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.
एवमुक्ता तु वैदर्भ्या सा देवी भीममब्रवीत्। दुहितुस्तमभिप्रायमन्वजानात्स पार्थिवः
Thus addressed by the princess of Vidarbha, the queen spoke to Bhima, and the king understood his daughter's intention.
सा चै पित्राऽभ्यनुज्ञाता मात्रा च भरतर्षभ। `तयोर्नियोगात्कौरव्य केशिनीमिदमब्रवीत्
Permitted by both her father and mother, O bull among the Bharatas, by their command, she spoke these words to the maidservant.
गच्छ केशिनि शीघ्रं त्वंबाहुकं पितृशासनात्। आनयस्व यथा माता त्वं तथा कुरु मे प्रियम्
Go quickly, Keśinī, and bring Bahuka here by order of my father; do as my mother wishes and please me.
गत्वा तु केशिनी शिघ्रं बाहुकं वाक्यमब्रवीत्। भीमस्य शासनात्सूतागताहं विद्धि बाहुक
Keśinī, having gone quickly, spoke to Bahuka: 'O Bahuka, know that I have come by the command of Bhima.'
प्रविश्यतां राजवेश्म इत्युक्तो भरतर्षभ। बाहुकस्तु चिरं ध्यात्वा केशिन्या सह भारत। प्रविवेश महाबाहुर्दमयन्तीनिवेशनम्
Having been told, 'Enter the royal palace,' O foremost of Bharatas, Bahuka, after long contemplation together with Kesini, entered the residence of Damayanti, mighty-armed.
नलं प्रवेशयामास यत्रतस्याः प्रतिश्रयः
He brought Nala to the place where her shelter was.
तां स्म दृष्ट्वैव सहसा दमयन्तीं नलो नृपः। आविष्टः शोकदुःखाभ्यां बभूवाश्रुपरिप्लुतः
Upon suddenly seeing Damayanti, King Nala was overcome by grief and sorrow, and his eyes were filled with tears.
तं तु दृष्ट्वातथायुक्तं दमयन्ती नलं तदा। तीव्रशोकसमाविष्टा बभूव वरवर्णिनी
Seeing Nala in such a state, Damayanti, of excellent complexion, was seized by intense grief.
ततः काषायवसना जटिला मलपङ्किनी। दमयन्ती महाराज बाहुकं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then Damayanti, O great king, clad in ochre garments, with matted hair and smeared with dirt, spoke to Bahuka.
पूर्वं दृष्टस्त्वया कश्चिद्धर्मज्ञो नाम बाहुक। सुप्तामुत्सृज्यविपिने गतो यः पुरुषः स्त्रियम्
Bahuka, you once saw a certain man called Dharmajna, who, leaving a woman asleep in the forest, departed.