यदि वै तस्य वीरस्य हाह्वोर्नाद्याहमन्तरम्। प्रविशामि सुखस्पर्शं नभविष्याम्यसंशयम्
If I do not enter the embrace of that hero's arms today, which are soft to the touch, I will not survive, without doubt.
यदि मां मेघनिर्घोषो नोपगच्छति नैषधः। अद्य चामीकरप्रख्यं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्
If Nala, whose chariot thunders like clouds, does not come to me today, I will enter the fire, shining like gold.
यदि मां सिंहविक्रान्तो मत्तवारणविक्रमः। नाभिगच्छतिराजेन्द्रो विनङ्क्ष्यामि न संशयः
If that lion-like king, whose stride is like a maddened elephant, does not come to me, I will surely perish, without doubt.
न स्मराम्यनृतं किंचिन्न स्मराम्यपकारताम्। न च पर्युषितं वाक्यं स्वैरेष्वपि महात्मनः
I remember no falsehood, nor any wrong done, nor any harsh word spoken, even in jest, by that great-souled one.
प्रभुः क्षमावान्वीरश्च दाता चाप्यधिको नृपैः। अहो नीचानुवर्ती च क्लीबवन्मम नैषध
He is a lord, patient, a hero, and more generous than other kings; yet, alas, my Nala follows the lowly and is as if unmanly.
गुणांस्तस्य स्मरन्त्या मे तत्पराया दिवानिशम्। हृदयं दीर्यत इदं शोकात्प्रियविनाकृतम्
As I recall his virtues, to which I am wholly devoted, day and night, my heart is torn with grief, bereft of my beloved.
एवं विलपमाना सा नष्टसंज्ञेव भारत। आरुरोह महद्वेश्म पुण्यश्लोकदिदृक्षया
Thus lamenting, she seemed to lose consciousness, O descendant of Bharata, and ascended the great mansion, longing to see the illustrious one.
ततो मध्यमकक्षायां ददर्श रथमास्थितम्। ऋतुपर्णं महीपालं सहवार्ष्णेयबाहुकम्
There, in the middle chamber, she saw King Rituparna seated in his chariot, together with Bahuka of the Vrishni clan.
ततोऽवतीर्य वार्ष्णएयो बाहुकश्च रथोत्तमात्। हयांस्तानवमुच्याथ स्थापयामासतू रथम्
Then the Vrishni hero and Bahuka both descended from the excellent chariot, unyoked the horses, and set the chariot in place.
सोऽवतीर्य रथोपस्थादृतुपर्णो नराधिपः। उपतस्थे महाराजं भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्
King Rituparna, having descended from the chariot, approached mighty Bhima, the king of great prowess.
तं भीमः प्रतिजग्राह पूजया परया मुदा। स तेन पूजितो राज्ञा ऋतुपर्णो नराधिपः
Bhima received him with great honor and joy; thus honored by the king, Rituparna, lord of men, was pleased.
स तत्र कुण्डिने रम्ये वसमानो महीपतिः। न च किंचित्तदाऽपश्यत्प्रेक्षमाणो मुहुर्मुहुः। स तु राज्ञा समागम्य विदर्भपतिना तदा
That king, dwelling there in the beautiful city of Kundina, saw nothing, though he looked again and again; but then he met the king of Vidarbha.
किं कार्यं स्वागतं तेऽस्तु राज्ञा पृष्टः स भारत। नाभिजज्ञे स नृपतिर्दुहित्रर्थे समागतम्
Asked by the king, 'What is your purpose? Welcome to you,' he did not reveal that he had come for the sake of the princess.
ऋतुपर्णोपि राजा स धीमान्सत्यपराक्रमः। राजानं राजपुत्रं वा न स्म पश्यति कंचन
That wise and truthful king Rituparna did not see any king or prince there.
नैव स्वयंवरकथां न च विप्रसमागमम्। `न चान्यं कंचिदारम्भं स्वयंवरविधिं प्रति
Nor did he hear any talk of a svayamvara, nor the gathering of Brahmins, nor any other activity related to the svayamvara ceremony.
ततो विगणयद्राजा मनसा कोसलाधिपः। आगतोस्मीत्युवाचैनं भवन्तमभिवादुकः
Then the king of Kosala, reflecting in his mind, said, 'I have come,' and greeted him respectfully.
राजापि च स्मयन्भीमो मनसा समचिन्तयत्। अधिकं योजनशतं तस्यागमनकारणम्। ग्रामान्बहूनतिक्रम्य नाध्यगच्छद्यथातथम्
King Bhima, smiling, thought to himself: 'He has traveled over a hundred yojanas for this reason; passing through many villages, he did not find things as expected.'
अल्पकार्यं विनिर्दिष्टं तस्यागमनकारणम्। पश्चादुदर्के ज्ञास्याप्रि कारणं यद्भविष्यति
The reason for his coming was declared to be a minor matter; later, in due course, the true reason will become known.
नैतदेवं स नृपतिस्तं सत्कृत्य व्यसर्जयत्। विश्राम्यतामित्युवाच क्लान्तोसीति पुनःपुनः
The king, having thus honored him, dismissed him, saying again and again, 'Rest, for you are weary.'
स सत्कृतः प्रहृष्टात्मा प्रीतः प्रीतेन पार्थिवः। राजप्रेष्यैरनुगतो दिष्टं वेश्म समाविशत्
Thus honored and delighted, the pleased king, accompanied by royal attendants, entered the appointed residence.
ऋतुपर्णे गते राजन्वार्ष्णेयसहिते नृपे। बाहुको रथमादाय रथशालामुपागमत्
When Rituparna, together with the Vrishni hero, had gone, Bahuka took the chariot and went to the chariot-house.
स मोचयित्वा तानश्वानुपचर्य च शास्त्रतः। स्वयं चैतान्समाश्वास्य रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्
Having unyoked the horses and tended to them according to the rules, he comforted them himself and then sat down in the chariot.
दमयन्त्यपि शोकार्ता दृष्ट्वा भागस्वरिं नृपम्। सूतपुत्रं च वार्ष्णेयं बाहुकं च तथाविधम्
Damayanti too, afflicted with sorrow, saw Bhagasvamin the king, the charioteer’s son, the Vrishni, and Bahuka in such a state.
चिन्तयामास वैदर्भी कस्यैष रथनिःस्वनः। नलस्येव महानासीन्न च पश्यामि नैषधम्
The daughter of Vidarbha pondered, 'To whom does this chariot’s sound belong? It was once so great for Nala, but I do not see the Nishadha king.'
वार्ष्णोयेन भवेन्नूनं विद्या सैवोपशिक्षिता। तेनाद्य रथनिर्घोषो नलस्येव महानभूत्
'Surely, the Vrishni must have learned that very skill; by him today the chariot’s roar has become as mighty as Nala’s.'
कआहोस्विदृतुपर्णोऽपि यथा राजा नलस्यथा। यथाऽयंरथनिर्घोषो नैषधस्येव लक्ष्यते
'Or perhaps Rituparna himself, the king, has become like Nala, for this chariot’s sound appears just like that of the Nishadha.'
एवं सा तर्कयित्वा तु दमयन्ती विशांपते। दूतीं प्रस्थापयामास नैषधान्वेषणे शुभा
Thus reflecting, Damayanti, O king, sent her trusted messenger to search for the Nishadha.
गच्छ केशिनि जानीहि क एष रथवाहकः। उपविष्टो रथोपस्थे विकृतो ह्रस्वबाहुकः
'Go, Keshini, and find out who this charioteer is, seated on the chariot, deformed, short-armed Bahuka.'
अभ्येत्य कुशलं भद्रे मृदुपूर्वंसमाहिता। पृच्छेथाः पुरुषे ह्येनं यथातत्त्वमनिन्दिते
'Approach him gently, with courtesy, and ask this man the truth, O blameless one, with care and in a soft manner.'
अत्र मे महती शङ्का भवेदेष नलो नृपः। यथाच मनसस्तुष्टिर्हृदयस्य च निर्वृतिः
'I have a great suspicion that this is King Nala, for my mind is satisfied and my heart finds peace.'