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.
यूथशो ददृशे चात्र विदर्भाधिपनन्दिनी। महिषान्वराहान्गोमायूनृक्षवानरपन्नगान्
There, the daughter of the king of Vidarbha saw herds of buffaloes, boars, jackals, bears, monkeys, and serpents.
तेजसा यशसा लक्ष्म्या स्थित्या च परया युता। वैर्दभी विचचारैका नलमन्वेषती तदा
Endowed with energy, fame, beauty, and steadfastness, the Vidarbha princess wandered alone, searching for Nala.
नाबिभ्यत्सा नृपसुता भैमी तत्राथ कस्यचित्। दारुणामटवीं प्राप्य भर्तृव्यसनकर्शिता
That princess, Bhīmā's daughter, did not fear as she entered a dreadful forest, though afflicted by her husband's misfortune.
विदर्भतनया राजन्विललाप सुदुःखिता। भर्तृशोकपरीताङ्गी शिलातलमथाश्रिता
O King, the daughter of Vidarbha, greatly distressed, lamented, her body consumed by grief for her husband, as she sat upon a rock.
सिह्योरस्क महाबाहो निषधानां जनाधिप। क्वनु राजन्गतोसि त्वं त्यक्त्वा मां विजने वने
O lion-chested, mighty-armed lord of Niṣadha, where have you gone, O king, leaving me alone in this desolate forest?
अश्वमेधादिभिर्वीर क्रतुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः। कथमिष्ट्वा नरव्याघ्र मयि मिथ्या प्रवर्तसे
O hero, having performed horse-sacrifices and other rites with abundant gifts, how can you, O tiger among men, act falsely toward me?
यत्त्वयोक्तं नरश्रेष्ठ मत्समक्षं महाद्युते। कर्तुमर्हसि कल्याण तदृतं पार्थिवर्षभ
What you promised before me, O best of men, O greatly illustrious one, you ought to fulfill, O bull among kings, for that is right.
यच्चोक्तं विहगैर्हंसैः समीपे तव भूमिप। मत्सकाशे च तैरुक्तं तदवेक्षितुमर्हसि
And what was spoken by the birds, the swans, near you, O king, and what they said to me—you ought to consider that.
चत्वार एकतो वेदाः साङ्गोपाङ्गाः सविस्तराः। स्वधीता मनुजव्याघ्र सत्यमेकं किलैकतः
On one side are the four Vedas, with their branches and explanations, thoroughly studied, O tiger among men; on the other, truth alone stands.
तस्मादर्हसि शत्रुघ्न सत्यं कर्तुं नरेश्वर। उक्तवानसि यद्वीर मत्सकाशे पुरा वचः
Therefore, O destroyer of foes, O lord of men, you ought to keep your word, O hero, that you once spoke to me.
हा वीर ननुनामाहमिष्टा किल तवानघ। अस्यामटव्यां घोरायां किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे
Alas, O hero, was I not indeed dear to you? In this terrible forest, why do you not answer me?
भर्त्सयत्येष मां रौद्रो व्यात्तास्यो दारुणाकृतिः। अरण्यराट् क्षुधाविष्टः किं मां न त्रातुमर्हसि
This fierce one with gaping mouth and dreadful form is threatening me, the lord of the forest, maddened by hunger—why do you not protect me?
न मे त्वदन्या काचिद्धि प्रियाऽस्तीत्यब्रवीस्तदा। तामृतां कुरु कल्याण पुरोक्तां भारतीं नृप
"I have no one dearer than you," you once said; make that true, O noble one, fulfill the promise you made before, O king.
उन्मत्तां विलपन्तीं मां भार्यामिष्टां नराधिप। ईप्सितामीप्सितोसि त्वं किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे
Though I am distraught, lamenting, your beloved wife, O lord of men, and you are my heart's desire, why do you not answer me?
कृशां दीनां विवर्णां च मलिनां वसुधाधिप। वस्त्रार्धप्रावृतामेकां विलपन्तीमनाथवत्
O lord of the earth, you see me thin, miserable, pale, and dirty, with only half a garment to cover me, alone and lamenting like one without support.
यूथभ्रष्टामिवैकां मां हरिणीं पृथुलोचन। न मानयसि मामार्य रुदन्तीमरिकर्शन
O broad-eyed one, like a doe separated from her herd, I am alone—yet, O noble one, you do not honor me as I weep, tormentor of enemies.
महाराज महारण्ये मामिहैकाकिनीं सतीम्। आभाषमाणां स्वां पत्नीं किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे
O great king, in this vast forest, your own faithful wife speaks to you—why do you not answer me, leaving me here alone?
कुलशीलोपसंपन्नां चारुसर्वाङ्गशोभनाम्। `अनुव्रतां महाराज किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे
O king, I am endowed with family virtue and good conduct, beautiful in all my limbs, and devoted—why do you not reply to me?
नाद्यत्वां प्रतिपश्यामि गिरावस्मिन्नरोत्तम। वने चास्मिन्महाधोरे सिंहव्याघ्रनिषेविते
O best of men, today I do not see you speak with me in this dreadful forest, haunted by lions and tigers.
शयानमुपविष्टं वा स्थितं वा निषधाधिप। प्रस्थितं वा नरश्रेष्ठ मम शोकनिबर्हण
O lord of Niṣadha, whether lying down, sitting, standing, or departing, O best of men, you were the remover of my sorrow.