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.
सत्यवान्धर्मवित्प्राज्ञः सत्यसंधोऽरिमर्दनः। ब्रह्मण्यो दैवतपरः श्रीमान्परपुरंजयः
Truthful, knower of righteousness, wise, steadfast in his word, subduer of foes, devoted to Brahmins and the gods, prosperous, and conqueror of enemy cities.
नलो नाम नृपश्रेष्ठो देवराजसमद्युतिः। मम भर्ता विशालाक्षः पूर्णेन्दुवदनोऽरिहा
Nala, the foremost of kings, equal in splendor to the king of the gods, is my husband, broad-eyed, with a face like the full moon, destroyer of enemies.
आहर्ता क्रतुमुख्यानां वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः। सपत्नानां मृधे हन्ता रविसोमसमप्रभः
Performer of chief sacrifices, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, slayer of rivals in battle, radiant like the sun and moon.
स कैश्चिन्निकृतिप्रज्ञैरनार्यैरकृतात्मभिः। आहृय पृथिवीपालः सत्यधर्मपरायणः। देवनेकुशलैर्जिह्मैर्जितो राज्यं वसूनि च
That king, devoted to truth and righteousness, was deceived by some cunning, ignoble, and wicked men, and, though skilled in virtue, was defeated by deceitful experts in the art of dice, losing his kingdom and wealth.
तस्य मामवगच्छध्वं भार्यां राजर्पभस्य वै। दमयन्तीति विख्यातां भर्तुर्दर्शनलालसाम्
Know me to be the wife of that illustrious king, renowned as Damayanti, longing for the sight of her husband.
सा वनानि गिरींश्चैव सरांसि सरितस्तथा। पल्वलानि च सर्वाणि तथाऽरण्यानि सर्वशः
She has wandered through forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, all the marshes, and all the wildernesses.
अन्वेपमाणआ भर्तारं नलं रणविशारदम्। महात्मानं कृतास्त्रं च विचरामीह दुःखिता
Seeking her husband Nala, skilled in battle, great-souled and accomplished in arms, I wander here in sorrow.
कच्चिद्भगवतां रम्यं तपोवनमिदं नृपः। भवेत्प्राप्तो नलो नाम निपधानां जनाधिपः
Has the king named Nala, lord of the Nishadhas, perhaps come to this beautiful hermitage of the blessed ones?
यत्कृतेऽहमिदं दुःखं प्रपन्ना भृशदारुणम्। वनं प्रतियं धोरं शार्दूलमृगसेवितम्
For his sake I have come to this terribly harsh forest, frequented by tigers and deer, plunged into great suffering.
यदि कैश्चिदहोरात्रैर्न द्रक्ष्यामि नलं नृपम्। आत्मानं श्रेयसा योक्ष्ये देहस्यास्य विमोक्षणात्
If within a few days and nights I do not see King Nala, I will unite my soul with blessedness by abandoning this body.