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?"
वद सत्यं वनस्यास्य पर्वतस्याथवा दिशः। देवता त्वं हि कल्याणि त्वां वयं शरणं गताः
"Speak the truth—are you of this forest, this mountain, or some other region? Are you a goddess, O blessed one? We have come to you for refuge."
यक्षी वा राक्षसी वा त्वमुताहोसि सुराङ्गना। सर्वथाकुरु नः स्वस्ति रक्ष चास्माननिन्दिते
"Are you a yakṣī, a rākṣasī, or a celestial maiden? In any case, grant us safety and protect us, O blameless one."
यथाऽयंसर्वथा सार्थः क्षेमी शीघ्रमितो व्रजेत्। तथा विधत्स्व कल्याणि यथा श्रेयो हि नो भवेत्
"So that this entire caravan may quickly and safely depart from here, arrange it, O blessed one, in whatever way is best for us."
तथोक्ता तेन सार्थेन दमयन्ती नृपात्मजा। प्रत्युवाच ततः साध्वी भर्तृव्यसनपीडिता
Thus addressed by the caravan, Damayantī, the king’s daughter, afflicted by her husband’s misfortune, replied, steadfast in virtue.
सार्तवाहं च सार्थं च जना ये चात्र केचन। युवस्थविरबालाश् सार्थस्य च पुरोगमाः
"The caravan leader, the caravan itself, and all the people here—young and old, children, and the caravan’s foremost—"
मानुषीं मां विजानीत मनुजाधिपतेः सुताम्। नृपस्नुषां राजभार्यां भर्तृदर्शनलालसाम्
"Know me as a human woman, the daughter of a king, the daughter-in-law of a king, a royal wife, longing to see my husband."
विदर्भराण्मम पिता भर्ता राजा च नैषधः। नलोनाम महाभागस्तं मार्गाम्यपराजितम्
"My father is the king of the Vidarbhas, my husband is the king of Niṣadha, the greatly fortunate Nala by name, whom I seek, undefeated."
यदि जानीत नृपतिं क्षिप्रं शंसत मे प्रियम्। नलं पुरुषशार्दूलममित्रगणसूदनम्
"If you know the king, quickly tell me, for he is dear to me—Nala, the tiger among men, destroyer of enemy hosts."
तामुवाचानवद्याङ्गीं सार्थस्य महतः प्रभुः। सार्थवाहः शुचिर्नाम शृणु कल्याणि मद्वचः
To her of flawless limbs, the lord of the great caravan, the caravan leader named Śuci, spoke: "Hear my words, O blessed one."
अहं सार्थस्य नेता वै सार्थवाहः शुचिस्मिते। मनुष्यं नलनामानं न पश्यामि यशस्विनि
"I am the leader of the caravan, O fair-smiling one. I do not see any man named Nala here, O illustrious lady."