एष धर्मो यदि स्वार्थो ममापि भविता ततः। एवं स्वार्थं करिष्यामि तथा भद्रे विधीयताम्
'If this is righteousness, then my own interest too will be fulfilled; then I shall pursue my own desire—so let it be, O gentle one.'
ततो बाष्पाकुलांवाचं दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता। प्रत्याहरन्ती शनकैर्नलं राजानमब्रवीत्
Then Damayantī, of pure smile, her voice choked with tears, slowly drew back and spoke to King Nala.
अस्त्युपायो मया दृष्टो निरपायो नरेश्वर। येन दोषो न भविता तव राजन्कथंचन
O king, I have found a way that is free from fault, by which no blame will ever come to you.
त्वं चैव हि नरश्रेष्ठ देवाश्चेन्द्रपुरोगमाः। आयान्तु सहिताः सर्वे मम यत्र स्वयंवरः
You, best among men, and all the gods led by Indra, should come together to the place where my svayaṃvara will be held.
ततोऽहं लोकपालानां सन्निधौ त्वां नरेश्वर। वरयिष्ये नरव्याघ्र नैवं दोषो भविष्यति
Then, in the presence of the guardians of the worlds, O king, I will choose you, tiger among men; in this way, no fault will arise.
एवमुक्तस्तु वैदर्भ्या नलो राजा विशंपते। आजगाम पुनस्तत्र यत्र देवाः समागताः
Thus addressed by the princess of Vidarbha, King Nala, O lord of the people, returned again to the place where the gods had assembled.
तमपश्यंस्तथाऽऽयान्तं लोकपाला महेश्वराः। दृष्ट्वा चैनं ततोऽपृच्छन्वृत्तान्तं सर्वमेव तम्
The guardians of the worlds and the great gods saw him approaching; seeing him, they then asked him about everything that had happened.
कच्चिद्दृष्टा त्वया राजन्दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता। किमब्रवीच्च नः सर्वान्वद भूमिपतेऽनघ
O king, did you see Damayantī, she of pure smile? What did she say to all of us? Tell us, O sinless ruler of the earth.
भवद्भिरहमादिष्टो दमयन्त्या निवेशनम्। प्रविष्टः सुमहाकक्ष्यं दण्डिभिः स्थविरैर्वृतम्
By your command, I entered Damayantī’s chambers, which were vast and guarded by elders bearing staffs.
प्रविशन्तं च मां तत्र न कश्चिद्दृष्टवान्नरः। ऋते तां पार्तिवसुतां भवतामेव तेजसा
As I entered there, no man saw me, except for that princess, by the power of your radiance.
सख्यश्चास्या मया दृष्टास्ताभिश्चाप्युपलक्षितः। विस्मिताश्चाभवन्सर्वा दृष्ट्वा मां विबुधेश्वराः
I saw her companions, and they too noticed me; all the lords of the gods were astonished upon seeing me.
वर्ण्यमानेषु च मया भवत्सु रुचिराननां। मामेव गतसंकल्पा वृणीते सा सुरोत्तमाः
As I described you among those with beautiful faces, her mind was fixed only on me; that noble maiden chose me.
अब्रवीच्चैव मां बाला आयान्तु सहिताः सुराः। त्वया सह नरव्याघ्र मम यत्रस्वयंवरः
The young woman also said to me, 'Let the gods come together with you, tiger among men, to the place of my svayaṃvara.'
तेषामहं संनिधौ त्वां वरयिष्यामि नैषध। एवं तव महाबाहो दोषो न भवितेति ह
In their presence, O Nala of Nishadha, I will choose you; thus, O mighty-armed one, no fault will arise for you.
एतावदेव विबुधा यथावृत्तमुपाहृतम्। मया शेषे प्रमाणं तु भवन्तस्त्रिदशेश्वराः
O gods, this is all that has happened, as I have reported; for the rest, you, lords of the immortals, are the witnesses.
अथ काले शुभे प्राप्ते तथौ पुण्ये क्षणे तथा। आजुहाव महीपालान्भीमो राजा स्वयंवरे
Then, when an auspicious and holy moment arrived, King Bhīma summoned the kings to the svayaṃvara.
तच्छ्रुत्वा पृथिवीपालाः सर्वे हृच्छयपीडिताः। त्वरिताः समपाजग्मुर्दमयन्तीमभीप्सवः
Hearing this, all the rulers of the earth, afflicted by love, hurriedly came, desiring Damayantī.
कनकस्तम्भरुचिरं तोरणेन विराजितम्। विविशुस्ते नृपा रङ्गं महासिंह इवाचलम्
The kings entered the arena, adorned with a golden-pillared gateway, shining like great lions approaching a mountain.
तत्रासनेषु विविधेष्वासीनाः पृथिवीक्षितः। सुरभिस्रग्धराः सर्वे प्रमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः
There, seated on various seats, the lords of the earth, all wearing fragrant garlands and polished jeweled earrings.
संपूर्णां पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्व्याघ्रैर्गिरिगुहामिव। `प्रविवेश नलो देवैः पुण्यश्लोको नराधिप
Filled with tiger-like men, like a mountain cave with tigers, Nala, the renowned king, entered together with the gods.
तत्र स्म पीना दृश्यन्ते बाहवः परिघोपमाः। आकारवर्णसुश्लक्ष्णाः पञ्चशीर्षा इवोरगाः
There, strong arms were seen, resembling iron bars, well-shaped and smooth in form and color, like serpents with five heads.
सुकेशान्तानि चारूणि सुनासानि शुभानि च। मुखानि राज्ञां शोभन्ते नक्षत्राणि यथा दिवि
Beautiful faces with lovely hair, fine noses, and auspicious features shone among the kings, like stars in the sky.
दमयन्ती ततो रङ्गं प्रविवेश शुभानना। मुष्णन्ती प्रभया राज्ञां चक्षूषि च मनांसि च
Then Damayanti, with her radiant face, entered the arena, stealing away the eyes and minds of the kings with her brilliance.
तस्या गात्रेषु पतिता तेषां दृष्टिर्महात्मनाम्। तत्रतत्रैव सक्ताऽभून्न चचाल च पश्यताम्
Upon her limbs fell the gaze of those great souls, and their eyes remained fixed there, unmoving as they watched.
ततः संकीर्त्यमानेषु राज्ञां नामसु भारत। ददर्श भैमी पुरुषान्पञ्च तुल्याकृतीनिह
Then, as the names of the kings were being announced, Bhīma's daughter saw five men here, all of identical appearance.
तान्समीक्ष्य ततः सर्वान्निर्विशेषाकृतीन्स्थितान्। संदेहादथ वेदर्भी नाभ्यजानान्नलं नृपम्
Observing them all standing there with indistinguishable forms, the princess of Vidarbha, uncertain, could not recognize King Nala.
निर्विशेषवयोवेषरूपाणां तत्र सा शुभा।' यंयं हि ददृशे तेषां तंतं मेने नलं नृपम्। साचिन्तयन्ती बुद्ध्याऽथ तर्कयामास भामिनी
Among those whose age, attire, and form were all alike, that noble lady, whichever one she looked at, thought him to be King Nala; pondering in her mind, the beautiful one began to reason.
कथं नु देवाञ्जानीयां कथं विद्यां नलं नृपम्। एवं संचिन्तयन्ती सा वैदर्भी भृशदुःखिता
How indeed can I discern the gods, and how can I recognize King Nala? Thus thinking, the princess of Vidarbha was greatly distressed.
श्रुतानि देवलिङ्गानि तर्कयामास भारत। देवानां यानि लिङ्गानि स्थविरेभ्यः श्रुतानि मे
She recalled the marks of the gods she had heard from the elders, and pondered, O Bhārata, upon those signs of the gods.
तानीह तिष्ठतां भूमावेकस्यापि न लक्षये। एवं विचिन्त्य बहुधा विचार्य च पुनः पुनः
But as she looked among those standing there, she did not perceive even one of those signs; thus, reflecting in many ways, she considered again and again.