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.
त्वत्कृतेबन्धुवर्गाश्च गतसत्वा इवासते। अन्वेष्टारो ब्राह्मणाश्च भ्रमन्ति शतशो महीम्
For your sake, your relatives sit as if lifeless; hundreds of Brahmins wander the earth searching for you.
अभिज्ञाय सुदेवं तं दमयन्ती युधिष्ठिर। पर्यपृच्छत तान्सर्वान्क्रमेण सुहृदः स्वकान्
Recognizing Sudeva, Damayanti, O Yudhishthira, questioned all her friends in turn.
रुरोद च भृशं राजन्वैदर्भी शोककर्शिता। दृष्ट्वा सुदेवं सहसा भ्रातुरिष्टं द्विजोत्तमम्
Vaidarbhi, wasted by grief, wept bitterly, O king, upon suddenly seeing Sudeva, her brother's cherished friend and foremost among Brahmins.
ततो रुदन्तीं तां दृष्ट्वा सुनन्दा शोककर्शिता। सुदेवेन सहैकान्ते कथयन्तीं च भारत
Then, seeing her weeping, Sunanda, herself worn by sorrow, spoke privately with Sudeva, O Bharata.
जनित्र्याः प्रेषयामास सैरन्ध्री रुदते भृशम्। ब्राह्मणेन सहागम्य तांविद्धि यदि मन्यसे
Her mother sent Sairandhri, who was weeping bitterly, to you; she came together with a Brahmin, if you consider it so.
अथ चेदिपतेर्माता राज्ञश्चान्तःपुरात्तदा। जगाम यत्रसा बाला ब्राह्मणेन सहाभवत्
Then, the mother of the king of Cedi left the royal inner chambers and went to where the young girl was, accompanied by the Brahmin.
ततः सुदेवमानाय्य राजमाता विशांपते। पप्रच्छ भार्या कस्येयं सुता वा कस्य भामिनी
Afterwards, the queen brought Sudeva and asked, 'Whose wife is this? Whose daughter is this beautiful woman?'
कथं च नष्टा ज्ञातिभ्यो भर्तुर्वा वामलोचना। त्वया च विदिता विप्र कथमेवंगता सती
How was this lovely-eyed woman lost to her relatives or her husband? And how did you, O Brahmin, come to know her and bring her here?
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं त्वत्तः सर्वमशेषतः। तत्त्वेन हि ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छन्त्यादेवरूपिणीम्
I wish to hear all this from you in full detail; tell me the truth, for I am asking about this woman who appears like a goddess.
एवमुक्तस्तया राजन्सुदेवो द्विजसत्तमः। सुखोपविष्ट आचष्ट दमयन्त्या यथातथम्
Thus addressed by her, O King, Sudeva, the foremost among Brahmins, seated comfortably, narrated the story of Damayanti as it truly happened.
विदर्भराजो धर्मात्मा भीमो भीमपराक्रमः। सुतेयं तस्य कल्याणी दमयन्तीति विश्रुता
The virtuous king Bhima of Vidarbha, mighty in valor, is her father; this blessed woman is his daughter, known as Damayanti.
राजा तु नैषधो नाम वीरसेनसुतो नलः। भार्येयं तस्य कल्याणी पुण्यश्लोकस्य धीमतः
The king called Nishadha, son of Virasena, is Nala; this blessed woman is his wife, renowned for her noble character and wisdom.
स द्यूतेन जितो भ्रात्रा हृतराज्यो महामनाः। दमयन्त्या गतः सार्धं न प्राज्ञायत कस्यचित्
He was defeated in dice by his brother and lost his kingdom, though great in spirit; together with Damayanti, he departed and was not recognized by anyone.
ते वयं दमयन्त्यर्थे चरामः पृथिवीमिमाम्। सेयमासादिता बाला तव देवि निवेशने
We have been searching throughout this earth for Damayanti; this young woman was found in your palace, O Queen.
अस्या रूपेण सदृशी मानुषी न हि विद्यते। अस्या ह्येष भ्रुवोर्मध्ये सहजः पिप्लुरुत्तमः
No human woman exists who matches her beauty; between her eyebrows is a natural, excellent mark called piplu.
श्यामायाः पद्मसंकाशो लक्षितोऽन्तर्हितो मया। मलेन संवृतोह्यस्याश्छन्नोऽभ्रेणेव चन्द्रमाः
On her dark skin, a lotus-like mark is visible, though concealed by dirt; it is hidden as the moon is by a cloud.
चिह्नभूतो विभूत्यर्थमयं धात्रा विनिर्मितः। प्रतिपत्कलुषेवेन्दोर्लेखा नातिविराजते
This mark was created by the Creator as a sign of distinction; like a blemish on the moon, it does not shine brightly.
न चास्या नश्यते रूपं वपुर्मलसमाचितम्। असंस्कृतमपि व्यक्तं भाति काञ्चनसन्निभम्
Her beauty does not fade, even though her body is covered with dirt; unadorned, she still shines clearly, resembling gold.
अनेन वपुषा बाला पिप्लुनाऽनेन सूचिता। लक्षितेयं मया देवी पिहितोऽग्निरिवोष्मणा
By this form and by this piplu mark, the young woman is indicated; I recognized her, O Queen, though she was concealed like fire by its own heat.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य सुदेवस्य विशांपते। सुनन्दा शोधयामास पिप्लुप्रच्छादनं मलम्
Hearing Sudeva's words, Queen Sunanda removed the dirt covering the piplu mark.