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.'
पूजां चास्या यथान्यायं कृत्वा तत्रतपोधनाः। आस्यतामित्यथोचुस्ते ब्रूहि किं करवामहे
After performing the proper honors for her, those ascetics rich in austerity said, 'Sit down. Tell us, what shall we do for you?'
तानुवाच वरारोहा कच्चिद्भगवतामिह। तपःस्वग्निषु धर्मेषु मृगपक्षिषु चानघाः
That noble lady asked them, 'Are you all, revered ones, unharmed here in your austerities, sacred fires, duties, and among the deer and birds?'
कुशलं वो महाभागाः स्वधर्माचरणेषु च। तैरुक्ता कुशलं भद्रे सर्वत्रेति यशस्विनी
'Is all well with you, O greatly fortunate ones, in the practice of your own duties?' To her, the illustrious ascetics replied, 'All is well everywhere, O blessed one.'
ब्रूहि सर्वानवद्याङ्गि का त्वं किंच चिकीर्षसि। दृष्ट्वैव ते परंरूपं द्युतिं च परमामिह
'Tell us everything, flawless-limbed one—who are you, and what do you seek? Seeing your extraordinary beauty and radiance here, we are amazed.'
विस्मयो नः समुत्पन्नः समाश्वसिहि मा शुचः। अस्यारण्यस्य देवी त्वमुताहोऽस्य महीभृतः। अस्याश्च नद्याः कल्याणि वद सत्यमनिन्दिते
'A sense of wonder has arisen in us; take comfort, do not grieve. Are you the goddess of this forest, or perhaps of this mountain, or of this auspicious river, O faultless one? Speak the truth, O blessed lady.'
साऽब्रवीत्तानृपीन्नाहमरण्यस्यास्य देवता। न चाप्यस्य गिरर्विप्रा नैव नद्याश्च देवता
She replied to those sages, 'I am not the deity of this forest, nor of this mountain, O brahmins, nor of this river.'
मानुषीं मां विजानीत यूयं सर्वेतपोधनाः। विस्तरेणाभिधास्यामि तन्मे शृणुत सर्वशः
'Know me to be human, all of you ascetics. I will tell you everything in detail; listen to me fully.'
विदर्भेपु महीपालो भीमो नाम महीपतिः। तस्य मां तनयां सर्वे जानीत द्विजसत्तमाः
'In Vidarbha there is a king named Bhīma, ruler of the land; know me, O best of brahmins, as his daughter.'
निपधाधिपतिर्धीमान्नलो नाम महायशाः। वीरः संग्रामजिद्विद्वान्मम भर्ता विशांपतिः
The wise and illustrious lord of the Nishadhas, named Nala, a hero, victorious in battle, learned, is my husband, the ruler of men.
देवताभ्यर्चनपरो द्विजातिजनवत्सलः। गोप्ता निपधवंशस्य महातेजा महाबलः
Devoted to the worship of the gods, affectionate to the twice-born, protector of the Nishadha lineage, he is possessed of great energy and great strength.