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:
पदानि गणयन्गच्छ स्वानि नैषध कानिचित्। तत्रतेऽहं महाबाहो श्रेयो धास्यामि यत्परम्
'Count your own steps as you go, O Niṣadha; at a certain step, O mighty-armed one, I shall bestow upon you the highest good.'
ततः संख्यातुमारब्धमदशद्दशमे पदे। तस्य दष्टस्य तद्रूपं क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत
Then, as he began to count, the serpent bit him on the tenth step, and at once Nala's former appearance quickly vanished.
स दृष्ट्वा विस्मितस्तस्थावात्मानं विकृतं नलः। स्वरूपधारिणं नागं ददर्श स महीपतिः
Seeing himself transformed, Nala stood astonished; that great king beheld the serpent in his true form.
ततः कर्कोटको नागः सान्त्वयन्नलमब्रवीत्। मया तेऽन्तर्हितं रूपं न त्वां विद्युर्जना इति
Then the serpent Karkotaka, consoling Nala, said: 'I have concealed your form, so that people will not recognize you.'
यत्कृते चासि निकृतो दुःखेन महता नल। विषेण स मदीयेन त्वयि दुःखं निवत्स्यति
Because you have been wronged and have suffered greatly, O Nala, my poison will now bring suffering to the one who caused your pain.
विषेण संवृतैर्गात्रैर्यावत्त्वां न विमोक्ष्यति। तावत्तु त्वां महाराज क्लेशेऽस्मिन्स नियोक्ष्यति
As long as your body is covered by my poison, that person will keep you in distress, O great king, until I release you.
अनागा येन निकृतस्त्वमनर्हो जनाधिप। क्रोधादसूययित्वा तं रक्षा मे भवतः कृता
You, a blameless king, were wronged by one undeserving; out of anger and envy, he harmed you, but I have now ensured your protection.
न ते भयं नरव्याघ्र दंष्ट्रिभ्यः शत्रुतोपि वा। ब्रह्मवित्त्वं च भविता मत्प्रसादान्नराधिप
O tiger among men, you need not fear fangs, enemies, or anything else; by my favor, O king, you will gain knowledge of the Brahman.
राजन्विषनिमित्ता च न ते पीडा भविष्यति। संग्रामेषु न राजेन्द्रशश्वज्जयमवाप्स्यसि
O king, you will not suffer any pain from this poison; and in battles, O ruler of kings, you will always attain victory.
गच्छ राजन्नितः सूतो बाहुकोऽहमिति ब्रुवन्। समीपमृतुपर्णस्य स हि वेदाक्षनैपुणम्
Go from here, O king, and say you are Bahuka the charioteer; approach Rituparna, for he is skilled in the science of dice.