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.
सा समीक्ष्य तु तान्देवान्पुण्यश्लोकं च भारत। नैषधं वरयामास भैमी धर्मेण पाण्डव
Having observed those gods and the renowned Nishadha, Bhārata, Bhīmā's daughter chose Nishadha as her husband, in righteousness, O Pāṇḍava.
विलज्जमाना वस्त्रान्तं जग्राहायतलोचना। स्कन्धदेशेऽसृजत्तस्य स्रजं परमशोभनाम्
Modest, with downcast eyes, she took the edge of her garment and placed upon his shoulder a most splendid garland.
वरयामास चैवैनं पतित्वे वरवर्णिनी। ततो हाहेति सहसा मुक्तः शब्दो नराधिपैः
The radiant maiden chose him for husband; then suddenly a cry of 'Alas!' arose from the assembled kings.
देवैर्महर्षिभिस्तत्र साधुसाध्विति भारत। विस्मितैरीरितः शब्दः प्रशंसद्भिर्नलं नृपम्
There, the gods and great sages, astonished, exclaimed 'Well done, well done!' and praised King Nala, O Bhārata.
दमयन्तीं तु कौरव्य वीरसेनसुतो नृपः। आश्वासयद्वरारोहां प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना
The king, son of Vīrasena, joyfully comforted Damayantī, of noble form, with gladness in his heart.
यत्त्वं भजसि कल्याणि पुमांसं देवसन्निधौ। तस्मान्मां विद्धि भर्तारमेतत्ते वचने रतम्
Since you have chosen me, O blessed one, among men in the presence of the gods, know me as your husband; I am devoted to your word.
यावच्च मे धरिष्यन्ति प्राणा देहे शुचिस्मिते। तावत्त्वयि भविष्यामि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
As long as my life remains in this body, O lovely-smiling one, so long will I be yours; this I declare to you as truth.
दमयन्ती तथा वाग्भिरभिनन्द्य कृताञ्जलिः
Damayantī, with joined palms, joyfully responded with words of gratitude.
तौ परस्परतः प्रीतौ दृष्ट्वा त्वग्निपुरोगमान्। तानेव शरणं देवाञ्जग्मतुर्मनसा तदा
Seeing their mutual affection and the gods led by Agni, they sought refuge in those very gods, in their hearts, at that moment.
वृते तु नैषधे भैम्या लोकपाला महौजसः। प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे नलायाष्टौ वरान्ददुः
When Bhīmā's daughter chose Nishadha, all the world-protectors, mighty in power, joyfully granted Nala eight boons.