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.
शरणं प्रति देवानां प्राप्तकालममन्यत। वाचा च मनसा चैव नमस्कारं प्रयुज्य सा
She thought it was now time to seek refuge with the gods; with voice and mind, she offered her reverence.
देवेभ्यः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वेपमानेदमब्रवीत्। हंसानां वचनं श्रुत्वा यथा मे नैषधो वृतः। पतित्वे तेन सत्येन देवास्तं प्रदिशन्तु मे
With joined palms, trembling, she spoke these words to the gods: 'Having heard the words of the swans, by which I chose Niṣadha as my husband, by that truth, may the gods reveal him to me.'
मनसा वचसा चैव यथा नातिचराम्यहम्। तेन सत्येन विबुधास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे
'By the truth that I have not transgressed in thought or word, may the gods reveal him to me.'
यथा देवैः स मे भर्ता विहितो निषधाधिषः। तेन सत्येन मे देवास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे
'As the gods have ordained him, the king of Niṣadha, to be my husband, by that truth, may the gods reveal him to me.'
यथेदं व्रतमारब्धं नलस्याराधने मया। तेन सत्येन मे देवास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे
'By the truth of the vow I have undertaken in honor of Nala, may the gods reveal him to me.'
स्वं चैव रूपं पुष्यन्तु लोकपाला महेश्वराः। यथाऽहमभिजानीयां पुण्यश्लोकं नराधिपम्
'May the guardians of the world, the great lords, restore their own forms, so that I may recognize the virtuous king, praised by all.'
निशम्य दमयन्त्यास्तत्करुणं प्रतिदेवितम्। निश्चयंपरमं तथ्यमनुरागं च नैषधे
Hearing Damayanti's pitiful and repeated supplication, her firm resolve, truthfulness, and love for Niṣadha were clear.
मनोविशुद्धिं बुद्धिं च भक्तिं रागं च नैषधे। यथोक्तं चक्रिरे देवाः सामर्थ्यं लिङ्गधारणे
Her purity of mind, intelligence, devotion, and affection for Niṣadha were evident; as she had spoken, the gods displayed their power in assuming forms.
साऽपश्यद्विबुधान्सर्वानस्वेदान्स्तब्धलोचनान्। अम्लानस्रग्रजोहीनान्स्थितानस्पृशतः क्षितिम्
She saw all the gods, sweating and with rigid eyes, standing with their garlands unfaded, unmoving, and not touching the ground.
छायाद्वितीयो म्लानस्रग्रजःस्वेदसमन्वितः। भूमिष्ठो नैषधश्चैव निमेषेण च सूचितः
The second, a shadowy figure, stood upon the earth, his garland withered and sweat upon him; this was the Nishadha, indicated in a moment.