पर्वतस्तु गतस्तस्मान्नगराद्विमना भृशम् । अहं वानरवक्त्रस्तु सञ्जातस्तत्क्षणादपि
Parvata, greatly distressed, departed from the city; and I, with the face of a monkey, became so at that very moment.
दृष्ट्वा मां वानरं क्रूरं राजपुत्री विलक्षणा । विमनातीव सञ्जाता वीणाश्रवणलालसा
Seeing me as a cruel monkey, the princess became utterly disheartened, longing to hear the sound of the vīṇā.
व्यास उवाच ततः किमभवद्ब्रह्मन् कथं शापान्निवर्तितः । मानुषास्यः पुनर्जातो भवान्ब्रूहि यथाविधि
Vyāsa said: What happened then, O brāhman? How were the curses lifted? Tell how you regained a human face, according to the proper account.
पर्वतः क्व गतो भूयः सङ्गमो युवयोरभूत् । कदा कुत्र कथं सर्वं विस्तरेण वदस्व ह
Where did Parvata go? Did you two meet again? When, where, and how? Tell everything in detail.
नारद उवाच किं ब्रवीमि महाभाग मायायाश्चरितं महत् । दुःखितोऽहं भृशं तत्र पर्वते रुषिते गते
Nārada said: What can I say, O highly fortunate one, about the great deeds of Māyā? I was deeply distressed when Parvata, angered, departed.
पुनः सेवापरात्यर्थं राजपुत्री ममाभवत् । गतेऽथ पर्वते कामं स्थितस्तत्रैव सद्मनि
The princess became exceedingly devoted to service for me; after Parvata left, I remained there in the house, desiring her.
अहं दुःखान्वितो दीनस्तथा वानरवन्मुखः । विशेषेण तु चिन्तार्तः किं मे स्यादिति चिन्तयन्
I, afflicted by sorrow and misery, with the face of a monkey, was especially troubled, pondering what might happen to me.
सञ्जयोऽथ सुतां दृष्ट्वा किञ्चित्प्रकटयौवनाम् । विवाहार्थे राजसुतामपृच्छत्सचिवं तदा
Then Sañjaya, seeing his daughter with signs of emerging youth, asked his minister about the royal princess for marriage.
विवाहकालः सम्प्राप्तः सुताया मम साम्प्रतम् । योग्यं वरं मम ब्रूहि राजपुत्रं सुसम्मतम्
The time for my daughter's marriage has now arrived; tell me an appropriate groom, a royal prince who is well approved.
रूपौदार्यगुणैर्युक्तं शूरं सुकुलसम्भवम् । विवाहं विधिवत्पुत्र्याः करोमि किल साम्प्रतम्
One endowed with beauty, generosity, and virtues, brave and of noble lineage—I will arrange my daughter's marriage according to proper rites, now.
प्रधानस्त्वब्रवीद्राजन् राजपुत्रा ह्यनेकशः । वर्तन्ते भुवि पुत्र्यास्ते योग्याः सर्वगुणान्विताः
The chief said, O King, 'There are many royal princes on earth, all endowed with every virtue, who are suitable for your daughter.'
यस्मिन् रुचिस्ते राजेन्द्र तमाहूय नृपात्मजम् । देहि कन्यां धनं भूरि हस्त्यश्वरथसंयुतम्
O best of kings, summon whichever prince your daughter desires, and give her to him in marriage, along with abundant wealth, elephants, horses, and chariots.
नारद उवाच पितुश्चिकीर्षितं ज्ञात्वा दमयन्ती तदा नृपम् । धात्र्या मुखेन वाक्यज्ञा तमुवाच रहः स्थितम्
Nārada said: Knowing her father's intention, Damayantī then spoke to the king, through her nurse, understanding his words, and addressed him in private.
धात्र्युवाच दमयन्ती महाराज पुत्री ते मामथाब्रवीत् । पितरं ब्रूहि धात्रेयि वचनान्मे सुखान्वितम्
The nurse said: 'O great king, your daughter Damayantī has spoken thus to me: "O nurse, tell my father these words of mine, filled with happiness."'
मया वृतोऽथ मेधावी नारदो महतीयुतः । नादमोहितया कामं नान्यः कोऽपि प्रियो मम
'I have chosen the wise and illustrious Nārada, endowed with great qualities; I am not deluded by desire, nor is anyone else dear to me.'
कुरु मे वाञ्छितं तात विवाहं मुनिना सह । नान्यं वरिष्ये धर्मज्ञ नारदं तु पतिं विना
'Grant me, father, my wish: to marry the sage; I will not choose anyone else, O knower of dharma, except Nārada as my husband.'
मग्नाहं नादसिन्धौ वै नक्रहीने रसात्मके । अक्षारे सुखसम्पूर्णे तिमिङ्गिलविवर्जिते
'I am immersed in the ocean of Nārada, which is without crocodiles, full of essence, imperishable, filled with happiness, and free from monstrous fish.'
; नारदस्य मायादमयन्त्या सह विवाहवर्णनम् नारद उवाच तत्पुत्र्या वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा धात्रीमुखात्ततः । भार्यां प्रोवाच कैकेयीं समीपस्थां सुलोचनाम्
Nārada said: Hearing his daughter's words from the nurse, the king then spoke to his wife Kaikeyī, who was nearby and beautiful-eyed.
राजोवाच यदुक्तं वचनं कान्ते धात्र्या तत्तु त्वया श्रुतम् । वृतोऽयं नारदः कामं मुनिर्वानरवक्त्रभाक्
The king said: 'Beloved, you have heard the words spoken by the nurse; Damayantī has chosen Nārada, the sage with a monkey's face, as she desires.'
किमिदं चिन्तितं पुत्र्या बुद्धिहीनं विचेष्टितम् । कथमस्मै मया देया कन्या हरिमुखाय सा
'What is this thoughtless and irrational action my daughter has taken? How can I give my daughter to one with a monkey's face?'
क्वासौ भिक्षुः कुरूपः क्व दमयन्ती ममात्मजा । विपरीतमिदं कार्यं न विधेयं कदाचन
'Where is that ugly beggar, and where is my daughter Damayantī? This is a perverse act, never to be done.'
तामेकान्ते सुकेशान्ते निवारय हठात्सुताम् । युक्त्या मुनिरतां मुग्धां शास्त्रवृद्धानुसारया
'In private, with gentle words, restrain our innocent daughter, who is devoted to the sage, by reasoning and according to the guidance of the elders and scriptures.'
इति भर्तृवचः श्रुत्वा जननी तामथाब्रवीत् । च ते रूपं मुनिः क्वासौ वानरास्योऽधनः पुनः
Hearing her husband's words, the mother then spoke to her: 'Where is that sage, and where is his form? He is monkey-faced and poor.'
कथं मोहमवाप्तासि भिक्षुके चतुरा पुनः । लताकोमलदेहा त्वं भस्मरूक्षतनुस्त्वयम्
'How have you come under delusion for a beggar, though you are clever? You are tender as a vine, while he is rough-skinned, smeared with ashes.'
वार्ता वानरवक्त्रेण कथं युक्ता तवानघे । का प्रीतिः कुत्सिते पुंसि भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते
'How is it proper for you, O faultless one, to be associated with one who has a monkey's face? What affection can arise in you, O pure-smiling one, for such a contemptible man?'
वरस्ते राजपुत्रोऽस्तु मा कुरु त्वं वृथा हठम् । पिता ते दुःखमाप्नोति श्रुत्वा धात्रीमुखाद्वचः
'Let your chosen husband be a prince; do not stubbornly persist in vain. Your father will suffer upon hearing these words from the nurse.'
लग्नां बुबूलवृक्षेण कोमलां मालतीलताम् । दृष्ट्वा कस्य मनः खेदं चतुरस्य न गच्छति
'Who, seeing a tender jasmine vine entwined with a poisonous gourd tree, would not feel distress in his heart, even if he is wise?'
दासेरकाय ताम्बूलीदलानि कोमलानि कः । ददाति भक्षणार्थाय मूर्खोऽपि धरणीतले
'Who would give tender betel leaves to a lowly servant for eating, even a fool on this earth would not do so?'
वीक्ष्य त्वां करसंलग्नां नारदस्य समीपतः । विवाहे वर्तमाने तु कस्य चेतो न दह्यति
Seeing you with your hand joined to Nārada's, right at his side during the wedding, whose heart would not burn?
कुमुखेन समं वार्ता न रुचिं जनयत्यतः । आमृतेस्तु कथं कालः क्षपितव्यस्त्वयामुना
Conversation with someone whose face is unpleasant brings no delight; how, then, could you bear to spend time with one who is like poison, when you are like nectar?