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?'
यदि चापि प्रियं किंचिन्मयि कर्तुमिहेच्छसि। विदर्भान्यातुमिच्छामि शीघ्रं मे यानमादिश
'And if you wish to do something dear for me, I desire to return to Vidarbha; please arrange my journey quickly.'
बाढमित्येव तामुक्त्वा हृष्ट्वा मातृष्वसा नृप। गुप्तां बलेन महता पुत्रस्यानुमते ततः
The queen mother, delighted, replied, 'So be it,' and with her son's consent, sent her off, well-guarded by a great force.
प्रास्थापयद्राजमाता श्रीमतीं नरवाहिना। यानेन भरतश्रेष्ठ स्वन्नपानपरिच्छदाम्
The royal mother dispatched the illustrious Damayantī with a troop of soldiers, best of the Bharatas, along with food, drink, and all comforts.
ततः सा नचिरादेव विदर्भानगमच्छुभा। तां तु बन्धुजनः सर्वः प्रहृष्टः समपूजयत्
Then, without delay, that auspicious lady reached Vidarbha, and all her relatives joyfully welcomed her.
सर्वान्कुशलिनो दृष्ट्वा बान्धवान्दारकौ च तौ। मातरं पितरं चोभौ सर्वं चैव सखीजनम्
Seeing all her kinsmen well, and her two children, she met both her mother and father, and all her companions.
देवताः पूजयामास ब्राह्मणांश्च यशस्विनी। परेण विधिना देवी दमयन्ती विशांपते
The illustrious Damayantī, O king, worshipped the gods and the Brahmins with the highest rites.
अतर्पयत्सुदेवं च गोसहस्रेण पार्थिवः। प्रीतो दृष्ट्वैव तनयां ग्रामेण द्रविणेन च
The king, pleased at seeing his daughter, gratified Sudeva with a thousand cows and villages and wealth.
सा व्युष्टा रजनीं तत्रपितुर्वेश्मनि भामिनी। विश्रान्ता मातरं राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत्
After spending the night in her father's house, the radiant Damayantī, having rested, spoke these words to her mother:
मां चेदिच्छसि जीवन्तीं मातः सत्यं ब्रवीमिते। नलस्य नरवीरस्य यतस्वानयने पुनः
'If you wish me to live, mother, I tell you truly: strive to bring back Nala, the heroic king.'
दमयन्त्या तथोक्ता तु सा देवी भृशदुःखिता। बाष्पेणापिहिता राज्ञी नोत्तरं किंचिदब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by Damayantī, the queen, overwhelmed with grief and choked with tears, gave no reply.