03.050
Core: Swan acts as a bridge between Nala and Damayanti and romance is in the air!
Bṛhadaśva said.
There was a king named Nala, the son of Vīrasena, who was strong, endowed with desirable virtues, handsome, and skilled in the knowledge of horses. (3-50-1)
He stood on the heads of the kings of men like the lord of the gods, above all, like the sun by his brilliance. (3-50-2)
He was devoted to Brahman, a knower of the Veda, heroic, and king among the Niṣadhas; fond of dice, a speaker of truth, great, and lord of mighty armies. (3-50-3)
He is desired by noble women, noble in character, self-controlled, a protector, the best among archers, and himself is like Manu incarnate. (3-50-4)
Similarly, in Vidarbha, there was Bhima, a man of terrible prowess, heroic and endowed with all virtues, who desired children, but he was without offspring. (3-50-5)
He, being well-concentrated, made supreme effort for the sake of progeny. Then, O Bhārata, the Brahmarṣi named Damana approached him. (3-50-6)
Bhīma, who desired progeny and knew dharma, honored Suvarcasa with his queen, O king, treating him with great respect. (3-50-7)
Pleased, Damana granted a boon to him and his wife: a jewel-like daughter and three noble, illustrious sons. (3-50-8)
Damayantī, possessing self-restraint, control, the power to subdue, and great radiance, endowed with all virtues, mighty and of formidable valor. (3-50-9)
But Damayantī, by her beauty, brilliance, fame, prosperity, and good fortune, attained fame among people as the graceful one. (3-50-10)
Then, when she reached the proper age, a hundred well-adorned maidservants and companions attended upon her, just as Śacī is attended.
There, the daughter of Bhīma, adorned with all ornaments, shone among her companions, her limbs flawless, like a flash of lightning; she was exceedingly beautiful, with large eyes like the goddess Śrī (Lakṣmī). (3-50-12)
Such a beautiful young woman, who agitates the mind, has not been seen or heard of anywhere among the gods, yakṣas, humans, or others; even among the gods, she is a beauty. (3-50-13)
Nala, the tiger among men, was unmatched in beauty on earth; he himself became the very embodiment of Kandarpa (Cupid) in form. (3-50-14)
But near her, they praised Nala out of curiosity; and near the king of Niṣadha, they praised Damayantī again and again. (3-50-15)
O son of Kunti, as those two constantly heard about each other's qualities, a desire for the unseen arose in their hearts, and that longing in their hearts grew. (3-50-16)
Unable to restrain his desire, the fire (of passion) then, by his heart, being near the inner apartments, he remains in the forest, having gone into solitude. (3-50-17)
He then saw swans adorned with gold; among those wandering in the forest, he seized one bird. (3-50-18)
Then, the celestial being spoke to Nala at that moment: "O king, I am not to be killed by you; indeed, I will do what is dear to you." (3-50-19)
O Naiṣadha, I will speak of you in Damayantī's presence in such a way that she will never consider any man other than you. (3-50-20)
Thus addressed, the king released the swan. The swans then rose up and went from there to the land of the Vidarbhas. (3-50-21)
After reaching the city of Vidarbha, near Damayantī, those Garuḍa-like birds alighted; then she saw those birds. (3-50-22)
Seeing those of marvelous appearance, she, surrounded by her group of friends and delighted, hastily began to seize the bird-meats. (3-50-23)
Then the swans dispersed in all directions throughout the pleasure-garden; after that, the maidens, one by one, approached those swans. (3-50-24)
But Damayantī approached the swan closely. He then, having assumed human speech, spoke to Damayantī. (3-50-25)
There was a king among the Niṣadhas named Nala, beloved of Damayanti; in form he was like the Aśvins, and no men were equal to him. (3-50-26)
O one of excellent complexion, if you were to become his wife, O slender-waisted one, then your birth and this form would indeed be fruitful. (3-50-27)
We have indeed seen gods, gandharvas, humans, serpents, and rākṣasas; but never before have we seen anyone such as this. (3-50-28)
You are the jewel among women, and Nala is the best among men; the union of the distinguished woman with the distinguished man should be virtuous. (3-50-29)
Thus, when addressed by the swan, Damayanti, O lord of men, said to the swan there: "Speak thus also to Nala." (3-50-30)
Having said this, the egg-born bird, taking the maiden of the king of Vidarbha, O lord of the people, returned again to Niṣadha and reported everything to Nala. (3-50-31)
