03.052
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
tebhyaḥ pratijñāya nalaḥ kariṣya iti bhārata. atha enān paripapraccha kṛtāñjalir avasthitaḥ ॥03-52-1॥
Having promised to them, Nala said 'I will do,' O Bhārata. Then, standing with folded hands, he earnestly questioned them. (03-52-1)
ke vai bhavantaḥ kaścāsau yasyāhaṁ dūta īpsitaḥ। kiṁ ca tatra mayā kāryaṁ kathayadhvaṁ yathātatham ॥03-52-2॥
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)
evam-ukte naiṣadhena maghavān pratyabhāṣata। amarān vai nibodha asmān damayanty-artham āgatān॥03-52-3॥
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)
aham indro 'yam agniś ca tathaiva ayam apāṃ-patiḥ। śarīrāntakaro nṝṇāṃ yamo 'yam api pārthiva ॥03-52-4॥
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.
sa vai tvam āgatān asmān damayantyai nivedaya। lokapālāḥ sahendras tvāṃ samāyānti didṛkṣavaḥ॥03-52-5॥
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)
prāptum icchanti devās tvāṁ śakro'gnir varuṇo yamaḥ। teṣām anyatamaṁ devaṁ patitve varayasva ha॥03-52-6॥
Śakra, Agni, Varuṇa, and Yama—the gods desire to obtain you. Of them, indeed, choose any one god as your husband. (03-52-6)
evam-uktaḥ sa śakreṇa nalaḥ prāñjalir abravīt। ekārtha-samavetaṃ māṃ na preṣayitum arhatha ॥03-52-7॥
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)
devā ūcuḥ॥
The gods said.
kariṣya iti saṃśrutya pūrvamasmāsu naiṣadha। na kariṣyasi kasmāttvaṃ vraja naiṣadha māciram॥03-52-8॥
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)
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Brihadasva said.
evam-uktaḥ sa devais taira naiṣadhaḥ punar abravīt। surakṣitāni veśmāni praveṣṭuṃ katham utsahe ॥03-52-9॥
Thus addressed by those gods, the king of Niṣadha again said: "How am I able to enter the well-protected mansions?" (03-52-9)
pravekṣyasīti taṃ śakraḥ punarevābhyabhāṣata। jagāma sa tathetyuktvā damayantyā niveśanam ॥03-52-10॥
Śakra again addressed him, saying, 'Will you enter?' Having replied, 'So be it,' he went to Damayantī's residence. (03-52-10)
dadarśa tatra vaidarbhīṃ sakhīgaṇasamāvṛtām। dedīpyamānāṃ vapuṣā śriyā ca varavarṇinīm॥03-52-11॥
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)
atīva sukumārāṅgīṃ tanumadhyāṃ sulocanām। ākṣipantīm iva ca bhāḥ śaśinaḥ svena tejasā॥03-52-12॥
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)
tasya dṛṣṭvaiva vavṛdhe kāmas tāṃ cāruhāsinīm। satyaṃ cikīrṣamāṇas tu dhārayāmāsa hṛcchayam ॥03-52-13॥
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)
tatastā naiṣadhaṁ dṛṣṭvā sambhrāntāḥ paramāṅganāḥ। āsanebhyaḥ samutpetustejasā tasya dharṣitāḥ ॥03-52-14॥
Then, having seen Nala, the Naiṣadha, those preeminent women, disturbed and overpowered by his brilliance, rose from their seats. (03-52-14)
praśaśaṁsuś ca suprītā nalaṁ tā vismayānvitāḥ। na ca enam abhyabhāṣanta manobhis tv abhyacintayan ॥03-52-15॥
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)
aho rūpamahо kāntirahо dhairyaṃ mahātmanaḥ। ko'yaṃ devo nu yakṣo nu gandharvo nu bhaviṣyati ॥03-52-16॥
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)
na tv enaṃ śaknuvanti sma vyāhartum api kiñcana। tejasā dharṣitāḥ sarvā lajjāvatyo varāṅganāḥ॥03-52-17॥
But none of the noble, modest women could say anything to him; all were overpowered by his splendor. (03-52-17)
athainaṁ smayamāneva smitapūrvābhibhāṣiṇī। damayantī nalaṁ vīram abhyabhāṣata vismitā॥03-52-18॥
Then Damayantī, appearing as if she were smiling, with a gentle smile and astonished, spoke to the heroic Nala. (03-52-18)
kastvaṃ sarvānavadyāṅga mama hṛcchayavardhana। prāpto'syamaravadvīra jñātumicchāmi te'nagha ॥03-52-19॥
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)
katham āgamanaṃ ca iha kathaṃ ca asi na lakṣitaḥ। surakṣitaṃ hi me veśma rājā ca eva ugraśāsanaḥ॥03-52-20॥
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)
evam-uktas tu vaidarbhyā nalas tāṁ pratyuvāca ha। nalaṁ māṁ viddhi kalyāṇi devadūtam ihāgatam॥03-52-21॥
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)
devās tvāṃ prāptum icchanti śakro'gnir varuṇo yamaḥ। teṣām anyatamaṃ devaṃ patiṃ varaya śobhane॥03-52-22॥
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)
teṣāmeva prabhāvena praviṣṭo'hamalakṣitaḥ। praviśantaṃ hi māṃ kaścinnāpaśyannāpyavārayat॥03-52-23॥
By their very power, I entered unnoticed; indeed, as I was entering, no one saw me nor did anyone restrain me. (03-52-23)
etadartham ahaṃ bhadre preṣitaḥ surasattamaiḥ. etac chrutvā śubhe buddhiṃ prakuruṣva yathecchasi ॥03-52-24॥
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)
