भर्तव्या रक्षणीया त्व पत्नी पत्या हि नित्यदा। तन्नष्टमुभयं कस्माद्धर्मज्ञस्य सतस्तव
'A wife must always be cherished and protected by her husband; why, O righteous one, have both of us come to this loss?'
ख्यातः प्राज्ञः कुलीनश् सानुक्रोशो भवान्सदा। संवृत्तो निरनुक्रोशः शङ्के मद्भाग्यसंक्षयात्
'You are renowned as wise, noble, and always compassionate; but now, I fear, you have become unkind, perhaps due to my misfortune.'
तत्कुरुष्व नरव्याघ्र दयां मयि नरर्पभ। आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मस्त्वत्त एव हि मे श्रुतः
'Therefore, O tiger among men, show mercy to me, O best of men; for I have heard from you that compassion is the highest virtue.'
एवंब्रुवाणान्यदि वः प्रतिब्रूयाद्धि कश्चन। स नरः सर्वथा ज्ञेयः कश्चासौ क्वनु वर्तते
'If anyone among you receives a reply to these words, know for certain who that man is and where he dwells.'
यश्चैवं वचनं श्रुत्य्वा बूयात्प्रतिवचो नरः। तदादाय वचस्तस्य ममावेद्यं द्विजोत्तमाः
'And if any man, having heard these words, gives a reply, bring back his words and report them to me, O best of brahmins.'
यथा च वो न जानीयाच्चरतो भीमशासनात्। पुनरागमनं चेह तथा कार्यमतन्द्रितैः
'And so that Bhima may not know of your travels, you must return here without delay and with utmost care.'
यदि वाऽसौ समृद्धः स्याद्यदि वाऽप्यधनो भवेत्। यदिऽवाप्यसमर्थः स्याज्ज्ञेयमस्य चिकीर्षितम्
'Whether he is prosperous or destitute, or even powerless, you must discern his intention.'
एवमुक्तास्त्वगच्छंस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतो दिशम्। नलं मृगयितुं राजंस्तदा व्यसनिनं तथा
Thus instructed, those brahmins departed in all directions to search for King Nala, who was afflicted by misfortune.
ते पुराणि सराष्ट्राणि ग्रामान्धोपांस्तथाऽऽश्रमान्। अन्वेषन्तो नलं राजन्नाधिजग्मुर्दविजातयः
O King, those Brahmanas, searching for Nala, wandered through ancient territories, villages, towns, and hermitages, but could not find him.
तच्च वाक्यं तथा सर्वेतत्रतत्र विशांपते। श्रावयांचक्रिरे विप्रा दमयन्त्या यथेरितम्
And, O lord of the people, those Brahmanas everywhere proclaimed the message of Damayanti, just as she had instructed.
अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य पर्णादो नाम वै द्विजः। प्रत्येत्य नगरं भैमीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, after a long time, a Brahmana named Parṇada came to the city of Bhima and spoke these words.
नैषधं मृगयाणेन दमयन्ति दिवानिशम्। अयोध्यां नगरीं गत्वा भागस्वरिरुपस्थितः
Damayanti, seeking Naishadha day and night, went to the city of Ayodhya, where she stayed as a singer.
श्रावितश्च मया वाक्यं त्वदीयं स महाजने। ऋतुपर्णो महाभागो यथोक्तं वरवर्णिनि
And, O fair-complexioned one, I recited your message to the great assembly there, just as you had said, and King Rituparna heard it.
तच्छ्रुत्वा नाब्रवीत्किंचिदृतुपर्णो नराधिपः। न च पारिषदः कश्चिद्भाष्यमाणो मयाऽसकृत्
Hearing this, King Rituparna said nothing, nor did any of his courtiers, though I spoke repeatedly.
अनुज्ञातं तु मां राज्ञा विजने कश्चिदब्रवीत्। ऋतुपर्णस्य पुरुषो बाहुको नाम नामतः
But, when I was alone, someone permitted by the king spoke to me: there is a man named Bahuka in Rituparna's service.
सूतस्तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य विरूपो ह्रस्वबाहुकः। शीघ्रयानेषु कुशलो मृष्टकर्ता च भोजने
He is the king’s charioteer, deformed and short-armed, skilled in swift driving, and an excellent cook.
स विनिःश्वस्य बंहुशो रुदित्वा च षुनःपुनः। कुशलं चैव मां पृष्ट्वा पश्चादिदमभाषत
He sighed deeply and wept again and again; after asking about my well-being, he spoke these words.
वैषम्यमपि संप्राप्ता गोपायन्ति कुलस्त्रियः। आत्मानमात्मना सत्यो जितः स्वर्गो न संशयः
Even when misfortune comes, noble women protect themselves with self-restraint; by truthfulness, heaven is won—of this there is no doubt.
रहिता भर्तृभिश्चैव न कुप्यन्ति कदाचन। ्राणांश्चारित्रकवचान्धारयन्ति वरस्त्रियः
Even when separated from their husbands, noble women do not become angry, and they uphold the armor of virtue.
विषमस्थेन मूढेन परिभ्रष्टसुखेन च। यत्सा तेन परित्यक्ता तत्र न क्रोद्धुमर्हति
If a woman is abandoned by a man who is troubled, confused, and deprived of happiness, she should not be angry with him.
प्राणयात्रां परिप्रेप्सोः शकुनैर्हृतवाससः। आधिभिर्दह्यमानस्य श्यामा न क्रोद्धुमर्हति
When a man, deprived of his garments by birds and tormented by troubles, strives only for survival, Shyama should not be angry with him.
सत्कृताऽसत्कृता वाऽपि पतिं दृष्ट्वा तथागतम्। भ्रष्टराज्यं श्रित्या हीनं श्यामा न क्रोद्धुमर्हति
Whether honored or dishonored, seeing her husband in such a state—bereft of his kingdom and fallen—Shyama should not be angry with him.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा त्वरितोऽहमिहागतः। श्रुत्वा प्रमाणं भवती राज्ञश्चैव निवेदयः
Hearing these words from him, I came here quickly; let you, after hearing this evidence, inform the king.
एतच्छ्रुत्वाऽश्रुपूर्णाक्षी पर्णादस्य विशांपते। दमयन्ती रहोऽभ्येत्य मातरं प्रत्यभापत
Hearing this, her eyes filled with tears, Damayanti, O lord of the people, went in private to her mother.
अयमर्थौ न संवेद्यो भीमे मातः कदाचन। त्वत्सन्निधौ नियोक्ष्येऽहंसुदेवं द्विजसत्तमम्
Mother, this matter must never be revealed to Bhima; in your presence, I will instruct Sudeva, the best of Brahmanas.
यथा न नृपतिर्भीमः प्रतिपद्येत मे मतम्। यथा त्वया प्रकर्तव्यं मम चेत्प्रियमिच्छसि
So that King Bhima does not learn of my intention, you must act as I direct, if you wish to please me.
यथा चाहं समानीता सुदेवेनाशु बान्धवान्। तेनैव मङ्गलेनाद्य सुदेवो यातु मा चिरम्
Just as I was swiftly brought here by Sudeva to my kinsfolk, so too, with the same auspiciousness, let Sudeva depart today without delay.
समानेतुं नलं मातरयोध्यां नगरीमितः। `ऋतुपर्णस्य नगरे निवसन्तमरिन्दमम्
Let him bring Nala from the city of Ayodhya, where he now dwells in the city of Rituparna, that subduer of foes.
विश्रान्तं तु ततः पश्चात्पर्णादं द्विजसत्तमम्। अर्चयामास वैदर्भी धनेनातीव भामिनी
Then, after he had rested, the illustrious Damayanti honored Parṇāda, the best of Brahmins, with abundant wealth.
लवाच चैनं महता संपूज्य द्रविणेन वै।' नले चेहागते विप्र भूयो दास्याभि ते वसु
And she said to him, after greatly honoring him with riches: 'If Nala comes here, O Brahmin, I will give you even more wealth.'