यदा च किंचित्कुर्यात्स कारणं तत्र भामिनि। तत्रसंचेष्टमानस्य संलक्षेथा विचेष्टितम्
And whenever he does anything, O beautiful one, pay attention to the reason; watch carefully how he acts in those moments.
न चास्य प्रतिबन्धेन देयोऽग्निरपि केशिनि। याचते न जलं देयं सकृच्चात्वरमाणया। एतत्सर्वं समीक्ष्यत्वं चरितं मे निवेदय
And, Kesini, do not give him fire even if he asks, nor water even if he requests it urgently; observe all this and report his behavior to me.
निमित्तं यत्त्वया दृष्टं बाहुके दैवमानुषम्। यच्चान्यदपि पश्येथास्तच्चाख्येयं त्वया मम
Whatever sign, divine or human, you notice in Bahuka, and anything else you may see, you must tell me.
दमयन्त्यैवमुक्ता सा जगामाथ च केशिनी। निशाम्याथ हयज्ञस्य लिङ्गानि पुनरागमत्
Thus addressed by Damayanti, Kesini went and, after observing the signs of the horse-sacrifice, returned again.
सा तत्सर्वं यथावृत्तं दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत्। निमित्तं यत्तया दृष्टं बाहुके दिव्यमानुषम्
She reported everything as it happened to Damayanti, including all the divine and human signs she had seen in Bahuka.
दृढं शुच्यपदानोसौ न मया मानुषः क्वचित्। दृष्टपूर्वः श्रुतो वाऽपि दमयन्ति तथाविधः
He is steadfast and pure in conduct; I have never before seen or heard of a man like him, O Damayanti.
ह्रस्वमासाद्य तु द्वारं नासौ विनमते क्वचित्। तं तु दृष्ट्वा यथासङ्गमुत्सर्पति यथासुखम्। संकटेऽप्यस्य सुमहद्विवरं जायतेऽधिकम्
When approaching a narrow doorway, he never bends; yet, as he passes, he moves through easily and comfortably, and even in tight spaces, a great opening appears for him.
ऋतुपर्णस्य चार्थाय भोजनीयमनेकशः। ऋतुपर्णस्य चार्थाय भोजनीयमनेकशः। प्रेषितं तत्रराज्ञा तु मांसं बहु च पाशवम्
For Rituparna's sake, much food is prepared again and again; at the king's command, a great quantity of meat is sent there.
तस्य प्रक्षालनार्थाय कुम्भास्तत्रोपकल्पिताः। ते तेनावेक्षिताः कुम्भाः पूर्णा एवाभवंस्ततः
For the purpose of washing, water jars are arranged there; and when he looks at them, those jars become filled at once.
ततः प्रक्षालनं कृत्वा समधिश्रित्य बाहुकः। तृणमुष्टिं समादाय सवितुस्तं समादधत्
Then, after washing, Bahuka, having composed himself, takes a handful of grass and offers it to Savitṛ.
अथ प्रज्वलितस्तत्र सहसा हव्यवाहनः। तदद्भुततमं दृष्ट्वा विस्मिताऽमिहागता
Then, suddenly, the sacred fire blazes forth there; seeing this most marvelous thing, I was astonished and came here.
अन्यच्च तस्मिन्सुमहदाश्चर्यं लक्षितं मया। यदग्निमपि संस्पृश्य नैवासौ दह्यते शुभे
And I noticed another great wonder in him: even when he touches fire, O blessed one, he is not burned.
छन्देन चोदकं तस्य वहत्यावर्जितं द्रुतम्। अतीव चान्यत्सुमहदाश्चर्यं दृष्टवत्यहम्
By his will, water swiftly comes to him, drawn as he desires; and I have seen yet another extraordinary marvel.
यत्स पुष्पाण्युपादाय हस्ताभ्यां ममृदे शनैः। मृद्यमानानि पाणिभ्यां तेन पुष्पाणि नान्यथा। भूय एव सुगन्धीनि हृपितानि भवन्ति हि
When he takes flowers and gently rubs them with his hands, they do not wither but become even more fragrant and fresh.
एतान्यद्भुतकल्पानि दृष्ट्वाऽहं भृशविस्मिता। चेष्टितानि विशालाक्षि बाहुकस्य समीपतः
Seeing these wondrous acts performed by Bahuka, O wide-eyed one, I was greatly amazed.
दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा पुण्यश्लोकस्य चेष्टितम्। अमन्यत नलं प्राप्तं कर्मचेष्टाभिसूचितम्
Hearing of these deeds of the virtuous one, Damayanti thought that Nala had been found, as revealed by his actions.
सा शङ्कमाना भर्तारं नलं बाहुकरूपिणम्। केशिनीं श्लक्ष्णया वाचा रुदन्ती पुनरब्रवीत्
Suspecting that her husband Nala was in the form of Bahuka, she, weeping, spoke again to the maidservant with gentle words.
पुनर्गच्छ प्रमत्तस्य बाहुकस्योपसंस्कृतम्। महानसाच्छ्रितं मांसमानयस्वेह भामिनि
Go again, O beautiful one, and bring here the meat prepared for Bahuka, who is inattentive and occupied in the kitchen.
सा दृष्ट्वाबाहुके व्यग्रे तन्मांसमपकृष्य च। अत्युष्णमेव त्वरिता तत्क्षणात्प्रियकारिणी। दमयन्त्यै ततः प्रादात्केशिनी कुरुनन्दन
Seeing Bahuka busy, she quickly took that meat, still very hot, and at once, eager to please Damayanti, gave it to her, O descendant of the Kurus.
साऽशिता नलसिद्धस् मांसस्य बहुशः पुरा। प्राश्य मत्वा नलं सूतं प्राक्रोशद्भृशदुःखिता
She, who had often eaten meat prepared by Nala before, tasted it, and thinking the charioteer to be Nala, cried out in great distress.
वैक्लव्यं परमं गत्वाप्रक्षाल्य च मुखं ततः। मिथुनं प्रेषयामास केशिन्या सह भारत्
Overcome by intense agitation, she then washed her mouth and sent the pair together with the maidservant, O Bharata.
इन्द्रसेनां सह भ्रात्रा समभिज्ञाय बाहुकः। अभिद्रुत्य तदा राजा परिष्वज्याङ्कमानयत्
Bahuka, recognizing Indrasena and her brother, rushed forward, embraced them, and took them onto his lap.
बाहुकस्तु समासाद्य सुतौ सुरसुतोपमौ। भृशं दुःखपरीतात्मा सुस्वरं प्ररुरोद ह
Bahuka, seeing his two children, who were like the children of the gods, was overwhelmed by sorrow and wept aloud in a sweet voice.
नैषधो दर्शयित्वा तु विकारमसकृत्तदा। उत्सृज्य सहसा पुत्रौ केशिनीमिदमब्रवीत्
The Nishadha king, repeatedly showing his agitation, suddenly let go of his children and said this to the maidservant.
इदं च मदृशं भद्रे मिथुनं मम पुत्रयोः। अतो दृष्ट्वैव सहसा बाष्पमुत्सृष्टवानहम्
O good woman, this pair of children is like my own; seeing them suddenly, I have shed tears.
बहुशः संपतन्तीं त्वां जनः शङ्केत दोषतः। वयंच देशातिथयो गच्छ भद्रे यथासुखम्
People often suspect you of wrongdoing because you come and go frequently; as for us, we are guests from another land—go, good woman, as you wish.
सर्वं विकारं दृष्ट्वा तु पुण्यश्लोकस्य धीमतः। आगत्य केशिनी क्षिप्रं दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत्
Having seen all the agitation of the renowned and wise one, the maidservant quickly went and reported everything to Damayanti.
दमयन्ती ततो भूयः प्रेषयामास केशिनीम्। मातुः सकाशं दुःखार्ता नलशङ्कासमुत्सुका
Then Damayanti, afflicted by sorrow and eager with the suspicion that Bahuka was Nala, again sent the maidservant to her mother.
परीक्षितो मे बहुशो बाहुको नलशङ्कया। रूपे मे संशयस्त्वेकः स्वयमिच्छमि वेदितुम्
Bahuka has been tested by me many times out of suspicion that he is Nala; only his appearance leaves me in doubt, which I wish to resolve myself.
स वा प्रवेश्यतां मातर्मां वाऽनुज्ञातुमर्हसि। विदितं वाऽथवाऽज्ञातं पितुर्मे संविधीयताम्
So, mother, either let him be brought in, or permit me to go; whether he is known or unknown, let my father decide.