03.051
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वचो हंसस्य भारत। तदा प्रभृति नस्वस्था नलं प्रति बभूव सा ॥०३-५१-१॥
But Damayanti, O Bhārata, having heard those words of the swan, from that moment on, became unwell regarding Nala. (03-51-1)
ततश्चिन्तापरा दीना विवर्णवदना कृशा। बभूव दमयन्ती तु निःश्वासपरमा तदा ॥०३-५१-२॥
Then Damayantī, distressed, pale-faced, emaciated and deeply anxious, became entirely given to sighing at that time. (03-51-2)
ऊर्ध्वदृष्टिर्ध्यानपरा बभूवोन्मत्तदर्शना। न शय्यासनभोगेषु रतिं विन्दति कर्हिचित् ॥०३-५१-३॥
She became absorbed in meditation, always looking upwards with a delirious appearance. She never finds pleasure in a bed, on a seat, or among any enjoyments. (03-51-3)
न नक्तं न दिवा शेते हा हेति वदती मुहुः। तामस्वस्थां तदाकारां सख्यस्ता जज्ञुरिङ्गितैः ॥०३-५१-४॥
She neither sleeps at night nor by day; she keeps uttering 'ha' and 'heti' again and again. Her friends recognized her distressed condition by her gestures. (03-51-4)
ततो विदर्भपतये दमयन्त्याः सखीगणः। न्यवेदयत नस्वस्थां दमयन्तीं नरेश्वर ॥०३-५१-५॥
Then, O king, Damayantī's group of friends informed the lord of Vidarbha that Damayantī was not well. (03-51-5)
तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपतिर्भीमो दमयन्तीसखीगणात्। चिन्तयामास तत्कार्यं सुमहत्स्वां सुतां प्रति ॥०३-५१-६॥
Having heard this from Damayantī’s group of friends, King Bhīma began to think of that great matter regarding his daughter. (03-51-6)
स समीक्ष्य महीपालः स्वां सुतां प्राप्तयौवनाम्। अपश्यदात्मनः कार्यं दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम् ॥०३-५१-७॥
Having considered, the king saw that his own daughter Damayantī had come of age, and realized his duty was to arrange the svayamvara (marriage assembly) for her. (03-51-7)
स संनिपातयामास महीपालान्विशां पते। अनुभूयतामयं वीराः स्वयंवर इति प्रभो ॥०३-५१-८॥
He gathered the kings together, O lord of the people. "Let the heroes experience this svayaṃvara"—so it was said, O lord. (03-51-8)
श्रुत्वा तु पार्थिवाः सर्वे दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम्। अभिजग्मुस्तदा भीमं राजानो भीमशासनात् ॥०३-५१-९॥
But all the kings, having heard of Damayantī's self-choice (svayamvara), then came to Bhīma upon his invitation. (03-51-9)
हस्त्यश्वरथघोषेण नादयन्तो वसुन्धराम्। विचित्रमाल्याभरणैर्बलैर्दृश्यैः स्वलङ्कृतैः ॥०३-५१-१०॥
Making the earth resound with the noise of elephants, horses, and chariots, with their armies that were well-adorned and decorated with various garlands and ornaments, and were visible. (03-51-10)
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ। अटमानौ महात्मानाविन्द्रलोकमितो गतौ ॥०३-५१-११॥
But in this very time, the two ancient, great-souled sages, the best of seers, who were wandering, went from here to Indra's world. (03-51-11)
नारदः पर्वतश्चैव महात्मानौ महाव्रतौ। देवराजस्य भवनं विविशाते सुपूजितौ ॥०३-५१-१२॥
Nārada and Parvata, both great-souled and of great vows, well-honored, entered the abode of the king of the gods. (03-51-12)
तावर्चित्वा सहस्राक्षस्ततः कुशलमव्ययम्। पप्रच्छानामयं चापि तयोः सर्वगतं विभुः ॥०३-५१-१३॥
After honoring them, the thousand-eyed Indra then inquired of both about their imperishable well-being and also about their complete freedom from trouble. (03-51-13)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
आवयोः कुशलं देव सर्वत्रगतमीश्वर। लोके च मघवन्कृत्स्ने नृपाः कुशलिनो विभो ॥०३-५१-१४॥
O god, omnipresent lord, both of us are well. And, O Maghavan, all the kings in the world are also well, O mighty one. (03-51-14)
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पप्रच्छ बलवृत्रहा। धर्मज्ञाः पृथिवीपालास्त्यक्तजीवितयोधिनः ॥०३-५१-१५॥
Having heard Nārada's words, the slayer of Bala and Vṛtra asked: ‘O righteous kings of the earth, warriors who fight without regard for their lives.’ (03-51-15)
शस्त्रेण निधनं काले ये गच्छन्त्यपराङ्मुखाः। अयं लोकोऽक्षयस्तेषां यथैव मम कामधुक् ॥०३-५१-१६॥
Those who are slain by weapons in battle as they turn their backs, for them this world becomes imperishable, just as is a wish-granting cow to me. (03-51-16)
क्व नु ते क्षत्रियाः शूरा न हि पश्यामि तानहम्। आगच्छतो महीपालानतिथीन्दयितान्मम ॥०३-५१-१७॥
Where now are your heroic kṣatriyas? I do not see those kings, guests, and beloved ones of mine coming. (03-51-17)
एवमुक्तस्तु शक्रेण नारदः प्रत्यभाषत। शृणु मे भगवन्येन न दृश्यन्ते महीक्षितः ॥०३-५१-१८॥
Thus, when addressed by Śakra, Nārada replied: "Listen to me, O revered one, why the kings are not to be seen." (03-51-18)
विदर्भराजदुहिता दमयन्तीति विश्रुता। रूपेण समतिक्रान्ता पृथिव्यां सर्वयोषितः ॥०३-५१-१९॥
Damayanti, the daughter of the king of Vidarbha, is renowned, having surpassed all women of the earth in beauty. (03-51-19)
तस्याः स्वयंवरः शक्र भविता नचिरादिव। तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो राजपुत्राश्च सर्वशः ॥०३-५१-२०॥
O Śakra, her self-choice ceremony will soon take place. Kings and princes from all sides will go there. (03-51-20)
तां रत्नभूतां लोकस्य प्रार्थयन्तो महीक्षितः। काङ्क्षन्ति स्म विशेषेण बलवृत्रनिषूदन ॥०३-५१-२१॥
O slayer of strong enemies, the kings, desiring her—who had become a jewel of the world—were especially eager for her. (03-51-21)
एतस्मिन्कथ्यमाने तु लोकपालाश्च साग्निकाः। आजग्मुर्देवराजस्य समीपममरोत्तमाः ॥०३-५१-२२॥
While this was being told, the guardians of the world together with Agni, the foremost immortals, arrived near the king of the gods. (03-51-22)
ततस्तच्छुश्रुवुः सर्वे नारदस्य वचो महत्। श्रुत्वा चैवाब्रुवन्हृष्टा गच्छामो वयमप्युत ॥०३-५१-२३॥
Then all of them heard Nārada's great words; and having heard, the joyful ones said: 'Let us also go indeed.' (03-51-23)
ततः सर्वे महाराज सगणाः सहवाहनाः। विदर्भानभितो जग्मुर्यत्र सर्वे महीक्षितः ॥०३-५१-२४॥
Then all of them, O great king, along with their entourages and vehicles, went towards the Vidarbhas, where all the kings had gathered. (03-51-24)
नलोऽपि राजा कौन्तेय श्रुत्वा राज्ञां समागमम्। अभ्यगच्छददीनात्मा दमयन्तीमनुव्रतः ॥०३-५१-२५॥
Nala too, O Kaunteya, having heard of the meeting of the kings, approached Damayantī with an undiscouraged spirit, being devoted to her. (03-51-25)
अथ देवाः पथि नलं ददृशुर्भूतले स्थितम्। साक्षादिव स्थितं मूर्त्या मन्मथं रूपसम्पदा ॥०३-५१-२६॥
Then the gods saw Nala standing on the path on the earth, appearing just like Kāma himself in form and beauty. (03-51-26)
तं दृष्ट्वा लोकपालास्ते भ्राजमानं यथा रविम्। तस्थुर्विगतसङ्कल्पा विस्मिता रूपसम्पदा ॥०३-५१-२७॥
Seeing him shining like the sun, the guardians of the worlds stood, their thoughts overcome and astonished by his beauty. (03-51-27)
ततोऽन्तरिक्षे विष्टभ्य विमानानि दिवौकसः। अब्रुवन्नैषधं राजन्नवतीर्य नभस्तलात् ॥०३-५१-२८॥
Then, having stationed their aerial chariots in the sky, the celestial beings descended from the heavens and spoke to Naiṣadha, O king. (03-51-28)
भो भो नैषध राजेन्द्र नल सत्यव्रतो भवान्। अस्माकं कुरु साहाय्यं दूतो भव नरोत्तम ॥०३-५१-२९॥
O Nishadha, king among kings, Nala, you who are steadfast in truth—please help us and be our messenger, O best of men. (3-51-29)
