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.
प्रत्यक्षदर्शनं यज्ञे गतिं चानुत्तमां शुभाम्। नैषधाय ददौ शक्रः प्रीयमाणः शचीपतिः
Indra, pleased, lord of Śacī, granted Nishadha the ability to be seen directly at the sacrifice and the highest auspicious path.
अग्निरात्मभवं प्रादाद्यत्र वाञ्छति नैषधः। लोकानात्मप्रभांश्चैव ददौ तस्मै हुताशनः
Agni gave him self-born offspring wherever Nishadha desired, and the fire-god granted him worlds shining with his own radiance.
यमस्त्वन्नरसं प्रादाद्धर्मे च परमां स्थितिम्। अपांपतिरपां भावं यत्रवाञ्छति नैपधः ।। स्रजश्चोत्तमगन्धाढ्याः सर्वेच मिथुनं ददुः
Yama bestowed the taste of food and supreme steadfastness in righteousness; the lord of waters granted the essence of water wherever Nishadha wished. They all gave him garlands rich in the finest fragrance and a pair for each.
वरानेवं प्रदायास्य देवास्ते त्रिदिवं गताः। `एतत्सर्वं नलोऽपश्यद्दमयन्ती च भारत। यथा स्वप्नं महाराज तथैव ददृशुर्जनाः
Having thus granted him boons, those gods departed to heaven. Nala and Damayantī, O Bhārata, saw it all; and the people witnessed it as if in a dream, O great king.
ततः स्वयवरं चक्रे भीमो राजाऽतिमानुषम्। समागतेषु सर्वेषु भूपालेसु विशांपते
Then King Bhīma held the svayamvara, surpassing the human realm, when all the kings had assembled, O lord of the people.
दमयन्त्यपि तद्दृष्ट्वाराजमण्डलमृद्धिमत्। अन्वीक्ष्यनैषधं वव्रे भैमी धर्मेण भारत
Damayantī, seeing the splendid circle of kings, considered Nishadha and chose him, O Bhārata, in righteousness.
वृते च नैषधे भैम्या निवृत्ते च स्वयंवरे। सर्व एव महीपालाः प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम्
When the princess of Vidarbha had chosen the king of Nishadha, and the self-choice ceremony was concluded, all the assembled kings departed as they had come.
पार्थिवाश्चानुभूयास्य विवाहं विस्मयान्विताः। दमयन्त्याश्च मुदिताः प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम्
The rulers of the earth, having witnessed this wondrous wedding and rejoicing for Damayanti, returned to their own realms as they had arrived.
गतेषु पार्थिवेन्द्रेषु भीमः प्रीतो महामनाः। विवाहं कारयामास दमयन्त्या नलस्य च
When the great kings had departed, Bhima, delighted and magnanimous, arranged the marriage of Damayanti and Nala.
उष्य तत्र तथाकामं नैषधो द्विपदांवरः। भीमेन समनुज्ञातो जगाम नगरं स्वकम्। अवाप्य नारीरत्नं तु पुण्यश्लोकोपि पार्थिवः
Having stayed there as long as he wished, the illustrious king of Nishadha, permitted by Bhima, returned to his own city, having obtained the jewel among women and fame.
रेमे सह तया राजञ्छच्येव बलवृत्रहा। अतीव मुदितो राजा भ्राजमानोंशुमानिव
With her, O King, Nala rejoiced like Indra with Shachi after slaying Vritra, the king radiant and exceedingly joyful.
अरञ्जयत्प्रजा वीरो धर्मेण परिपालयन्। ईजे चाप्यश्वमेधेन ययातिरिव नाहुषः। अन्यैश्च बहुभिर्धीमान्क्रतुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः
That heroic king ruled his subjects with righteousness, delighting them; he performed an ashvamedha sacrifice like Yayati, son of Nahusha, and many other great sacrifices with abundant gifts.
पुगश्च रमणीयेषु वनेषूपवनेषु च। दमयन्त्या सह नलो विजहारामरोपमः
In beautiful groves and forests, Nala, equal to the gods, sported with Damayanti.
जनयामास च ततो दमयन्त्यां महामनाः। इन्द्रसेनं सुतं चापि इन्द्रसेनां चकन्यकाम्
From Damayanti, the noble-hearted Nala begot a son named Indrasena and a daughter named Indrasenā.
एवं स यजमानश्च विहरंश्च नराधिपः। ररक्ष वसुसंपूर्णां वसुधां वसुधाधिपः
Thus, ruling and enjoying himself, the lord of men protected the earth, filled with wealth, like a true sovereign.
वृते तु नैषधे भैम्या लोकपाला महौजसः। यान्तो ददृशुरायान्तं द्वापरं कलिना सह
When the mighty guardians of the world departed after Damayanti had chosen the king of Nishadha, they saw Dvapara approaching, accompanied by Kali.
अथाब्रवीत्कलिं शक्रः संप्रेक्ष्य बलवृत्रहा। द्वापरेण सहायेन कले ब्रूहि क्व यास्यसि
Then Indra, the slayer of Vritra, seeing Kali with Dvapara, spoke: 'Kali, with your companion Dvapara, tell me, where are you going?'
ततोऽब्रवीत्कलिः शक्रं दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम्। गत्वा हि वरयिष्ये तां मनो हि मम तां गतम्
Kali replied to Indra, 'I am going to Damayanti's self-choice ceremony, for I wish to choose her; my heart is set on her.'
तमब्रवीत्प्रहस्येन्द्रो निर्वृत्तः स स्वयंवरः। वृतस्तया नलो राजा पतिरस्मत्समीपतः
Indra laughed and said to him, 'The self-choice is over; Damayanti has chosen King Nala as her husband in our presence.'
एवमुक्तस्तु शक्रेण कलिः कोपसमन्वितः। देवानामन्त्र्य तान्सर्वानुवाचेदं वचस्तदा
Thus addressed by Indra, Kali, filled with anger, spoke these words to all the gods, having first taken leave of them.