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.
पन्थानं हि ममाभीक्ष्णमाख्यासि च नरोत्तम। अतो निमित्तं शोकं मे वर्धयस्यमरोपम
You keep telling me of the road again and again, best of men; by this, you only increase my incomparable sorrow.
यदि चायमभिप्रायस्तव राजन्भविष्यति। सहितावेव गच्छावो विदर्भान्यदि मन्यसे
If this is truly your intention, O king, then let us go together to Vidarbha, if you so desire.
विदर्भराजस्तत्र त्वां पूजयिष्यति मानद। तेन त्वं पूजितो राजन्सुखं वत्स्यसि नो गृहे
There the king of Vidarbha will honor you, giver of respect; honored by him, O king, you will dwell happily in our home.
इत्युक्तः स तदा देव्या नलो वचनमब्रवीत्।' यथा राज्यंतव पितुस्तथा मम नसंशयः। न तु तत्र गमिष्यामि विषमस्थः कथंचन
Thus addressed by the queen, Nala replied: 'As your father’s kingdom is to you, so is mine to me—of this there is no doubt. But in my misfortune, I will not go there under any circumstance.'
कथं समृद्धो गत्वाऽहं तव हर्षविवर्धनः। परिद्यूनो गमिष्यामि तव शोकविवर्धनः
How, having gone in prosperity, did I increase your joy; now, diminished, I will go, increasing your sorrow.
इति ब्रुवन्नलो राजा दमयन्तीं पुनः पुनः। सान्खयामास कल्याणीं वाससोर्धेन संवृताम्
Thus King Nala, speaking again and again to Damayanti, began to count the virtuous lady, covered only by half a garment.
तावेकवस्त्रसंवीतावटमानावितस्ततः। क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्तौ सभां कांचिदुपेयतुः
Clad in a single garment, trembling and measuring out the path, exhausted by hunger and thirst, they approached a certain assembly.
तां सभामुपसंप्राप्य तदा स निषधाधिपः। वैदर्भ्या सहितो राजा निषसाद महीतले
Having reached that assembly, then the king of Nishadha, together with the princess of Vidarbha, sat down upon the earth.
स वै विवस्त्रो मलिनो विवर्णः पांसुगुण्ठितः। दमयन्त्या सह श्रान्तः सुष्वाप धरणीतले
He, stripped of his garment, dirty, pale, covered in dust, weary together with Damayanti, slept upon the ground.
ततः स्ववसनस्यान्तं दमयन्ती विशांपते। भूमावास्तीर्य सुष्वाप पतिमालिङ्ग्य शोभना
Then Damayanti, O lord of men, spreading the end of her own garment upon the ground, beautiful, slept embracing her husband.