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!'
रत्नराशिर्विशीर्णोऽयं गृह्णीध्वं किं प्रधावत। सामान्यमेतद्द्रविणं न मिथ्या वचनं मम
Here is a heap of jewels scattered—take them, why do you run away? This wealth is common property; my words are not false.
पुनरेवाभिधास्यामि चिन्तयध्वं सुकातराः। एवमेवाभिभाषन्तो विद्रवन्ति भयात्तदा
I will say it again—think carefully, you who are eager for ease. Even as they spoke thus, they fled in fear at that time.
तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने दारुणे जनसंक्षये। दमयन्ती च बुबुधे भयसंत्रस्तमानसा। अपश्यद्वैशसं तत्र सर्वलोकभयंकरम्
While such a dreadful destruction of people was taking place, Damayanti, her mind seized by fear, became aware of the calamity there, which struck terror into all.
अदृष्टपूर्वं तद्दृष्ट्वा बाला पद्मनिभेक्षणा। संसक्तवदनाश्वासा उत्तस्थौ भयविह्वला
Seeing that, which she had never seen before, the young woman with lotus-like eyes, her breath caught in her throat, rose up, overwhelmed by fear.
ये तु तत्र विनिर्मुक्ताः सार्थात्केचिदविक्षताः। तेऽब्रुवन्सहिताः सर्वे कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम्
But those who had escaped unharmed from the caravan, all gathered together, said: 'Whose deed is this the result of?'
नूनं न पूजितोऽस्माभिर्मणिभद्रो महायशाः। तथा यक्षाधिपः श्रीमान्न वै वैश्रवणः प्रभुः
Surely we did not honor Maṇibhadra, famed and glorious, nor the illustrious lord of the Yakṣas, Vaiśravaṇa.
न पूजा विघ्रकर्तॄणामथवा प्रथमं कृता
Nor did we first perform worship for the guardians of the caravan.
शकुनानां फलं वाऽथ विपरीतिमिदं ध्रुवम्। ग्रहा न विपरीतास्तु किमन्यदिदमागतम्
Or perhaps this is the result of omens from birds, or surely some reversal; the planets are not adverse—what else could have come upon us?
अपरे त्वब्रुवन्दीना ज्ञातिद्रव्यविनाकृता। याऽसावद्य महासार्थे नारी ह्युन्मत्तदर्शना
But others, miserable, deprived of kin and wealth, said: 'That woman who appeared in the great caravan, with the look of one mad—'
प्रविष्टा विकृताकारा कृत्वा रूपममानुषम्। तयैवं विहिता पूर्वं माया परमदारुणा
'She entered, her form distorted, having assumed an inhuman shape; by her, surely, this dreadful illusion was wrought before.'