कोनु मे जीवितेनार्थस्तमृते पुरुषर्षभम्। कथं भविष्याम्यद्याहं भर्तृशोकाभिपीडिता
What purpose does my life serve without that best of men? How shall I live, afflicted by the grief of separation from my husband?
तथा विलपतीमेकामरण्ये भीमनन्दिनीम्। दमयन्तीमथोचुस्ते तापसाः सत्यवादिनः
As she lamented thus alone in the forest, Damayanti, praised for her virtue, was addressed by the ascetics, speakers of truth.
उदर्कस्तव कल्याणि कल्याणो भविता शुभे। वयं पश्याम तपसा क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि नैषधम्
A blessed and auspicious outcome awaits you, O noble lady; by our ascetic power we see that you will soon behold the Nishadha king.
निपधानामधिपतिं नलं रिपुनिपातिनम्। भैमि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठं द्रक्ष्यसे विगतज्वरम्
You will see Nala, lord of the Nishadhas, subduer of enemies, O daughter of Bhima, best among the righteous, free from affliction.
विमुक्तं सर्वपापेभ्यः सर्वरत्नसमन्वितम्। तदेव नगरं श्रेष्ठं प्रशासतमरिन्दमम्
Freed from all sins, endowed with all gems, ruling that excellent city, the subduer of foes.
द्विपतां भयकर्तारं सुहृदां शोकनाशनम्। पतिमेष्यसि कल्याणि कल्याणाभिजनं नृपम्
You will regain as husband the king of noble birth, who causes fear among enemies and removes the sorrow of friends, O blessed lady.
एवमुक्त्वा नलस्येष्टां महिषीं पार्थिवात्मजाम्। अन्तर्हितास्तापसास्ते साग्निहोत्राश्रमास्तथा
Having spoken thus to Nala's beloved queen, the daughter of the king, those ascetics, along with their sacrificial fires and hermitage, vanished from sight.
सा दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं विस्मिता ह्यभवत्तदा। दमयन्त्यनवद्याङ्गी वीरसेननृपस्नुषा
Seeing this great wonder, Damayanti, flawless in form and daughter-in-law of King Virasena, was utterly astonished.
चिन्तयामास वैदर्भी किमेतद्दृष्टवत्यहम्
The princess of Vidarbha began to ponder, 'What is this that I have just witnessed?'
किंनु स्वप्नो मया दृष्टः कोऽयंविधिरिहाभवत्। क्वनु ते तापसाः सर्वे क्व तदाश्रममण्डलम्
'Was it a dream that I saw? What kind of fate has occurred here? Where have all those ascetics gone, and where is that circle of hermitages?'
क्व सा पुण्यजला रम्या नदी द्विजनिषेविता। क्वनु ते ह नगा हृद्याः फलपुष्पोपशोभिताः
'Where is that lovely, sacred river frequented by twice-born sages? And where are those delightful trees adorned with fruit and flowers?'
इत्येवं नरशार्दूल विस्मिता कमलेक्षणा।' ध्यात्वा चिरं भीमसुता दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता। भर्तृशोकपरा दीनाविवर्णवदनाऽभवत्
O tiger among men, thus, lotus-eyed Damayanti, lost in wonder, pondered for a long time; the pure-smiling daughter of Bhima, overwhelmed by grief for her husband, became pale and dispirited.
सा गत्वाऽथापरां भूमिं बाष्पसंदिग्धया गिरा। विललापाश्रुपूर्णाक्षी दृष्ट्वाऽशोकतरुं ततः
Then, with a voice choked by tears, she went to another place; her eyes filled with tears, she lamented upon seeing an ashoka tree there.
उपगम्य तरुश्रेष्ठमशोकं पुष्पितं वने। पल्लवापीडितं हृद्यं विहङ्गैरनुनादितम्
Approaching that best of trees, the blossoming ashoka in the forest, covered with fresh shoots and pleasing, resounding with the calls of birds—
अहो बतायमगमः श्रीमानस्मिन्वनान्तरे। आपीडैर्बहुभिर्भाति श्रीमान्पर्वतराडिव
'Ah, how splendid is this lordly tree in the heart of the forest! Laden with many clusters of leaves, it shines like a king of mountains.'
विशोकां कुरु मां क्षिप्रमशोक प्रियदर्शन। वीतशोकभयाबाधं कच्चित्त्वं दृष्टवान्नृपम्
'O beautiful ashoka, quickly make me free from sorrow! Free from grief, fear, and affliction—have you perhaps seen my husband, the king?'
नलं नामारिदमनं नमयन्त्याः प्रियं पतिम्। निमधानामधिपतिं दृष्टवानसि मे प्रियम्
'Have you seen Nala, subduer of foes, beloved husband of Damayanti, lord of the Nishadhas, my dear one?'
एकवस्त्रार्धसंवीतं सुकुमारतनुत्वचम्। व्यसनेनार्दितं वीरमरण्यमिदमागतम्
'Clad in a single garment, half-covered, with delicate limbs, afflicted by misfortune, that hero who has come to this forest—have you seen him?'
यथा विशोका गच्छेयमशोकनग तत्कुरु। सत्यनामा भवाशोक मम शोकविनाशनात्
'O ashoka tree, grant that I may become free from sorrow as your name proclaims; let your name be true by destroying my grief.'
एवंसाऽशोकवृत्तं तमार्ता वै परिगम्य ह। जगाम दारुणतरं देशं भैमी वराङ्गना
Thus, grieving, she circled the ashoka tree, and the noble Bhaimi, stricken with sorrow, went on to a region even more desolate.
सा ददर्श नगान्नैकान्नैकाश्च सरितस्तथा। नैकांश्च पर्वतान्रम्यान्नैकांश्च मृगपक्षिणः
She saw many trees, many rivers, many lovely mountains, and many kinds of wild animals and birds.
कन्दरांश्च नितम्बांश्च नदीश्चाद्भुतदर्शनाः। ददर्श तान्भीमसुता पतिमन्वेषती तदा
She saw caves, mountain slopes, and wondrous rivers, as the daughter of Bhima searched for her husband.
गत्वा प्रकृष्टमध्वानं दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता। ददर्शाथ महासार्थं हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुलम्
After traveling a long distance, Damayanti of pure smile saw a great caravan crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots.
उत्तरन्तं नदीं रम्यां प्रसन्नसलिलां शुभाम्। सुशीततोयां विस्तीर्णां ह्रदिनीं वेतसैर्वृताम्
She saw a beautiful northern river, clear and auspicious, with cool, pure waters, broad and deep, bordered by canebrakes.
प्रोद्धुष्टां क्रौञ्चकुररैश्चक्रबाकोपकूजिताम्। कूर्मग्राहझवाकीर्णां विपुलद्वीपशोभिताम्
Resounded by the cries of curlews, cranes, chakravāka ducks, and herons, and filled with turtles, crocodiles, and fish, that vast expanse was adorned with great islands.
सा दृष्ट्वैव महासार्थं नलपत्नी यशस्विनी। उपसर्प्य वरारोहा जनमध्यं विवेश ह
Upon seeing the great caravan, the illustrious wife of Nala, of noble form, approached and entered among the people.
उन्मत्तरूपा शोकार्ता तथा वस्त्रार्धसंवृता। कृशा विवर्णा मलिना पांसुध्वस्तशिरोरुहा
Appearing mad, afflicted by grief, with her garments half-covering her, emaciated, pale, dirty, and her hair disheveled with dust—
तां दृष्ट्वा तत्रमनुजाः केचिद्भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः। केचिच्चिन्तापरास्तस्थुः केचित्तत्रविचुक्रुशुः
Seeing her there, some of the people fled in fear, some stood absorbed in thought, and others began to cry out.
प्रहसन्ति स्म तां केचिदभ्यसूयन्ति चापरे। कुर्वन्त्यस्यांदयांकेचित्पप्रच्छुश्चापि भारत
Some laughed at her, others reproached her, some showed her compassion, and some questioned her, O Bhārata.
काऽसि कस्यासि कल्याणि किं वा मृगयसे वने। त्वां दृष्ट्वा व्यथिताः स्मेह कच्चित्त्वमसिं मानुषी
"Who are you? Whose are you, O beautiful one? What are you seeking in the forest? Seeing you, we are disturbed—are you truly human?"