एवं तु विलपन्ती सा राज्ञो भार्या महात्मनः। अन्वेषति स्म भर्तारं वने श्वापदसेविते
Thus lamenting, the wife of the great king searched for her husband in the forest frequented by wild beasts.
उन्मत्तवद्भीमसुता विलपन्ती ततस्ततः। हाहा राजन्निति मुहुरितश्चेतश्च धावति
Like one mad, the daughter of Bhīma wandered here and there, lamenting, crying out again and again, 'O king!' as she ran about.
तां शुष्यमाणामत्यर्थं कुररीमिव वाशतीम्। करुणं बहुशोचन्तीं विलपन्तीं सुमध्यमाम्
That slender-waisted one, drying up exceedingly, wailing like a female curlew, lamenting pitifully and much to be pitied—
सहसाऽभ्यागतां भैमीमभ्याशपरिवर्तिनीम्। जग्राहाजगरो ग्राहो महाकायः क्षुधान्वितः
Suddenly, as she wandered nearby, a great, hungry serpent seized Bhīmā’s daughter.
सा ग्रस्यमाना ग्रहेण शोकेन च पराजिता। नात्मानं शोचति तथा यथा शोचति नैषधम्
Being swallowed by the serpent and overcome by grief, she did not grieve so much for herself as she did for Nala.
द्वा नाथ मामिह वने ग्रस्यमानामनागसम्। ग्राहेणानेन विजने किमर्थं नानुधावसि
O protector, why do you not run to me here in the forest, as I am being devoured, innocent, by this serpent in this lonely place?
कथं भविष्यसि पुनर्मामनुस्मृत्य नैषध। [कथं भवाञ्जगामाद्य मामुत्सृज्य वने प्रभो।] पापान्मुक्तः पुनर्लब्ध्वा बुद्धिं चोतो धनानि च
How will you be, O Nala, remembering me again? [How did you go today, O lord, leaving me in the forest?] Freed from evil, regaining wisdom and wealth—
श्रान्तस्य ते क्षुधार्तस् परिग्लानस्य नैषध। कः श्रमं राजशार्दूल नाशयिष्यति तेऽनघ
O Nala, exhausted, hungry, and worn out, O tiger among kings, who will relieve your fatigue, O sinless one?
तां तु दृष्ट्वा तथा ग्रस्तामुरगेणायतेक्षणाम्। आक्रन्दमानां संश्रुत्य जवेनाभिससार ह
Seeing her, wide-eyed, thus seized by the serpent and hearing her cries, he rushed there at once.
तां तु दृष्ट्वा तथा ग्रस्तामुरगेणायतेक्षणाम्। त्वरमाणो मृगव्याधः संचरन्गहने वने। समभिक्रम्य वेगेन सत्वरः स वनेचरः
Beholding her so caught by the serpent, the hunter hastened, moving swiftly through the dense forest, and quickly approached her with speed.
मुखे तं पाटयामास शस्त्रेण निशितेन च। निर्विचेष्टं भुजङ्गं तं विशस् मृगजीवनः
With a sharp weapon he tore open the serpent’s mouth, and the hunter who lived by the forest killed the motionless snake.
मोक्षयित्वा स तांव्याधः प्रक्षाल्य सलिलेन ह। समाश्वास्य कृताहारामथ पप्रच्छ भारत
Having freed her, the hunter washed her with water, comforted her, gave her food, and then questioned her, O Bhārata.
कस्य त्वं मृगशावाक्षि कथं चास्यागता वनम्। कथं चेदं महत्कृच्छ्रं प्राप्तवत्यसि भामिनि
Whose are you, doe-eyed one? How did you come to this forest? And how, O beautiful lady, have you come to such great distress?
दमयन्ती तथा तेन पृच्छ्यमाना विशांपते। सर्वमेतद्यथावृत्तमाचचक्षेऽस्य भारत
Thus questioned by him, O ruler of men, Damayantī told him everything as it had happened.
तामर्धवस्त्रसंवीतां पीनश्रोणिपयोधराम्। सुकुमारानवद्याङ्गीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्
Her body half-covered in garments, with full hips and breasts, delicate, flawless in form, her face radiant as the full moon—
अरालपक्ष्मनयनां तथा मधुरभाषिणीम्। लक्षयित्वा मृगव्याधः कामस्य वशमीयिवान्
With curling lashes, sweetly speaking, the hunter, seeing her, fell under the sway of desire.
तामथ श्लक्ष्णया वाचा लुब्धको मृदुपूर्वया। सान्त्वयामास कामार्तस्तदबुध्यत भामिनी
Then the hunter, overcome by passion, began to soothe her with gentle, soft words; but the lady understood his intent.
दमयन्त्यपि तं दुष्टमुपलभ्य पतिव्रता। तीव्ररोषसमाविष्टा प्रजज्वालेव मन्युना
Damayantī, devoted to her husband, perceiving that wicked man, was seized by intense anger, blazing with wrath.
स तु पापमतिः क्षुद्रः प्रधर्षयितुमातुरः। दुर्धर्षां तर्कयामास दीप्तामग्निशिखामिव
But that evil-minded, base man, burning with lust, sought to violate her, as if trying to seize a blazing tongue of fire.
दमयन्ती तु दुःखार्था पतिराज्यविनाकृता। अतीतवाक्यथे काले शशापैनं रुषा किल
Damayantī, afflicted by sorrow, deprived of husband and kingdom, after his words had passed, cursed him in anger.
यथाऽहं नैषधादन्यं मनसाऽपि न चिन्तये। तथाऽयं पततां क्षुद्रः परासुर्मृगजीवनः
As I do not even think of any man other than Niṣadha in my mind, so let this base hunter perish among the fallen.
उक्तमात्रे तु वचने तया स मृगजीवनः। व्यसुः पपात मेदिन्यामग्निदग्ध इव द्रुमः
As soon as she uttered these words, the hunter lost his life and fell to the ground, like a tree struck by fire.
सा निहत्य मृगव्याधं प्रतस्थे कमलेक्षणा। वनं प्रतिभयं शून्यं झिल्लिकागणनादितम्
Having slain the hunter, the lotus-eyed woman set out into the fearful, empty forest, resounding with the cries of crickets.
सिंहद्वीपिरुरुव्याघ्रवराहर्क्षगणैर्युतम्। नानापक्षिगणाकीर्णां म्लेच्छतस्करसेवितम्
It was filled with lions, tigers, great leopards, boars, and bears, crowded with many kinds of birds, and frequented by outcasts and thieves.
सालवेणुधवाश्वत्थतिन्दुकेङ्गुदिकिंशुकैः। अर्जुनारिष्टसंछन्नं स्यन्दनैश्च सशाल्मलैः
Covered with śāla, bamboo, dhava, aśvattha, tinduka, eṅgudi, kiṃśuka, arjuna, and ariṣṭa trees, and with chariots and śālmalī trees.
जम्ब्वाम्रलोध्रखदिरशाकवेत्रसमाकुलम्। पद्मकामलकप्लक्षकदम्बोदुम्बरावृतम्
Thick with jambū, mango, lodhra, khadira, śāka, and vetasa trees, and filled with padma, kāmala, plakṣa, kadamba, and udumbara trees.
बदरीबिल्वसंछन्नं न्यग्रोधैश्च समाकुलम्। प्रियालतालखर्जूरहरीतकिबिभीतकैः
Covered with jujube and wood-apple trees, crowded with banyans, and adorned with beloved creepers, palmyras, dates, myrobalans, and bibhitaka trees.
नानाधातुशतैर्नद्धान्विविधानपि चाचलान्। निकुञ्जान्पक्षिसंघुष्टान्दरीश्चाद्भुतदर्शनाः
Bound with hundreds of various minerals, and also with diverse mountains, thickets resounding with flocks of birds, and caves of wondrous appearance.
नदी सरांसि वापीश्च विविधांश्चरतो द्विजान्। सा बहून्भीमरूपांश्च पिशाचोरगराक्षसान्
She beheld rivers, lakes, and ponds of many kinds as she wandered, and also many fearsome beings—demons, serpents, and rākṣasas.
पल्वलानि तटाकानि गिरिकूटानि सर्वशः। सरित्सरांसि च तदा ददर्शाद्भुतदर्शनाम्
She saw marshes, pools, and mountain peaks everywhere, and also rivers and lakes of wondrous appearance.