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."
कुञ्जरद्वीपिमहिषशार्दूलर्क्षमृगानपि। पश्याम्यस्मिन्वने कृत्स्ने ह्यमनुष्यनिषेविते
"In this entire forest, unfrequented by men, I see elephants, buffalo, tigers, bears, and deer."
ऋते त्वां मानुषीं मर्त्यं न पश्यामि महावने। तथा नो यक्षराडद्य मणिभद्रः प्रसीदतु
"Except for you, O human woman, I see no mortal in this great forest. May the lord of the yakṣas, Maṇibhadra, be gracious to us today."
साऽब्रवीद्वणिजः सर्वान्सार्थवाहं च तं ततः। क्वनु यास्यति सार्थोऽयमेतदाख्यातुमर्हसि
She then said to all the merchants and to their leader: 'Where is this caravan going? You should tell me this.'
सार्थोऽयं चेदिराजस्य सुबाहोः सत्यदर्शिनः। क्षिप्रं जनपदं गन्ता लाभाय मनुजात्मजे
This caravan belongs to Subahu, the truthful king of Cedi; O daughter of man, it will soon go to the countryside for profit.
सा तच्छ्रुत्वाऽनवद्याङ्गी सार्थवाहवचस्तदा। जगाम सह तेनैव सार्थेन पतिलालसा
Hearing the words of the caravan leader, she of flawless limbs then went with that caravan, longing for her husband.
अथ काले बहुतिथे वने महति दारुणे। तटाकं सर्वतोभद्रं पद्मसौगन्धिकायुतम्
After many days, in a vast and terrible forest, they came upon a lake, auspicious on all sides, filled with lotuses and fragrant water-lilies.
ददृशुर्वणिजो रम्यं प्रभूतयवसेन्धनम्। बहुमूलफलोपेतं नानापक्षिनिषेवितम्
The merchants saw a delightful place, rich in grass and firewood, abundant with roots and fruits, frequented by many kinds of birds.
तं दृष्ट्वा मृष्टसलिलं मनोहारि सुशीतलम्। सुपरिश्रान्तवाहास्ते निवेशाय मनो दधुः
Seeing that charming, cool, and clear water, their animals utterly exhausted, they set their minds on making camp.
संमते सार्थवाहस्य विविशुर्वनमुत्तमम्। उवास सार्थः सुमहान्निशामासाद्य पद्मिनीम्
With the caravan leader's agreement, they entered that excellent forest; the great caravan stayed the night by the lotus-filled lake.
अथार्धरात्रसमये निःशब्दे तिमिरे तदा। सुप्ते सार्थे परिश्रान्ते हस्तियूथमुपागमत्। पानीयार्थं गिरितटान्मदप्रस्रवणाविलम्
Then, at midnight, in deep silence and darkness, while the caravan slept, weary, a herd of elephants came from the mountain slopes, their temples streaming, seeking water.
[अथापश्यत सार्थं तं सार्थजान्सुबहून्गजान्
Then the elephants saw that caravan and the many elephants belonging to the merchants.
ते तान्ग्राम्यगजान्दृष्ट्वा सर्वे वनगजास्तदा। समाद्रवन्त वेगेन जिघांसन्तो मदोत्कटाः
Seeing those domesticated elephants, all the wild elephants, maddened, rushed at them swiftly, intent on killing.
तेषामापततां वेगः करिणां दुःसहोऽभवत्। नगाग्रादिव शीर्णानां शृङ्गाणां पततां क्षितौ। स्पन्दतामपि नागानां मार्गा नष्टा वनोद्भवाः ।।]
The force of the charging elephants was unbearable, like mountain peaks crashing to the ground; even the paths through the forest were lost to the trembling elephants.
मार्गं संरुद्ध्य संसुप्तं पद्मिन्याः सार्थमुत्तमम्। ते तं ममर्दुः सहसा वेष्टमानं महीतले
Blocking the way, the wild elephants suddenly trampled the sleeping, excellent caravan, which was encamped by the lotus lake, as it lay on the ground.
महारवं प्रमुञ्चतो वद्ध्यन्ते शरणार्थिनः। वनगुल्मांश्च धावन्तो निद्रया महतो भयात्
Those seeking refuge, crying out loudly, were struck down; some ran into the forest thickets, driven by great fear and sleep.
केचिद्दन्तैः करैः केचित्केचित्पद्भ्यां हता गजैः
Some were killed by the elephants' tusks, some by their trunks, and some by their feet.
निहतोष्ट्राश्वबहुलाः पदातिजसंकुलाः। भयादाधावमानाश् परस्परहतास्तदा
Camels and horses were slain, the area crowded with footmen; fleeing in fear, they struck each other down.
घोरान्नादान्विमुञ्चन्तो निपेतुर्धरणीतले। वृक्षेष्वासज्यसंभग्नाः पतिता विषमेषु च
Uttering dreadful roars, they fell to the ground, some broken against trees, some fallen in rough places.
एवंप्रकारैर्बहुभिर्दैवेनाक्रम्य हस्तिभिः। राजन्विनिहतं सर्वं समृद्धं सार्थमण्डलम्
In this way, O King, by many such acts, the entire prosperous caravan circle was destroyed by elephants, as ordained by fate.
आरावः सुमहांश्चासीत्रैलोक्यभयकारकः। एषोऽग्निरुत्थितः कष्टस्त्रायध्वं धावताऽधुना
A great clamor arose, terrifying the three worlds: 'This is a terrible fire arisen! Save yourselves, run now!'