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?
वैदर्भ्येहीति विस्पष्टां शुभां राज्ञो महात्मनः। आत्माभिधायिनीमृद्धां मम शोकविनाशिनीं
In the land of the Vidarbhas, I spoke clearly and auspiciously of the great king, naming myself, and uttered words full of hope, which would dispel my sorrow.
इतिसा तं गिरिश्रेष्ठमुक्त्वा पार्थिवनन्दिनी। दमयन्ती ततो भूयो जगाम दिशमुत्तराम्
Having thus addressed that best of mountains, the princess, delight of the king, Damayanti, then proceeded again toward the northern direction.
सा गत्वा त्रीनहोरात्रान्ददर्श परमाङ्गना। तापसारण्यमतुलं दिव्यकाननशोभितम्
After traveling for three days and nights, that noble lady beheld a hermitage-forest, unparalleled and adorned with celestial groves.
वसिष्ठभृग्वत्रिसमैस्तापसैरुपशोभितम्। नियतैः संयताहारैर्दमशौचसमन्वितैः
It was graced by ascetics like Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, and Triśaṅku, who were disciplined, restrained in diet, and endowed with self-control and purity.
अब्भक्षैर्वायुभक्षैश्च पत्राहारैस्तथैव च। जितेन्द्रियैर्महाभागैः स्वर्गमार्गदिदृक्षुभिः
Some sustained by water, some by air, and others by leaves, all having mastered their senses, greatly fortunate, and seeking the path to heaven.
वल्कलाजिनसंवीतैर्मुनिभिः संयतेन्द्रियैः। तापसाध्युषितं रम्यं ददर्शाश्रममण्डलम्
She saw a delightful hermitage-settlement, inhabited by sages clad in bark and deerskin, who had subdued their senses.
नानामृगगणैर्जुष्टं शाखामृगगणायुतम्। तापसैः समुपेतं च सा दृष्ट्वैव समाश्वसत्
It was filled with various kinds of deer, teeming with herds of branch-dwelling animals, and surrounded by ascetics; seeing it, she felt reassured.
सुभ्रूः सुकेशी सुश्रोणी सुकुचा सुद्विजानना। वर्चस्विनी सुप्रतिष्ठा स्वसितायतलोचना
With beautiful brows, lovely hair, graceful hips, charming breasts, and a radiant, well-formed face, she stood firm, her wide eyes shining and white-toothed.
सा विवेशाश्रमपदं वीरसेनसुतप्रिया। योषिद्रत्नं महाभागा दमयन्ती तपस्विनी
That blessed Damayanti, jewel among women and beloved of Vīrasena's son, entered the hermitage, devoted to austerity.
साऽभिवाद्य तपोवृद्धान्विनयावनता स्थिता। स्वागतं त इतिप्रोक्ता तैः सर्वैस्तापसोत्तमैः
She respectfully greeted the elders in asceticism, standing humbly; all those foremost ascetics welcomed her, saying, 'Be at ease here.'