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.
अनागसं प्रियां भार्यां विजने श्रममोहिताम्। अपहाय तु को गच्चेत्पुण्यश्लोकमृतेनलम्
Who would abandon his innocent beloved wife, exhausted and bewildered in a lonely place, and go away, if he were not bereft of virtue and fame?
किमु तस्य मया बाल्यादपराद्धं महीपतेः। यो मामुत्सृज्य विपिने गतवान्निद्रयाऽर्दिताम्
What offense did I commit in my youth against that king, who left me in the forest, afflicted by sleep?
साक्षाद्देवानपाहाय वृतो यः स पुरा मया। अनुव्रतामभिमतां पुत्रिणीं त्यक्तवान्कथम्
How could he, who was chosen by me over the gods, who was devoted, desired, and a father, abandon me?
अग्नौ पाणिगृहीता च हंसानां वचने स्थिताम्। भरिष्यामीति सत्यं तु प्रतिश्रुत्य क्व तद्गतम्
Having taken my hand in fire, and standing by the words of the swans, he promised, 'I will support you'—where has that truth gone?
दमयन्त्या ब्रुवन्त्यास्तु सर्वमेतदरिदम। शोकजं वारिनेत्राभ्यामसुखं प्रास्रवद्बहु
As Damayanti spoke all this, tears born of sorrow flowed abundantly from her eyes.
अतीव कृष्णताराभ्यां रक्तान्ताभ्यां जलंतु तत्। परिस्रवन्नलो राजा शोकार्तइदमब्रवीत्
From her extremely dark and bloodshot eyes, that water streamed forth; King Nala, afflicted by grief, spoke thus:
नलोऽहं विपुलश्रोणि त्वामुत्सृज्य यतो गतः। आविष्टः कलिना भद्रे तेन मोहवशं गतः
I am Nala, O broad-hipped one; I departed after abandoning you, because I was possessed by Kali, O gentle one, and thus fell under the sway of delusion.
मम राज्यं प्रनष्टं यन्नाहं तत्कृतवान्स्वयम्। कलिना तत्कृतं भीरु यच्च त्वामहमत्यजम्
My kingdom was lost, not by my own doing; it was Kali who caused it, O timid one, and it was he who made me abandon you.
यत्त्वया धर्मकृच्छ्रे तु शापेनाभिहतः पुरा। वनस्थया दुःखितया शोचन्त्या मांदिवानिशम्
When you, afflicted by the hardships of righteousness and struck by the curse, dwelt in the forest, grieving for me day and night—
स मच्छरीरे त्वच्छापाद्दह्यमानोऽवसत्कलिः। त्वच्छापदग्धः सततं सोऽग्नावग्निरिवाहितः
Kali remained in my body, burning because of your curse; scorched by your curse, he was always tormented, like fire placed in fire.