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.
कं नु पृच्छामि दुःखार्ता त्वदर्थे शोककर्शिता। कच्चिद्दृष्टस्त्वयाऽरण्ये संगत्येति नलो नृपः
Whom shall I ask, afflicted by grief for your sake and tormented by sorrow—has anyone seen King Nala in the forest, coming this way?
को नु मे कथयेदद्य वनेऽस्मिन्विष्ठितं नृपम्। अभिरूपं महात्मानं परव्यूहविनाशनम्
Who today will tell me of the king dwelling in this forest, handsome, great-souled, and destroyer of enemy hosts?
यमन्वेपसि राजानं नलं पद्मनिभेक्षणम्। अयंस इति कस्याद्य श्रोष्यामि मधुरां गिरम्
Of whom will I hear today the sweet words, 'This is the king Nala, lotus-eyed,' for whom you tremble?
अरण्यराडयं श्रीमांश्चतुर्दंष्ट्रो महाहनुः। शार्दूलोऽभिमुखोऽभ्येति पृच्छाम्येनमशङ्किता
Here comes the lord of the forest, splendid, with four fangs and great jaws—a tiger approaches me face to face, yet I question him without fear.
भवान्मृगाणामधिपस्त्वमस्मिन्कानने प्रभुः। विदर्भराजतनयां दमयन्तीति विद्धि माम्
You are the lord of the beasts, the master in this forest; know me as Damayantī, daughter of the king of Vidarbha.
निषधाधिपतेर्भार्यां नलस्यामित्रघातिनः। पतिमन्वेषतीमेकां कृपणां शोककर्शिताम्
I am the wife of Nala, lord of Niṣadha, slayer of foes, searching for my husband, alone, wretched, and consumed by sorrow.
आश्वासय मृगेन्द्रेह यदि दृष्टस्त्वया नलः। `सिंहस्कन्धो महाबाहुः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः
O king of beasts, if you have seen Nala—broad-shouldered, mighty-armed, with eyes like lotus petals—comfort me here.
अथवाऽरण्यनृपते नलं यदि न शंससि। मां खादय मृगश्रेष्ठ दुःखादस्माद्विमोचय
But if, O lord of the forest, you cannot tell me of Nala, then devour me, best of beasts, and release me from this suffering.
श्रुत्वाऽरण्ये विलपितं ममैष मृगराट् स्वयम्। यात्येष मृष्टसलिलामापगां सागरोपमाम्
Hearing my lament in the forest, this king of beasts himself goes to the river, clear as crystal and vast as the ocean.
इमं शिलोच्चयं पृच्छे शृङ्गैर्बहुभिरुच्छितैः। विराजितं दिवस्पृग्भिर्नैकवर्णैर्मनोरमैः
I question this mountain, adorned with many lofty peaks, shining with sky-touching, variously colored, delightful summits.