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.
ददर्श तत्र वैदर्भीं सखीगणसमावृताम्। देदीप्यमानां वपुषा श्रिया च वरवर्णिनीम्
There he saw the princess of Vidarbha, surrounded by her companions, radiant in beauty and splendor, of excellent complexion.
अतीव सुकुमाराङ्गीं तनुमध्यां सुलोचनाम्। आक्षिपन्तीमिव च तां शशिनं स्वेन तेजसा
Her limbs were exceedingly delicate, her waist slender, her eyes beautiful; she seemed to outshine the moon itself with her own brilliance.
तस्य दृष्ट्वैव ववृधे कामस्तां चारुहासिनीम्। सत्यं चिकीर्षमाणस्तुधारयामास हृच्छयम्
At the very sight of her, desire grew within him for that lovely-smiling woman; yet, intent on truth, he restrained his heart's longing.
ततस्ता नैषधं दृष्ट्वा संभ्रान्ताः परमाङ्गनाः। आसनेभ्यः समुत्पेतुस्तेजसा तस्य धर्षिताः
Then, seeing Nala, the noble women were greatly agitated; overpowered by his radiance, they rose from their seats.
प्रशशंसुश्च मुप्रीता नलं ता विस्मयान्विताः। न चैनमभ्यभाषन्त मनोभिस्त्वभ्यपूजयन्
Filled with wonder and delight, they praised Nala, but did not speak to him; instead, they honored him in their hearts.
अहो रूपमहो कान्तिरहो धैर्यं महात्मनः। कोऽयं देवोऽथवा यक्षो गन्धर्वो वा भविष्यति
'Ah, what beauty! Ah, what splendor! Ah, what courage this great soul has! Who is he—a god, a yaksha, or perhaps a gandharva?'
न तास्तं शक्नुवन्ति स्म व्याहर्तुमपि किंचन। तेजसा धर्षितास्तस्य लज्जावत्यो वराङ्गनाः
Those noble women, overcome by his radiance and bashful, were unable to utter a single word to him.
अथैनं स्मयमानेव स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिणी। दमयन्ती नलं वीरमभ्यभाषत विस्मिता
Then Damayanti, smiling and speaking first, addressed Nala, the hero, with wonder.
कस्त्वं सर्वानवद्याङ्ग मम हृच्छयवर्धन। प्राप्तोस्यमरवद्वीर ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तेऽनघ
'Who are you, flawless in every limb, who increases the longing of my heart? O hero, you have come here like a god; I wish to know you, sinless one.'
कथमागमनं चेह कथं चासि न लक्षितः। सुरक्षितं हि मे वेश्म राजा चैवोग्रशासनः
'How did you come here, and how is it that you were not noticed? My quarters are well-guarded, and the king's command is strict.'