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.
अपि वा स्वयमागच्छेत्परिधावन्नितस्ततः। इहैव वसती भद्रे भर्तारमुपलप्स्यसे
Or perhaps he himself may come, wandering here and there; living here, O gentle one, you will find your husband.
राजमातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा दमयन्ती वचोऽब्रवीत्। समयेनोत्सहे वस्तुं त्वि वीरप्रजायिनि
Hearing the queen mother’s words, Damayantī replied: ‘I am able to stay here, O mother of heroes, if you agree to my conditions.’
उच्छिष्टं नैव भुञ्जीयां न कुर्यां पादधावनम्। न चाहं पुरुषानन्यान्प्रभाषेयं कथंचन
I will not eat leftovers, nor will I wash anyone’s feet; nor will I speak with any other men in any way.
प्रार्थयेद्यदि मां कश्चिद्दण्ड्यस्ते स पुमान्भवेत्। वध्यश्च ते सकृन्मन्द इतिमे व्रतमाहितम्
If any man should approach me with desire, let him be punished; if one persists, let him be put to death—this is the vow I have undertaken.
भर्तुरन्वेषणार्थं तु पश्येयं ब्राह्मणानहम्। यद्येवमिह वत्स्यामि त्वत्सकाशे न संशयः। अतोऽन्यथा न मे वासो वर्तते हृदये क्वचित्
For the sake of searching for my husband, I would see the Brahmanas; yet, if it is so, I shall remain here with you, without doubt. Otherwise, I have no place to stay in my heart anywhere.
इत्युक्ता दमयन्त्या तु राजमातेदमब्रवीत्। सर्वमेतत्करिष्यामि दिष्ट्या ते व्रतमीदृशम्
Thus addressed by Damayanti, the queen mother said to her: 'I shall do all this; fortunate are you, whose vow is such.'
एवमुक्त्वा ततो भैमीं राजमाता विशांपते। उवाचेदं दुहितरं सुनन्दां नाम भारत
Having spoken thus, O lord of men, the queen mother then said to her daughter named Sunanda, O descendant of Bharata:
सैरन्ध्रीमभिजानीष्व सुनन्दे देवरूपिणीम्। वयसा तुल्यतां प्राप्ता सखी तव भवत्वियम्। एतया सह मोदस्व निरुद्विग्रमना सदा
Recognize Sairandhri, O Sunanda, as one who is divine in form; she is of equal age with you—let her be your companion. Rejoice with her always, with a mind free from anxiety.
ततः परमसंहृष्टा सुनन्दा गृहणागमत्। दमयन्तीमुपादाय सखीभिः परिवारिता
Then, exceedingly delighted, Sunanda went to her quarters, taking Damayanti with her, surrounded by her friends.
सहसा न्यवसद्राजन्राजपुत्र्या सुनन्दया। चिन्तयन्ती नलं वीरमनिशं वामलोचना
There, together with the princess Sunanda, the lotus-eyed Damayanti stayed, constantly thinking of the heroic Nala, day and night.
उत्सृज्य दमयन्तीं तु नलो राजा विशांपते। ददर्श दावं दह्यन्तं महान्तं गहने वने
Having abandoned Damayanti, King Nala, O lord of men, saw a great forest fire blazing in the dense woods.
तत्र सुश्राव शब्दंवै मध्ये भूतस्य कस्यचित्। अभिधाव नलेत्युच्चैः पुण्यश्लोकेति चासकृत्
There he clearly heard a sound in the midst of the fire, someone repeatedly calling out loudly, 'Nala! O famed one!'
मा भैरिति नलश्चोक्त्वा मध्यमग्नेः प्रविश्य तम्। दद्रश नागराजानं शयानं कुण्डलीकृतम्
Saying, 'Do not fear,' Nala entered the center of the fire, and there he saw the king of serpents lying coiled up.
स नागः प्रञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वेपमानो नलं तदा। उवाच मां विद्धिराजन्नागं कर्कोटकं नृप
That serpent, with joined palms and trembling, then said to Nala, 'Know me, O king, to be the serpent Karkotaka.'
मया प्रलब्धो ब्रह्मर्षिरनागाः सुमहातपाः। तेन मन्युपरीतेन शप्तोस्मि मनुजाधिप
I was deceived by the great ascetic Brahmarshi Narada, O king of men, and in his anger he cursed me.
तिष्ठ त्वं स्थावर इव यावदेति नलः क्वचित्। इतो नेतासि तत्स त्वं शापान्मोक्ष्यसि मत्कृतात्
'Remain here, unmoving as a post, until Nala comes; you shall not be led from here. Then, by my doing, you will be freed from the curse.'
तस्य शापान्न शक्नोमि पदाद्विचलितुं पदम्। उपदेक्ष्यामि ते श्रेयस्त्रातुमर्हति मां भवान्
Because of his curse, I am unable to move even a step from this place. I will instruct you in what is good; you ought to save me.
सखा च ते भविष्यामि मत्समो नास्ति पन्नगः। लघुश्च ते भविष्यामि शीघ्रमादाय गच्छ माम्
I shall also be your friend; there is no serpent equal to me. I shall become light for you—quickly take me and go.
एवमुक्त्वा स नागेन्द्रो बभूवाङ्गुष्ठमात्रकः। दं गृहीत्वा नलः प्रायाद्देशं दावविवर्जितम्
Having spoken thus, the king of serpents became the size of a thumb; taking him, Nala departed for a place free from fire.
आकाशदेशमासाद्य विमुक्तं कृष्णवर्त्मना। उत्स्रष्टुकामं तं नागः पुनः कर्कोटकोऽब्रवीत्
Reaching a place in the open, free from the blackened path, the serpent Karkotaka, as Nala was about to release him, spoke again: