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.
असङ्ख्येयगुणो भर्ता मां च नित्यमनुव्रतः। भक्ताऽहमपि तं वीरं छायेवानुगता पथि
My husband possesses countless virtues and is ever devoted to me; I too am devoted to that hero, following him like a shadow on his path.
तस्य दैवात्प्रसङ्गोऽभूदतिमात्रं सुदेवने। द्यूते स निर्जितश्चैव वनमेक उपेयिवान्
By fate, he became entangled in a great misfortune in the forest; defeated at dice, he entered the forest alone.
तमेकवसनच्छन्नमुन्म्तमिव विह्वलम्। आश्वासयन्ती भर्तारमहमप्यगमं वनम्
When my husband, covered in a single garment, distraught like one mad, was wandering, I too followed him into the forest, comforting him.
स कदाचिद्वने वीरः कस्मिंश्चित्कारणान्तरे। क्षुत्परीतस्तु विमना वासश्चैकं व्यसर्जयत्
Once, for some reason, that hero in the forest, afflicted by hunger and dejected, set aside his only garment.
तमेकवसना नग्नमुन्मत्तवदचेतसम्। अनुव्रजन्ती बहुला न स्वपामि निशाः सदा
Following him, who was naked, with only one garment, distraught like one mad, I never sleep at night, always remaining with him.
ततो बहुतिथे काले सुप्तामुत्सृज्य मां क्वचित्। वाससोऽर्धं परिच्छिद्य त्यक्तवान्मामनागसम्
Then, after a long time, he left me sleeping somewhere, divided his garment in half, and abandoned me, though I was blameless.
तं मार्गमाणा भर्तारं दह्यमाना दिवानिशम्। न विन्दाम्यमरप्रख्यं प्रियं प्राणेश्वरं प्रभुम्
Searching for my husband, burning day and night, I do not find my beloved, my lord, who is like a god.
इत्युक्त्वा साऽनवद्याङ्गी राजमातरमप्युत। स्थिताऽश्रुपरिपूर्णाक्षी वेपमाना सुदुःखिता
Having spoken thus, that faultless woman, her eyes filled with tears, stood trembling and deeply distressed before the queen mother.
तामश्रुपरिपूर्णाक्षीं विलपन्तीं तथा बहु। राजमाताऽब्रवीदार्ता भैमीमार्तस्वरां स्वयम्
Seeing her weeping with eyes full of tears, lamenting in many ways, the queen mother, herself afflicted, addressed Bhīma’s daughter in a voice choked with sorrow.
वस त्वमिह कल्याणि प्रीतिर्मे परमा त्वयि। मृगयिष्यन्ति ते भद्रे भर्तारं पुरुषा मम
Stay here, O blessed one; my affection for you is great. My men will search for your husband, O gentle lady.