मर्त्यलोके चिरं स्थित्वा विष्णुलोके महीयते
After dwelling long in the world of mortals, one is honored in the realm of Vishnu.
ये पूजयंति पुरुषाः पुरुषोत्तमस्य मत्स्यादिकांस्तु दशमीषु दशावतारान्
Those men who worship the ten incarnations of the Supreme Person, from Matsya onward, on the tenth days—
आशादशमीवर्णनम् शृणुष्वावहितो वच्मि तवाशादशमीव्रतम्
Listen attentively as I tell you about the vow of the Āshāda tenth day.
नलनामाभवत्पूर्वं निषधेषु महीपते
Once, in the land of the Nishadhas, there was a king named Nala.
अक्षैर्द्यूतेन राजेन्द्र निर्ययौ भार्यया सह
O king, through a game of dice, he departed with his wife.
स गत्वा प्रत्यहोरात्रं जलमात्रेण वर्तयन्
Having gone forth, he survived each day and night subsisting only on water.
ग्रहीतुमिच्छंस्तान्राजन्समाच्छाद्य स्ववाससा
Desiring to seize them, O king, he covered them with his own garment.
गते तु नैषधे भैमी प्रबुद्धै वाञ्चितानना इतश्चेतश्च बभ्राम हाहेति रुदती मुहुः
When the Nishadha king had gone, Bhīmā's daughter, deceived by the awakened ones, wandered here and there, weeping again and again, crying 'Alas!'
दुःखशोकसमाक्रांता नलदर्शनलालसा
Overcome by sorrow and grief, longing to see Nala,
उन्मत्तवत्परिवृता शिशुभिः कौतुकाकुलैः
She wandered like one mad, surrounded by curious children.
चन्द्रलेखेव पतिता भूमौ भासितदिङ्मुखा 4.64.
She fell to the ground like a crescent moon, her face shining in all directions.
उवाच भैमी सव्रीडं सैरंध्रीं मां निबोधताम्
Bhīmā's daughter, with modesty, spoke to the maid Sairandhri—listen to me.
यदि प्रार्थयते कश्चिद्दंड्यस्ते सांप्रतं भवेत् एवमस्त्वनवद्यांगि राज माताप्युवाच ताम्
If anyone seeks you now, let him be punished; so be it, O faultless one, the queen mother also said to her.
एवंविधा तद्भवने कंचित्कालमनिंदिता आनयामास मुदितो दमयंतीं गृहं पितुः
Thus, in that house, she remained blameless for some time; then, joyfully, Damayantī was brought to her father's home.
मात्रा पित्रा समायुक्ता सुतैर्भ्रातृभिरेव च
She was united with her mother and father, with her sons and brothers as well.
प्रोवाच विमनाहूय व्रतं दानमथापि वा
She spoke, having been summoned in distress, about a vow or a gift.
तत्रेतिहासकुशलो विप्रः प्रोवाच बुद्धिमान्
There, a learned and wise Brahmin versed in history spoke.
चकार सर्वं तन्वंगी यत्पुराणविदा तदा
The slender-bodied one performed everything as instructed by the knower of the ancient lore.
व्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेण दमयंत्या नरोत्तम
By the power of this vow, Damayanti, O best of men,
सर्वमेतत्समाचक्ष्व मां सर्वज्ञोसि यादव
Tell me all of this, for you are all-knowing, O Yadava.
भार्यार्थं तु वणिक्पुत्रः पुत्रार्थे गुर्विणी तथा ।। 4.64.
For the sake of a wife, the merchant's son; for the sake of a son, the woman desiring offspring.
धर्मार्थकामसंसिद्धयै लोककन्या वरार्थिनी
For the attainment of righteousness, wealth, and desire, the maiden of the world seeks a husband.
चिरप्रवासिते कांते कालेन धृतिपंडिता
When her beloved has been absent for a long time, she, wise in patience, by the passage of time,
यदा यस्य भवेदार्तं कार्यते हि तदा व्रतम्
Whenever someone is afflicted, then the vow is performed.
नक्तं तदाशाः संपूज्याः पुष्पालक्तकचन्दनैः दत्त्वा घृताक्तं नैवेद्यं पुनः कार्यं निवेदयेत्
At night, the wishes are to be worshipped with flowers, red dye, and sandalwood; after offering oblations prepared with ghee, the ritual should again be presented.
आशाश्चाशाः सदा संतु विद्यंतां च मनोरथाः
May wishes always exist, and may desires be fulfilled.
एवं संपूज्य भुञ्जीत दत्त्वा विप्राय दक्षिणाम्
Having thus worshipped, one should eat, after giving a gift to a Brahmin.
यावन्मनोरथः पूर्णस्ततः पश्चात्समुद्यमात्
When the desired wish is fulfilled, then afterwards one should undertake the prescribed act.
सौवर्णाः कारयेदाशा रौप्यपिष्टातकेन वा
One should make the wishes out of gold, or with silver shaped accordingly.
पूजयेन्मंत्रसंदर्भैरेभिर्ध्यात्वा गृहांगणे। पूर्वा चन्द्रेण सहिता ऐन्द्रीदिग्देवते नमः
One should worship with these mantras, meditating in the courtyard of the house: 'Salutations to the eastern direction, together with the moon, and to the deities of the Indra direction.'