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.'
एवमुक्तस्तु वैदर्भ्या नलस्तां प्रत्युवाच ह। नलं मां विद्धि कल्याणि देवदूतमिहागतम्
Thus addressed by the princess of Vidarbha, Nala replied to her: 'Know me, O blessed one, to be Nala, come here as a messenger of the gods.'
देवास्त्वां प्राप्तुमिच्छन्ति शक्रोऽग्निर्वरुणो यमः। तेषामन्यतमं देवं पतिं वरय शोभने
'The gods—Śakra, Agni, Varuṇa, and Yama—desire to obtain you; choose as your husband, O beautiful one, whichever of these gods you wish.'
तेषामेव प्रभावेण प्रविष्टोऽहमलक्षितः। प्रविशन्तं न मां कश्चिदपश्यन्नाप्यवारयत्
'By their power alone have I entered here unnoticed; no one saw me enter, nor did anyone prevent me.'
एतदर्थमहं भद्रे प्रेषितः सुरसत्तमैः। एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभे बुद्धिं प्रकुरुष्व यथेच्छसि
'For this purpose, O gentle one, have I been sent by the best of the gods; having heard this, O auspicious lady, decide as you wish.'
सा नमस्कृत्य देवेभ्यः प्रहस्य नलमब्रवीत्। प्रणयस्व यथाश्रद्धं राजन्किं करवाणि ते
She, having offered obeisance to the gods and smiling, said to Nala: 'Declare your wish, O king, according to your faith—what shall I do for you?'
अहं चैव हि यच्चान्यन्ममास्ति वसु किंचना। तत्सर्वं तव विस्रब्धं कुरु प्रणयमीश्वर
'Whatever I possess, and whatever else is my wealth, all of it is yours without reservation—do with it as you wish, O lord.'
हंसानां वचनं यत्तु तन्मां दहति पार्थिव। त्वत्कृते हि मया वीर राजानः सन्निपातिताः
'Yet, O king, the words of the swans burn me; for your sake, O hero, I have gathered the kings.'
यदि त्वं भजमानां मां प्रत्याख्यास्यसि मानद। विषमग्निं जलं रज्जुमास्थास्ये तव कारणात्
'If you, who honor me, reject me, O bestower of honor, then for your sake I shall embrace poison, fire, water, or the noose.'
एवमुक्तस्तु वैदर्भ्या नलस्तां प्रत्युवाच ह। तिष्ठत्सु लोकपालेषु कथं मानुषमिच्छसि
Thus addressed by the princess of Vidarbha, Nala replied to her: 'While the guardians of the worlds stand here, how can you desire a mortal?'
येषामहं लोककृतामीश्वराणां महात्मनाम्। न पादरजसा तुल्यो मनस्ते तेषु वर्तताम्
'Of those great-souled lords who are creators of the worlds, I am not equal even to the dust of their feet—may your mind dwell among them.'