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.
स मलेनापकृष्टन पिप्लुस्तस्या व्यरोचत। दमयन्त्या यथा व्यभ्रे नभसीव निशाकरः
When the dirt was removed, the piplu mark shone forth on Damayanti, just as the moon appears in the sky when clouds part.
पिप्लुं दृष्ट्वा सुनन्दा च राजमाता च भारत। रुदन्त्यौ तां परिष्वज्यमुहूर्तमिव तस्थतुः
Seeing the piplu mark, Sunanda and the queen embraced her, weeping, and stood for a moment.
उत्सृज्य बाष्पं शनकै राजमातेदमब्रवीत्। भगिन्या दुहिता मेऽसि पिप्लुनानेन सूचिता
Gradually restraining her tears, the queen mother spoke to her: 'You are my sister's daughter, as revealed by this bath.'
अहं च तव माता च राजन्यस्य महात्मनः। सुते दशार्णाधिपतेः सुदाम्नश्चारुदर्शने
Both I and your mother are daughters of the great king, the ruler of the Kshatriyas, and you, beautiful one, are the child of Sudāman, lord of the Daśārṇas.
भीमस्य राज्ञः सा दत्ता वीरबाहोरहं पुनः। त्वं तु जाता मया दृष्टा दशार्णेषु पितुर्गृहे
That daughter was given to King Bhīma, the mighty-armed; but you were born and seen by me in your father's house among the Daśārṇas.
यथैव ते पितुर्गेहं तथेदमपि भामिति। यथैव च ममैश्वर्यं दमयन्ति तथा तव
Just as this is your father's house, so consider this as yours; and as Damayantī shares my wealth, so do you.
तां प्रहृष्टेन मनसा दमयन्ती विशांपते। प्रणम्य मातुर्भगिनीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Damayantī, delighted in her heart, bowed to her mother's sister and spoke these words:
अज्ञायमानाऽपिसती सुखमस्म्युषिता त्वयि। सर्वकामैः सुविहिता रक्ष्यमाणा सदा त्वया
'Though I was unknown to you, lady, I have lived happily with you, provided with every comfort and always protected by you.'
सुखात्सुखतरो वासो भविष्यति न संशयः। चिरविप्रोषितां मातर्मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
'My stay here has been most pleasant, without doubt; but, mother, now that I have been long separated, please permit me to depart.'
दारकौ च हि मे नीतौ वसतस्तत्र बालकौ। पित्रा विहीनौ शोकार्तौ मया चैव कथं नु तौ
'For my two young children were left behind when I stayed here; deprived of their father and afflicted with grief, how are they now?'