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.'
ब्रूयाश्चैनं कथान्ते त्वं पर्णादवचनं यथा। प्रतिवाक्यं च सुश्रोणि बुद्ध्येथास्त्वमनिन्दिते
'At the end of your conversation, speak to him the words from the parna leaf, and listen carefully to his reply, O lovely-hipped one, O blameless lady.'
एवं समाहिता गत्वा दूती बाहुकमब्रवीत्। दमयन्त्यपि कल्याणी प्रासादस्थाऽनव्वैक्षत
Thus resolved, the messenger went and spoke to Bahuka, while Damayanti the noble lady watched from the palace.
स्वागतं ते मनुष्येन्द्र कुशलं ते ब्रवीम्यहम्। दमयन्त्या वचः साधु निबोध पुरुषर्षभ
'Welcome to you, O best of men; I bring you greetings. Hear the words of Damayanti, O bull among men.'
कदा वै प्रस्थिता यूयं किमर्थमिह चागताः। तत्त्वं ब्रूहि यथान्यायं वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छति
'When did you set out, and for what purpose have you come here? Speak the truth as is proper, for the daughter of Vidarbha wishes to know.'
श्रुतः स्वयंवरो राज्ञा कोसलेन महात्मना। द्वितीयो दमयन्त्या वै भविता श्व इति द्विजात्
'The self-choice of the great-souled king of Kosala has been announced; Damayanti’s second svayamvara will take place tomorrow, O twice-born one.'
श्रुत्वैतत्प्रस्थितो राजा शतयोजनयायिभिः। हयैर्वातजवैर्मुख्यैरहमस्य च सारथिः
'Hearing this, the king set out with horses that travel a hundred yojanas, swift as the wind, and I am his charioteer.'
अथ योसौ तृतीयो वः स कुतः कस्य वा पुनः। त्वं च कस्य कथं चेदंत्वयि कर्म समाहितम्
'And that third man with you, who is he, and whose is he? And you, whose are you, and how did you come to have this task?'
पुण्यश्लोकस्य वै सूतो वार्ष्णेय इति विश्रतः। स नले विद्रुते भद्रेभागस्वरिमुपस्थितः
'The charioteer of the famed one is known as Varshneya; when Nala fled, he attended Bhagasvamin.'
अहमप्यश्वकुशलः सूतत्वे च प्रतिष्ठितः। ऋतुपर्णेन सारथ्ये भोजने च वृतः स्वयम्
'I too am skilled with horses, established as a charioteer, and was personally chosen by Rituparna for driving and for cooking.'
अथ जानाति वार्ष्णेयः क्वनु राजा नलो गतः। कथं च त्वयि वा तेन कथितं स्यात्तु बाहुक
'But does Varshneya know where King Nala has gone? And did he ever speak to you about this, O Bahuka?'
इहैव पुत्रौ निक्षिप्य नलस्य प्रियदर्शनौ। गतस्ततो यथाकामं नैष जानाति नैषधम्
Here, having left behind the two sons of Nala, who are delightful to behold, he departed as he wished; this Nishadha does not know.
न चान्यः पुरुषः कश्चिन्नलं वेत्ति यशस्विनि। गूढश्चरति लोकेऽस्मिन्नष्टरूपो महीपतिः
Nor does any other person, O illustrious lady, know Nala; the king moves concealed in this world, lost in form.
आत्मैव तु नलं वेद या चास्य तदनन्तरा। न हि वै स्वानि लिङ्गानि नलं शंसन्ति कर्हिचित्
Only Nala himself knows, and she who is closest to him; for his own marks never reveal Nala at any time.
योसावयोध्यां प्रथमं गतोसौ ब्राह्मणस्तदा। इमानि नारीवाक्यानि कथयानः पुनःपुनः
That brahmin who first went to Ayodhya, repeatedly spoke these words of a woman:
क्वनु त्वं कितव च्छित्त्वा वस्त्रार्धं प्रस्थितो मम। उत्सृज्य विपिने सुप्तामनुरक्तां प्रियां प्रिय
Where have you gone, gambler, after cutting my garment in half and departing, abandoning your loving wife, dear to you, asleep in the forest?
सा वै यथा समादिष्टा तथाऽऽस्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी। दह्यमाना दिवारात्रौ वस्त्रार्धेनाभिसंवृता
She, as instructed, remains awaiting you, burning day and night, covered only by half a garment.
तस्या रुदनत्याः सततं तेन दुःखेन पार्थिव। प्रसादं कुरु मे वीर प्रतिवाक्यं वदस्व च
She, ever weeping in her sorrow, O king, asks you to show her favor, hero, and to give her a reply.
तस्यास्तत्प्रियमाख्यानं प्रवदस्व महामते। तदेव वाक्यं वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छन्त्यनिन्दिता
Speak to her, O wise one, that dear message; that very speech Vaidehi, blameless one, wishes to hear.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रतिवचस्तस्य दत्तं त्वया किल। यत्पुरा तत्पुनस्त्वत्तो वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छति
Having heard this, you once gave her a reply; now again Vaidehi wishes to hear it from you.
एवमुक्तस्य केशिन्या नलस्य कुरुनन्दन। हृदयं व्यथितं चासीदश्रुपूर्णे च लोचने
Hearing these words of Kesini, O descendant of Kuru, Nala's heart was pained, and his eyes filled with tears.