[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.'
राक्षसी वा ध्रुवं यक्षी पिशाची वा भयंकरी। तस्याः सर्वमिदं पापं नात्र कार्या विचारणा
'She must be a Rākṣasī, or a Yakṣī, or a terrifying Piśācī; all this evil is hers—there is no need for further inquiry.'
यदि पश्याम तां पापां सार्थघ्नीं नैकदुःखदाम्। लोष्टभिः पांसुभिश्चैव तृणैः काष्ठैश्च मुष्टिभिः। अवश्यमेव हन्यामः सार्थस्य किल कृत्यकाम्
'If we see that wicked woman, destroyer of the caravan, bringer of manifold sorrows, we must surely kill her with clods, dust, grass, sticks, or fists—for the sake of the caravan's welfare.'
दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वाक्यं तेषां सुदारुणम्। ह्रीता भीता च संविग्रा प्राद्रवद्यत्र काननम्
But Damayanti, hearing their dreadful words, ashamed, afraid, and distressed, fled into the forest.
आशङ्कमाना तत्पापमात्मानं पर्यदेवयत्
Fearing that evil, she lamented for herself.
अहो ममोपरि विधेः संरम्भो दारुणो महान्। नानुबध्नाति कुशलं कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम्
'Ah, what a terrible and great wrath of fate has fallen upon me! Whose deed is this the fruit of, that brings no good?'
न स्मराम्यशुभं किंचित्कृतं कस्यचिदण्वपि। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम्
'I do not recall having done any wrong, even the slightest, to anyone—by deed, thought, or word. Whose deed is this the fruit of?'
नूनं जन्मान्तरकृतं पापां माऽऽपतितं महत्। अपश्चिमामिमां कष्टामापदं प्राप्तवत्यहम्
'Surely some great sin committed in a former birth has now befallen me, and I have come to this final, dreadful calamity.'
भर्तृराज्यापहरणं स्वजनाच्च रपराजयः। भर्त्रा सह वियोगश्च तनयाभ्यां च विच्युतिः। निर्नाथता वने वासो बहुव्यालनिषेविते
'The loss of my husband's kingdom, the defeat of my kin, separation from my husband, loss of my children, abandonment, dwelling in the forest haunted by many beasts—'
अथापरेद्युः संप्राप्ते हतशिष्टा जनास्तदा। वनगुल्माद्विनिष्क्रम्य शोचन्ते वैशसं कृतम्। भ्रातरं पितरं पुत्रं सखायं च नराधिप
Then, on the following day, the survivors emerged from the forest thickets and mourned the slaughter that had occurred, grieving for their brothers, fathers, sons, and friends, O king.
हन्यमाने तदा सार्थे दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता। ब्राह्मणैः सहिता तत्रवने तु न विनाशिता
While the caravan was being attacked, Damayanti, radiant with a pure smile, was there in the forest with the Brahmins, and she was not destroyed.