03.052
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
तेभ्यः प्रतिज्ञाय नलः करिष्य इति भारत। अथैनान्परिपप्रच्छ कृताञ्जलिरवस्थितः ॥०३-५२-१॥
Having promised to them, Nala said 'I will do,' O Bhārata. Then, standing with folded hands, he earnestly questioned them. (03-52-1)
के वै भवन्तः कश्चासौ यस्याहं दूत ईप्सितः। किं च तत्र मया कार्यं कथयध्वं यथातथम् ॥०३-५२-२॥
Who indeed are you all? And who is that person for whom I am desired as a messenger? And what task is there for me? Tell me just as it is. (03-52-2)
एवमुक्ते नैषधेन मघवान्प्रत्यभाषत। अमरान्वै निबोधास्मान्दमयन्त्यर्थमागतान् ॥०३-५२-३॥
After this was spoken by Naisadha, Maghavan replied, "Know us to be the immortals who have indeed come here for Damayantī's sake." (03-52-3)
अहमिन्द्रोऽयमग्निश्च तथैवायमपाम्पतिः। शरीरान्तकरो नॄणां यमोऽयमपि पार्थिव ॥०३-५२-४॥
O king, I am Indra; this is Agni, likewise this is the lord of waters. This is Yama, the destroyer of the bodies of men, as well.
स वै त्वमागतानस्मान्दमयन्त्यै निवेदय। लोकपालाः सहेन्द्रास्त्वां समायान्ति दिदृक्षवः ॥०३-५२-५॥
So, you must announce us, who have arrived, to Damayantī. The guardians of the world with Indra are coming to you, desiring to see you. (03-52-5)
प्राप्तुमिच्छन्ति देवास्त्वां शक्रोऽग्निर्वरुणो यमः। तेषामन्यतमं देवं पतित्वे वरयस्व ह ॥०३-५२-६॥
Śakra, Agni, Varuṇa, and Yama—the gods desire to obtain you. Of them, indeed, choose any one god as your husband. (03-52-6)
एवमुक्तः स शक्रेण नलः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत्। एकार्थसमवेतं मां न प्रेषयितुमर्हथ ॥०३-५२-७॥
Thus addressed by Śakra, Nala, with joined palms, said: "Since we are united in one purpose, you ought not to send me." (03-52-7)
देवा ऊचुः॥
The gods said.
करिष्य इति संश्रुत्य पूर्वमस्मासु नैषध। न करिष्यसि कस्मात्त्वं व्रज नैषध माचिरम् ॥०३-५२-८॥
You had previously promised us that you would act, O Naiṣadha; why will you not do it? Go at once, O Naiṣadha, do not delay. (03-52-8)
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Brihadasva said.
एवमुक्तः स देवैस्तैर्नैषधः पुनरब्रवीत्। सुरक्षितानि वेश्मानि प्रवेष्टुं कथमुत्सहे ॥०३-५२-९॥
Thus addressed by those gods, the king of Niṣadha again said: "How am I able to enter the well-protected mansions?" (03-52-9)
प्रवेक्ष्यसीति तं शक्रः पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत। जगाम स तथेत्युक्त्वा दमयन्त्या निवेशनम् ॥०३-५२-१०॥
Śakra again addressed him, saying, 'Will you enter?' Having replied, 'So be it,' he went to Damayantī's residence. (03-52-10)
ददर्श तत्र वैदर्भीं सखीगणसमावृताम्। देदीप्यमानां वपुषा श्रिया च वरवर्णिनीम् ॥०३-५२-११॥
He saw there the princess of Vidarbha, surrounded by her female companions, radiant in appearance and splendor, a woman of exquisite beauty. (03-52-11)
अतीव सुकुमाराङ्गीं तनुमध्यां सुलोचनाम्। आक्षिपन्तीमिव च भाः शशिनः स्वेन तेजसा ॥०३-५२-१२॥
With exceedingly delicate limbs, a slender waist, and beautiful eyes, she seemed to outshine even the brightness of the moon with her own splendor. (03-52-12)
तस्य दृष्ट्वैव ववृधे कामस्तां चारुहासिनीम्। सत्यं चिकीर्षमाणस्तु धारयामास हृच्छयम् ॥०३-५२-१३॥
Just seeing her, his desire for the charming-smiling one increased; but wishing to uphold the truth, he restrained the longing in his heart. (03-52-13)
ततस्ता नैषधं दृष्ट्वा सम्भ्रान्ताः परमाङ्गनाः। आसनेभ्यः समुत्पेतुस्तेजसा तस्य धर्षिताः ॥०३-५२-१४॥
Then, having seen Nala, the Naiṣadha, those preeminent women, disturbed and overpowered by his brilliance, rose from their seats. (03-52-14)
प्रशशंसुश्च सुप्रीता नलं ता विस्मयान्विताः। न चैनमभ्यभाषन्त मनोभिस्त्वभ्यचिन्तयन् ॥०३-५२-१५॥
The women, greatly pleased and filled with astonishment, praised Nala. However, they did not address him, but contemplated him in their minds. (03-52-15)
अहो रूपमहो कान्तिरहो धैर्यं महात्मनः। कोऽयं देवो नु यक्षो नु गन्धर्वो नु भविष्यति ॥०३-५२-१६॥
How beautiful, how radiant, how courageous is this great-souled one! Who is he? Will he be a god, a yakṣa, or a gandharva? (03-52-16)
न त्वेनं शक्नुवन्ति स्म व्याहर्तुमपि किञ्चन। तेजसा धर्षिताः सर्वा लज्जावत्यो वराङ्गनाः ॥०३-५२-१७॥
But none of the noble, modest women could say anything to him; all were overpowered by his splendor. (03-52-17)
अथैनं स्मयमानेव स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिणी। दमयन्ती नलं वीरमभ्यभाषत विस्मिता ॥०३-५२-१८॥
Then Damayantī, appearing as if she were smiling, with a gentle smile and astonished, spoke to the heroic Nala. (03-52-18)
कस्त्वं सर्वानवद्याङ्ग मम हृच्छयवर्धन। प्राप्तोऽस्यमरवद्वीर ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तेऽनघ ॥०३-५२-१९॥
Who are you, O flawless-limbed one, who increases the longing in my heart? You have arrived here like a hero among the gods. I wish to know you, sinless one. (03-52-19)
कथमागमनं चेह कथं चासि न लक्षितः। सुरक्षितं हि मे वेश्म राजा चैवोग्रशासनः ॥०३-५२-२०॥
How did you come here and how is it that you were not noticed? My house is well protected, and the king is also very strict in his commands. (03-52-20)
एवमुक्तस्तु वैदर्भ्या नलस्तां प्रत्युवाच ह। नलं मां विद्धि कल्याणि देवदूतमिहागतम् ॥०३-५२-२१॥
Thus addressed by the daughter of Vidarbha, Nala replied to her, saying, "O auspicious lady, know me, Nala, as a divine messenger who has arrived here." (03-52-21)
देवास्त्वां प्राप्तुमिच्छन्ति शक्रोऽग्निर्वरुणो यमः। तेषामन्यतमं देवं पतिं वरय शोभने ॥०३-५२-२२॥
The gods—Śakra, Agni, Varuṇa, and Yama—desire to obtain you; O beautiful one, choose any one of these gods as your husband. (03-52-22)
तेषामेव प्रभावेन प्रविष्टोऽहमलक्षितः। प्रविशन्तं हि मां कश्चिन्नापश्यन्नाप्यवारयत् ॥०३-५२-२३॥
By their very power, I entered unnoticed; indeed, as I was entering, no one saw me nor did anyone restrain me. (03-52-23)
एतदर्थमहं भद्रे प्रेषितः सुरसत्तमैः। एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभे बुद्धिं प्रकुरुष्व यथेच्छसि ॥०३-५२-२४॥
O auspicious lady, for this purpose I have been sent by the best of the gods. Having heard this, O fortunate one, make up your mind as you wish. (03-52-24)
