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.'
त्वया हि मे बहुकृतंयदन्यो न करिष्यति। यद्भर्त्राऽहं समेष्यामि शीघ्रमेव द्विजोत्तम
'For you have done for me what no other would do; soon, O best of Brahmins, I shall be reunited with my husband.'
स एवमुक्तोऽथाश्वास्य आशीर्वादैः सुमङ्गलैः। गृहानुपययौ चापि कृतार्थः सुमहामनाः
Thus addressed, and comforted with auspicious blessings, he departed for his home, his purpose fulfilled and his mind greatly satisfied.
ततः सुदेवमानाय्य दमयन्ती युधिष्ठिर। अब्रवीत्सन्निदौ मातुर्दुःखशोकसमन्विता
Then Damayanti, filled with sorrow and grief, summoned Sudeva and spoke to him in the presence of her mother, O Yudhishthira.
गत्वा सुदेव नगरीमयोध्यावासिनं नृपम्। ऋतुपर्णं वचो ब्रूहि पतिमन्यं चिकीर्षती
'Go, Sudeva, to the city and speak these words to King Rituparna of Ayodhya, who is seeking another wife.'
आस्थास्यति पुनर्भैमी दमयन्ती स्वयंवरम्। तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो राजपुत्राश्च सर्वशः
'The princess Bhimi's daughter, Damayanti, will hold another svayamvara; all the kings and princes will come there.'
तथा च गणितः कालः श्वोभूते स भविष्यति। यदि संभाविनीयं ते गच्छ शीघ्रमरिंदम
'The time has been fixed, and it will be tomorrow; if you consider this possible, go quickly, O subduer of foes.'
सूर्योदये द्वतीयं सा भर्तारं वरयिष्यति। न हि स ज्ञायते वीरो नलो जीवन्मृतोपि वा
'At sunrise on the second day, she will choose her husband; for it is not known whether the hero Nala is alive or dead.'
एवं तथा यथोक्तो वै गत्वा राजानमब्रवीत्। ऋतुपर्णं महाराज सुदेवो ब्राह्मणस्तदा
Thus, as instructed, Sudeva went and spoke these words to King Rituparna, O great king.
श्रुत्वा वचः सुदेवस्य ऋतुपर्णो नराधिपः। `सारथीन्स समानीय वार्ष्णेयप्रभृतीन्नृपः। कथयामास यद्वृत्तं ब्राह्मणेन श्रुतं तथा
Hearing Sudeva's words, King Rituparna summoned his charioteers, including Varshneya, and told them all that he had learned from the Brahmin.
बाहुकं च समाहूय दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम्'। सान्त्यञ्श्र्लक्ष्णया वाचा बाहुकं प्रत्यभाषत
He also called Bahuka and, with gentle and auspicious words, spoke to him about Damayanti's svayamvara.
विदर्भान्यातुमिच्छामि दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम्। एकाह्ना हयतत्त्वज्ञ मन्यसे यदि बाहुक
'I wish to go to Vidarbha for Damayanti's svayamvara; if you think it possible, O Bahuka, let us reach there in a single day, you who know the ways of horses.'
एवमुक्तस्य कौन्तेय तेन राज्ञा नलस्य ह। व्यदीर्यत मनो दुःखात्प्रदध्यौ च महामनाः
Thus addressed by the king, Nala's heart was torn with sorrow, and he pondered deeply.
दमयन्ती भवेदेवं किंनु दुःखेन मोहिता। अस्मदर्थे भवेद्बाऽयमुपायश्चिन्तितो महान्
'Could Damayanti truly do this, bewildered by grief? Or is this some great plan devised for my sake?'
नृशंसं बत वैदर्भी कर्तुकामा तपस्विनी। यया क्षुद्रेण निकृताकृपणा पापबुद्धिना। स्त्रीस्वभावश्चलो लोके मम दोषश्च दारुणः
'Alas, the virtuous Damayanti wishes to do something cruel; she, so steadfast, has been deceived by a petty, wretched, evil-minded man. The nature of women is fickle in this world, and my own fault is terrible.'
मम शोकेन संविग्ना नैराश्यात्तनुमध्यमा। नैवं सा कर्हिचित्कुर्यात्सापत्या च विशेषतः
Distressed by my sorrow and despair, that slender-waisted woman would never act so, especially as she has a child.
यदत्र सत्यं वाऽसत्यं गत्वा वेत्स्यामि निश्चयम्। ऋतुपर्णस्य वै काममात्मार्थं च करोम्यहम्
Whether this is true or false, I will go and find out for certain; I will fulfill the desire of Rituparna for my own purpose.
इति निश्चित्य मनसा बाहुको दीनमानसः। कृतालुरुवाचेदमृतुपर्णं जनाधिपम्
Having resolved thus in his mind, Bahuka, whose heart was troubled, humbly spoke these words to King Rituparna.
प्रतिजानामि ते वाक्यं गमिष्यामि नराधिप। एकाह्ना पुरुषव्याघ्र विदर्भनगरीं नृप। `तत्रादित्योदये काले श्वो विदर्भान्गमिष्यसि
I promise you this, O king: I will go, O tiger among men, and in a single day bring you to the city of Vidarbha; at sunrise tomorrow you will reach Vidarbha.
एवमुक्तोऽब्रवीद्राजा बाहुकं प्रहसन्निव। किं ते कामं करोम्यद्य तुष्टोऽस्मि तव बाहुक
Thus addressed, the king replied to Bahuka with a smile: 'What do you desire of me today, Bahuka? I am pleased with you.'
यावद्यानमिदं सज्जमृतुपर्ण करोम्यहम्
Let me prepare this chariot, O Rituparna, as quickly as possible.