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.
नानाधातुसमाकीर्णं विविधोपलभूषितम्। आस्यारण्यस्य महतः केतुभूतमिवोच्छितम्
Covered with many kinds of minerals, adorned with various stones, it rises like a banner in this great forest.
सिंहशार्दूलमातङ्गवराहर्क्षमृगायुतम्। पतत्रिभिर्बहुविधैः समन्तादनुनादितम्
Resounding all around with lions, tigers, elephants, boars, bears, and deer, and with many kinds of birds.
किंशुकाशोकबकुलपुन्नागैरुपशोभितम्। [कर्णिकारधवप्लक्षैः सुपुष्पैरुपशोभितम् ।।]
Adorned with kimshuka, asoka, bakula, and punnaga trees, [and embellished with karṇikāra, dhava, and plaksha trees bearing splendid blossoms.]
सरिद्भिः सविहङ्गाभिः शिखरैश्च समाकुलम्। `पृथिव्या रुचिराकारं चूडामणिमिव स्थितम्'। निरिराजमिमं तावत्पृच्छामि नृपतिं प्रति
Crowded with rivers teeming with birds and peaks, its beautiful form stands upon the earth like a crest-jewel; I shall ask the king about this.
भगवन्नचलश्रेष्ठ दिव्यद्रशन विश्रुत। शरण्य बहुकल्याण नमस्तेऽस्तु महीधर
O revered one, greatest of mountains, famed for your divine vision, refuge of many virtues, salutations to you, O mighty hill.
प्रणमे त्वाऽभिगम्याहं राजपुत्रीं निबोध माम्। राजस्नुषां राजभार्यां दमयन्तीति विश्रुताम्
I approach and bow to you; know me as a princess, the daughter-in-law and wife of a king, renowned as Damayanti.
राजा विदर्भाधिपतिः पिता मम महारथः। भीमो नाम क्षितिपतिश्चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षिता
My father is the king of Vidarbha, a mighty charioteer, named Bhima, ruler of the earth and protector of the four orders.
राजसूयाश्वमेधानां क्रतूनां दक्षिणावताम्। आहर्ता पार्थिवश्रेष्ठः पृथुचार्वञ्चितेक्षणः
That foremost of kings, broad-eyed and splendid, is the performer of Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices, and giver of abundant gifts.
ब्रह्मण्यः साधुवृत्तश्च सत्यवागनसूयकः। शीलवान्वीर्यसंपन्नः पृथुश्रीर्धर्मविच्छुचिः
He is devoted to Brahman, of virtuous conduct, truthful and free from deceit, endowed with character and valor, possessing great wealth, and pure in his understanding of dharma.
सम्यग्गोप्ता विदर्भाणां निर्जितारिगणः प्रभुः। तस्य मां विद्धि तनयां भगवंस्त्वामुपस्थिताम्
He is the proper guardian of the Vidarbhas, lord who has conquered his foes; know me as his daughter, O revered one, who has come before you.
निषधेषु महाराजः श्वशुरो मे नरोत्तमः। गृहीतनामा विख्यातो वीरसेन इति स्म ह
In Nishadha, my father-in-law is the illustrious king, the noble Virasena, renowned among men.
तस्य राज्ञः सुतो वीरः श्रीमान्सत्यपराक्रमः। क्रमप्राप्तं पितुः स्वं यो राज्यं समनुशास्ति ह
His son, a valiant and glorious man of true prowess, now governs the kingdom inherited from his father.
नलो नामारिहा श्यामः पुण्यल्को इति श्रुतः। ब्रह्मण्यो वेदविद्वाग्मी पुण्यकृत्सोमपोऽग्निचित्
He is called Nala, destroyer of enemies, dark-complexioned, famed as Punyalko; devoted to Brahman, learned in the Vedas, eloquent, performer of sacred rites, and drinker of Soma.
यष्टा दाता च योद्धा च सम्यक्चैव प्रशासिता। तस्य मामचलश्रेष्ठ विद्धि भार्यामिहागताम्
He is a sacrificer, giver, warrior, and just ruler; know me, O greatest of mountains, as his wife who has come here.
त्यक्तश्रियं भर्तृहीनामनाथां व्यसनान्विताम्। अन्वेषमाणां भर्तारं नलं नरवरोत्तमम्
Abandoned by fortune, bereft of my husband, helpless and afflicted, I seek my husband, Nala, the foremost among men.
खमुल्लिखद्भिरेतैर्हि त्वया शृङ्गशतैर्नृपः। कच्चिद्दृष्टोऽचलश्रेष्ठ वनेऽस्मिन्दारुणे नलः
O king, with your hundreds of peaks scraping the sky, O greatest of mountains, have you seen Nala in this harsh forest?
विक्रान्तः सत्त्ववान्वीरो भर्ता मम महायशाः। निषधानामधिपतिः कच्चिद्दृष्टस्त्वया नलः
My husband, valiant, steadfast, and renowned, ruler of the Nishadhas—O mountain, have you seen Nala?
कं मीं विलपतीमेकां पर्वतश्रेष्ठ विह्वलाम्। गिरा नाश्वासयस्यद्यस्वां सुतामिव दुखितां
O best of mountains, whom do you comfort today with your words, as a father consoles his sorrowful daughter, seeing me lamenting alone and distressed?
वीर विक्रान्त धर्मज्ञ सत्यसंध महीपते। यद्यस्यस्मिन्वने राजन्दर्शयात्मानमात्मना
O king, valiant, steadfast, knower of dharma, true to his word, if you are in this forest, reveal yourself by your own will.
कदा सुस्निग्गम्भीरां जीमूतस्वनसन्निभाम्। श्रोष्यामि नैषधस्याहं वाचं ताममृतोपमाम्
When shall I hear the deep, gentle voice of Nala, like the sound of thunderclouds, that nectar-like speech?