shakra, Agni, Varuna, and Yama—wish to obtain you; let her choose any one of these gods as her husband.
एवमुक्तः स शक्रेण नलः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत्। एकार्थसमवेतं मां न प्रेषयितुमर्हथ
Thus addressed by Shakra, Nala with joined palms said: 'You should not send me, who am united in purpose with her.'
कथ हि जातसंकल्पः स्त्रियमुत्सृजते पुमान्। परार्थमीदृशं वक्तं तद्वै पश्यामरेश्वर
For how can a man, whose mind is set, abandon a woman and speak such words for another's sake? Consider this, O lord of immortals.
एवमुक्तो नैषधेन मघवान्पुनरब्रवीत्।' करिष्य इतिसंश्रुत्य पूर्वमस्मासु नैषध। न करिष्यसि कस्मात्त्वं व्रज नैषध माचिरम्
Thus addressed by Nala, Maghavan spoke again: 'Having previously promised us that you would do it, O Nala, why do you now refuse? Go, Nala, without delay.'
स वै त्वमागतानस्मान्दमयन्त्यै निवेदय। श्रेयसा योक्ष्यसे हि त्वं कुर्वन्नमरशासनम्
Go and inform Damayanti that we have arrived; by carrying out the command of the immortals, you will attain great merit.
एवमुक्तः स देवैस्तैर्नैषधः पुनरब्रवीत्। सुरक्षितानि वेश्मानि प्रवेष्टुं कथमुत्सहे
Thus addressed by those gods, Nala replied again: 'How can I, though protected, bring myself to enter the women's quarters?'
प्रवेक्ष्यसीति तं शक्रः पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत। जगाम स तथेत्युक्त्वा दमयन्त्या निवेशनम्
Śakra then said to him, 'You shall enter.' So, saying 'So be it,' he went to Damayanti's residence.