ततः पुष्करमालोक्य नलः परममन्युमान्। `उवाच विद्यतेऽन्यच्च धनं मम नराधम
Then, looking at Puṣkara, Nala, filled with intense wrath, said: 'There is other wealth of mine, wretch among men.'
षणरूपेण निक्षिप्य पुण्यश्लोकः सुदुर्मनाः। उत्तरीयं तथा वस्त्रं तस्याश्चाभरणानि च'। उन्सृज्य सर्वगात्रभ्यो भूषणानि सहायशाः
The renowned one, deeply distressed, staked his upper garment, then his clothing and her ornaments, releasing all the adornments from every limb.
सुकवासा ह्यसंवीतः सुहृच्छोकविवर्धनः। निश्चक्राम ततोराजा त्यक्त्वा सुविपुलां श्रियम्
Clad in a single garment, unadorned, increasing the sorrow of his friends, the king departed, abandoning his vast prosperity.
दमयन्त्येकवस्त्राऽथ गच्छन्तं पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात्। स तया नगराभ्याशे त्रिरात्रं नैपधोऽवसत्
Damayanti, wearing but one garment, followed him as he went; together, they stayed near the city for three nights without shelter.
पुष्करस्तु महाराज धोषयामास वै पुरे। नले यः सम्यगातिष्ठेत्स गच्छेद्वध्यतां मम
Puṣkara, O great king, proclaimed in the city: 'Whoever shelters Nala shall be subject to my punishment.'
पुष्करस्य तु वाक्येन तस्य विद्वेषणेन च। पौरा न तस्य सत्कारं कृतवन्तो युधिष्ठिर
Because of Puṣkara's words and his hostility, the townspeople did not show Nala any hospitality, O Yudhishthira.
स तथा नगराभ्याशे सत्कारार्हो न सन्कृतः। त्रिरत्रमुषितो राजा जलमात्रेण वर्तयन्
Thus, though worthy of honor, the king was not received near the city; for three nights he subsisted only on water.
[पीड्यमानः क्षुधा तत्र फलमृलानि कर्पयन्। प्रातिष्ठत ततो राजा दमयन्ती तमन्वगात् ।।]
Afflicted by hunger, he gathered fruits and roots there; then the king departed, and Damayanti followed him.
क्षुधया पीड्यमानम्तु नलो बहुतिथेऽहनि। अपश्यच्छकुनान्कांश्चिद्धिरण्यसदृशच्छदान्
Tormented by hunger for many days, Nala saw some birds with golden-colored wings.
स चिन्तयामास तदा निषधाधिपतिर्बली। अस्ति भक्ष्यो ममाद्यापि वसु चेदं भविष्यति
Then the powerful lord of Niṣadha thought: 'There is still food for me; if I get this, it will be wealth.'
ततस्तानन्तरीयेण वाससा स समावृणोत्। तस्य तद्वस्त्रमादाय सर्वे जग्मुर्विहायसा
He covered them with his upper garment; taking his clothing, all the birds flew away into the sky.
उत्पतन्तः खगा वाक्यमेतदाहुस्ततो नलम्। दृष्ट्वा दिग्वाससं भूमौ स्थितं दीनमधोमुखम्
As they flew up, the birds spoke these words to Nala, seeing him standing on the ground, destitute, wearing only a cloth, his face cast down.
वयमक्षाः सुदुर्बुद्धे तववासो जिहीर्षवः। आगता न हि नः प्रीतिः सवाससि गते त्वयि
'We are dice, O fool; desiring your garment, we have come. There is no joy for us when you depart with your clothing.'
नान्समीक्ष्य गतानक्षानात्मानं च विवाससम्। पुण्यश्लोकस्तदा राजा दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत्
Not looking at the departed dice and himself bereft of clothing, the renowned king then spoke to Damayanti.
येषां प्रकोपादैश्वर्यान्प्रच्युतोऽहमनिन्दिते। प्राणयात्रां न विन्देयं दुःखितः क्षुधयाऽन्वितः
'O blameless one, by whose wrath I have been deprived of sovereignty, I cannot find sustenance, suffering and afflicted by hunger.'
येषां कृते न सत्कारमकुर्वन्मयि नैषधाः। इमे ते शकुना भूत्वा वासश्चाषहरन्ति मे
'For whose sake the people of Niṣadha did not honor me, these have become birds and have taken my garment.'
वैषम्यं परमं प्राप्तो दुःखितो गतचेतनः। भर्ता तेऽहं निबोधेदं वचनं हितमात्मनः
Having reached the utmost adversity, distressed and faint of heart, I am your husband—listen now to these words that are for your own good.
एते गच्छन्ति वहवः पन्थानो दिणापथम्। अवन्तीमृक्षवन्तं च समतिक्रम्य पर्वतम्
Many roads lead onward along the southern route, passing beyond Avanti and the Riksha mountains.
एष विन्ध्यो महाशैलः पयोष्णी च समुद्रगा। आश्रमाश्च महर्षीणां बहुमूलफलान्विताः
Here is the great Vindhya mountain, and the river Payoṣṇī flowing to the sea, and the hermitages of great sages, abundant with many roots and fruits.
एष पन्था विदर्भाणामेष यास्यति कोसलान्। अतःपरं च देशोऽयं दक्षिणो दक्षिणापथः
This is the path to Vidarbha, and this leads to Kosala; beyond this, the land is the southern region, the southern route.
एतद्वाक्यं नलो राजा दमयन्तीं समाहितः। उवाचासकृदार्तो हि भैमीमुद्दिश्य भारत
King Nala, intent and afflicted, spoke these words repeatedly to Damayanti, O Bhārata, addressing the daughter of Bhīma.
ततः सा वाष्पकलया वाचा दुःखेन कर्शिता। उवाच दमयन्ती तं नैषधं करुणं वचः
Then Damayanti, emaciated by sorrow, spoke to Niṣadha with a voice choked by tears, uttering these pitiful words.
उद्वेषते मे हृदयं सीदन्त्यङ्गानि सर्वशः। तव पार्थिव संकल्पं चिन्तयन्त्याः पुनः पुनः
My heart is troubled, my limbs are all weakened, as I think again and again, O king, upon your resolve.
हृतराज्यं हृतद्रव्यं विवस्त्रं क्षुच्छ्रमान्वितम्। कथमुत्सृज्य गच्छेयमहं त्वां निर्जने वने
Deprived of your kingdom and wealth, unclothed and afflicted by hunger, how could I abandon you and go alone into this lonely forest?
श्रान्तस्य ते क्षुधार्तस्य चिन्तयानस्य तत्सुखम्। वने घोरे महाराज नाशयिष्याम्यहं क्लमम्
When you are weary, hungry, and anxious, O great king, I shall relieve your fatigue in this dreadful forest.
न च भार्यासमं किंचिन्नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम्। नित्यं हि सर्वदुःखेषु सत्यमेतद्व्रवीमि ते ।।*
There is truly no remedy for a suffering man equal to his wife; in all sorrows, this is ever true—I speak this to you sincerely.
एवमेतद्यथाऽऽन्थ त्वं दमयन्ति सुमध्यमे। नास्ति बार्यासमं मित्रं नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम्
It is just as you say, slender-waisted Damayanti; there is no friend or remedy for a suffering man equal to his wife.
न चाहं त्यक्तुकामस्त्वां किमलं भीरु शङ्कसे। त्यजेयमहमात्मानं न चैव त्वामनिन्दिते
Nor do I wish to abandon you—why do you fear so much, timid one? I might abandon my own self, but never you, blameless lady.
यदि मां त्वं महाराज न विहातुमिहच्छसि। तत्किमर्थं विदर्भाणां पन्थाः समुपदिश्यते
If, O king, you do not wish to abandon me, then why do you point out the path to Vidarbha?
अवैमि चाहं नृपते न तु मां त्यक्तुमर्हसि। चेतसा त्वपकृष्टेन मां त्यजेथा महीपते
I understand, O king, that you should not abandon me; yet, with your heart withdrawn, you might forsake me, O lord of the earth.