संदिदेश च तान्भीमो वसु दत्ता च पुष्कलम्। मृगयध्वं नलं चैव दमयन्तीं च मे सुताम्
Bhima also instructed them, giving abundant wealth: 'Seek out Nala and Damayanti, my daughter.'
अस्मिन्कर्मणि निष्पन्ने विज्ञाते निषधाधिपे। गवां सहस्रं दास्यामि यो वस्तावानयिष्यति
When this task is accomplished and the lord of the Nishadhas is found, I will give a thousand cows to whoever brings them here.
अग्रहारांश्च दास्यामि ग्रामं नगरसंमितम्। हिरण्यंच सुवर्णं च दासीदासं तथैव
I will also give rent-free villages, a town equal to a city, gold and treasure, and male and female servants as well.
न चेच्छक्याविहानेतुं दमयन्ती नलोऽपि वा। ज्ञातमात्रेऽपि दास्यामि गवां दशशतं धनम्
If Damayanti or Nala cannot be brought here, even if only their whereabouts are known, I will give a thousand cows and wealth.
इत्युक्तास्ते ययुर्हृष्टा ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतो दिशम्। पुरराष्ट्राणि चिन्वन्तो नैषधं सह भार्यया। नैव क्वापि प्रपश्यन्ति नलं वा भीमपुत्रिकाम्
Thus addressed, the Brahmins, delighted, went in all directions, searching cities and kingdoms for Nala and his wife, but nowhere did they see Nala or Bhima's daughter.
ततश्चेदिपुरीं रम्यां सुदेवो नाम वै द्विजः। विचिन्वानोऽथ वैदर्भीमपश्यद्राजवेश्मनि
Then, in the beautiful city of Cedi, a Brahmin named Sudeva, while searching, saw the princess of Vidarbha in the royal palace.
तयैव राजमाता च ब्राह्मणान्पर्यवेषयत्। भोजनार्थे सुदेवोऽपि तत्रैव प्रविवेश ह
There, the queen mother, together with Sunanda, summoned the Brahmins for a meal, and Sudeva also entered there.
कृशां विवर्णां मलिनां भर्तृशोकपरायणाम्। पुण्याहवाचने राज्ञः सुनन्दासहितां स्थिताम्
He saw her, emaciated, pale, unclean, absorbed in grief for her husband, standing with Sunanda on the auspicious day in the king's palace.
मन्दं प्रख्यायमानेन रूपेणाप्रतिमेन ताम्। निबद्धां धूमजालेन प्रभामिव विभावसोः
With her beauty dimmed, yet unmatched, she appeared like a radiant flame shrouded in smoke.
तां समीक्ष्य विशालाक्षीमधिकं मलिनां कृशाम्। तर्कयामास भैमीति कारणैरुपपादयन्
Seeing her, wide-eyed, exceedingly thin and unclean, he reasoned by signs that she must be Bhima's daughter.
यथेयं मे पुरा दृष्टा तथारूपेयमङ्गना। कृतार्थोस्म्यद्य दृष्ट्वेमां लोककान्तामिव श्रियं
Just as I saw her before, so is this woman now; having seen her, who is like the fortune beloved by the world, my purpose is fulfilled today.
पूर्णचन्द्राननां श्यामां चारुवृत्तपयोधराम्। कुर्वन्तीं प्रभया देवीं सर्वावितिमिरा दिशः
With a face like the full moon, dark-complexioned, with beautifully shaped breasts, she once dispelled all darkness in every direction with her radiance, like a goddess.
चारुपद्मविशालाक्षीं मन्मथस्य रतीमिव। इष्टां समस्तलोकस्य पूर्णचन्द्रप्रभामिव
With eyes wide and lovely as lotuses, like Rati, the beloved of Manmatha, desired by all the world, radiant as the full moon.
विदर्भसरसस्तस्माद्दैवदोषादिवोद्धृताम्। मलपङ्कानुलिप्ताङ्गीं प्रम्लानां नलिनीमिव
Now, as if snatched from the lake of Vidarbha by some misfortune, her limbs smeared with dirt, she is like a withered lotus.
पौर्णमासीमिव निशां राहुग्रस्तनिशाकराम्। पतिशोकाकुलां दीनां कृशस्त्रोतां नदीमिव
Like the full-moon night with its moon seized by Rahu, distressed by grief for her husband, she is like a feeble river.
विध्वस्तपर्णकमलां वित्रासितविहंगमाम्। हस्तिहस्तपरिक्लिष्टां व्याकुलामिव पद्मिनीम्
With her leaves and lotuses destroyed, her birds frightened away, battered by an elephant's trunk, she is like a distressed lotus pond.
सुकुमारीं सुजाताङ्गीं रत्नगर्भगृहोचिताम्। दह्यमानामिवार्केण मृणालीमिव चोद्धृताम्
Delicate, well-born, accustomed to a home filled with jewels, she seemed scorched by the sun, like a lotus stalk plucked from its pond.
रूपौदार्यगुणोपेतां मण्डनार्हाममण्डिताम्। चन्द्रलेखामिव नवांव्योम्नि नीलाभ्रसंवृताम्
Endowed with beauty, nobility, and virtues, worthy of adornment yet unadorned, like a new crescent moon veiled by a dark cloud in the sky.
कामभोगैः प्रियैर्हीनां हीनां बन्धुजनेन च। देहं धारयतीं दीनं भर्तृदर्शनकाङ्क्षया
Deprived of pleasures and beloved companions, separated from her family, she sustained her frail body in sorrow, longing for her husband's return.
भर्ता नाम परं नार्या भूषणं भूषणैर्विना। एषा हि रहिता तेन शोभमाना न शोभते
For a woman, her husband is the highest ornament, even without other adornments; deprived of him, though radiant, she does not shine.
दुष्करं कुरुतेऽत्यन्तं हीनो यदनया नलः। धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न शोकेनापि सीदति
Nala accomplishes what is most difficult, living without her; he maintains his own body and does not succumb to grief.
इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रायतेक्षणाम्। सुखार्हां दुःखितां दृष्ट्वा ममापि व्यथते मनः
Seeing her, with dark hair and eyes like a hundred-petaled lotus, deserving of happiness yet suffering, my heart too is troubled.
कदा नु खलुः दुःखस्य पारं यास्यति वै शुभा। भर्तुः समागमात्साध्वीरोहिणी शशिनो यथा
When will this virtuous woman reach the end of her sorrow, through reunion with her husband, like Rohini with the moon?
अस्या नूनं पुनर्लाभान्नैषधः प्रीतिमेष्यति। राजा राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः पुनर्लब्ध्वेव मेदिनीम्
Surely, upon regaining her, Nala will find joy again, just as a king, deprived of his kingdom, rejoices upon recovering his land.
तुल्यशीलवयोयुक्तां तुल्याभिजनसंवृतम्। नैषधोऽर्हति वैदर्भीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा
Nala deserves Damayanti, who matches him in character, age, and noble lineage; and she, with dark eyes, deserves him.
युक्तं तस्याप्रमेयस्य वीर्यसत्ववतो मया। समाश्वासयितुं भार्यां पतिदर्शनलालसाम्
It is fitting for me to comfort the wife of that immeasurable hero, endowed with strength and courage, who longs to see her husband.
अहमाश्वासयाम्येनां पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्। अदृष्टदुःखां दुःखार्तां ध्यानरोदनतत्पराम्
I will console her, whose face resembles the full moon, unaccustomed to sorrow yet afflicted by it, absorbed in meditation and weeping.
एवं विमृश्य विविधैः कारणैर्लक्षणैश्च ताम्। उपगम्य ततो भैमीं सुदेवो ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत्
Thus reflecting with various reasons and signs, Sudeva the Brahmin approached Bhima's daughter and spoke to her.
अहं सुदेवो वैदर्भि भ्रातुस्ते दयितः सखा। भीमस्य वचनाद्राज्ञस्त्वामन्वेष्टुमिहागतः
I am Sudeva, O Vaidarbhi, your brother's beloved friend; sent by Bhima, the king, I have come here to search for you.
कुशली ते पिता राज्ञि जननी भ्रातरश्च ते। आयुष्मन्तौ कुशलिनौ तत्रस्थौ दारकौ च ते
Your father, the king, is well, as are your mother and brothers; your two sons, blessed with long life, are also safe there.