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.
अशोचत्तत्र वैदर्भी किंनु मे दुष्कतं कृतम्। योपि मे निर्जनेऽरण्ये संप्राप्तोऽयं जनार्णवः
There, the princess of Vidarbha lamented: 'What wrong have I done? Why has this multitude of people come upon me in this desolate wilderness?'
स हतो हस्तियूथेन मन्दभाग्यान्ममैव तत्। प्राप्तव्यं सुचिरं दुःखं नूनमद्यापि वै मया
He was killed by the herd of elephants—because of my ill fortune, this suffering must surely be endured by me for a long time, even now.
नाप्राप्तकालो म्रियते श्रुतं वृद्धानुशासनम्। या नाहमद्य मृदिता हस्तियूथेन दुःखिता
No one dies before their destined time; this is the teaching of the elders. That I was not crushed today by the elephant herd, though afflicted, is because my time has not yet come.
न ह्यदैवकृतंकिंचिन्नराणामिह विद्यते। न च मे बालभावेऽपि किंचित्पापकृतं कृतम्
There is nothing among men here that is not caused by fate; nor have I, even in childhood, committed any sinful act.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यदिदं दुःखमागतम्। मन्ये स्वयंवरकृतेलोकपाला समागताः
Whatever suffering has come to me—by deed, thought, or word—I think it is because the guardians of the world assembled at my svayaṃvara.
प्रत्याख्याता मया तत्र नलस्यार्थाय देवताः। नूनं तेषां प्रभावेन वियोगं प्राप्तवत्यहम्
There, for Nala's sake, I rejected the gods; surely, by their power, I have come to this separation.
एवमादीनि दुःखार्ता सा विलप्य वराङ्गना। प्रलापानि तदा तानि दमयन्ती पतिव्रता
Thus, afflicted by sorrow, that noble lady Damayanti, devoted to her husband, uttered such lamentations.
हतशेषैः सह तदा ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। अगच्छद्राजशार्दूल दुःखशोकपरायणा
Then, together with the surviving Brahmins, learned in the Vedas, she departed, O tiger among kings, absorbed in grief and sorrow.
गच्छन्ती सा चिराद्बाला पुरमासादयन्महत्। सायाह्नि चेदिराजस् सुबाहोः सत्यवादिनः
After a long journey, that young girl reached a great city in the evening—the city of Cedi's truthful king, Subāhu.
सा तु तच्चारुसर्वाङ्गी सुबाहोस्तुङ्गगोपुरम्।' वस्त्रार्धेन च संवीता प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम्
That beautiful woman, with all her limbs lovely, entered the splendid city of Subāhu, wrapped in half a garment, through the tall gateway.
तां विह्वलां कृशां दीनां मुक्तकेशीममार्जिताम्। उन्मत्तामिव गच्छन्तीं ददृशुः पुरवासिनः
The city dwellers saw her wandering—distressed, emaciated, miserable, with loose hair and unearned appearance—like one mad.
प्रविशन्तीं तु तां दृष्ट्वा चेदिराजपुरीं तदा। अनुजग्मुस्तत्र बाला ग्रामिपुत्राः कुतूहलात्
Seeing her enter the city of the Cedi king, the children of the villagers followed her out of curiosity.
सा तैः परिवृताऽगच्छत्समीपं राजवेश्मनः। तां प्रासादगताऽपश्यद्राजमाता जनैर्वृताम्
Surrounded by them, she went near the royal palace; the queen, seeing her encircled by people, noticed her from the palace.
धात्रीमुवाच च्छैनामानयेह ममान्तिकम्। जनेन क्लिश्यते बाला दुःखिता शरणार्थिनी
She said to her nurse, 'Bring her to me; the girl is troubled by the crowd, sorrowful, and seeking refuge.'
तादृग्रूपं च पश्यामि विद्योतयति मे गृहम्। उन्मत्तवेषा कल्याणी श्रीरिवायतलोचना
I see such beauty in her—it brightens my house. Though dressed as one mad, this auspicious woman, with wide eyes, is like fortune itself.
सा जनं वारयित्वा तं प्रासादतलमुत्तमम्। आरोप्य विस्मिता राजन्दमयन्तीमपृच्छत
Having sent away the people, she brought Damayanti up to the highest floor of the palace, and, amazed, questioned her.
एवमप्यसुखाविष्टा बिभर्षि परमं वपुः। भासि विद्युदिवाभ्रेषु शंस मे काऽसिकस्य वा
Though you are afflicted by sorrow, you bear a most splendid form; you shine like lightning among daytime clouds. Tell me, who are you? Are you the queen of Kāśī?
न हि ते मानुषं रूपं भूषणैरपि वर्जितम्। असहाया नरेभ्यश्च नोद्विजस्यमरप्रभे
Your appearance is not human, even without ornaments; though alone among men, you do not fear, O one radiant as a god.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या भैमी वचनमब्रवीत्। मानुषीं मां विजानीहि भर्तारं समनुव्रताम्
Hearing her words, Bhīma’s daughter replied: ‘Know me to be a human woman, devoted to my husband.’
सैरन्ध्रीं जातिसंपन्नां भुजिष्यां कामवासिनीम्। फलमूलाशनामेकां यत्रसायंप्रतिश्रयाम्
I am a Sairandhrī by birth, of noble lineage, once a mistress, now living as I please, subsisting on fruits and roots, alone, seeking shelter each evening wherever I can.