03.053
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
सा नमस्कृत्य देवेभ्यः प्रहस्य नलमब्रवीत्। प्रणयस्व यथाश्रद्धं राजन्किं करवाणि ते ॥०३-५३-१॥
She bowed to the gods, smiled, and said to Nala: "Show affection as you see fit, O king; what do you want me to do for you?" (03-53-1)
अहं चैव हि यच्चान्यन्ममास्ति वसु किञ्चन। सर्वं तत्तव विश्रब्धं कुरु प्रणयमीश्वर ॥०३-५३-२॥
O Lord, I and indeed, whatever other wealth I have, all of it—confidently dispose of as your own.
हंसानां वचनं यत्तत्तन्मां दहति पार्थिव। त्वत्कृते हि मया वीर राजानः संनिपातिताः ॥०३-५३-३॥
O king, the words of the swans burn me. Indeed, O hero, for your sake I have gathered together the kings. (03-53-3)
यदि चेद्भजमानां मां प्रत्याख्यास्यसि मानद। विषमग्निं जलं रज्जुमास्थास्ये तव कारणात् ॥०३-५३-४॥
If you, O bestower of honor, truly reject me who am devoted to you, I will resort to poison, fire, water, or a rope, all for your sake. (03-53-4)
एवमुक्तस्तु वैदर्भ्या नलस्तां प्रत्युवाच ह। तिष्ठत्सु लोकपालेषु कथं मानुषमिच्छसि ॥०३-५३-५॥
Thus, when addressed by the princess of Vidarbha, Nala replied to her: 'While the world-guardians are present, why do you wish for a mortal?' (03-53-5)
येषामहं लोककृतामीश्वराणां महात्मनाम्। न पादरजसा तुल्यो मनस्ते तेषु वर्तताम् ॥०३-५३-६॥
May my mind dwell among those great-souled lords who are the creators of the worlds, to whom even the dust of their feet I am not equal. (03-53-6)
विप्रियं ह्याचरन्मर्त्यो देवानां मृत्युमृच्छति। त्राहि मामनवद्याङ्गि वरयस्व सुरोत्तमान् ॥०३-५३-७॥
If a mortal performs acts displeasing to the gods, he surely meets with death. Protect me, O flawless one, and choose the best among the gods. (03-53-7)
ततो बाष्पकलां वाचं दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता। प्रव्याहरन्ती शनकैर्नलं राजानमब्रवीत् ॥०३-५३-८॥
Then Damayantī, with a pure smile and tear-choked voice, spoke softly and said to King Nala. (03-53-8)
अस्त्युपायो मया दृष्टो निरपायो नरेश्वर। येन दोषो न भविता तव राजन्कथञ्चन ॥०३-५३-९॥
O king, I have perceived a method, free from harm, by which no fault will arise for you in any way. (03-53-9)
त्वं चैव हि नरश्रेष्ठ देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमाः। आयान्तु सहिताः सर्वे मम यत्र स्वयंवरः ॥०३-५३-१०॥
You also, O best of men, as well as the gods led by Agni, may you all together come to the place where my self-choice ceremony will be held. (03-53-10)
ततोऽहं लोकपालानां संनिधौ त्वां नरेश्वर। वरयिष्ये नरव्याघ्र नैवं दोषो भविष्यति ॥०३-५३-११॥
Thereafter, O king of men, I will choose you in the presence of the protectors of the worlds, O tiger among men; in this way, there will be no fault. (03-53-11)
एवमुक्तस्तु वैदर्भ्या नलो राजा विशां पते। आजगाम पुनस्तत्र यत्र देवाः समागताः ॥०३-५३-१२॥
Thus, when spoken by the princess of Vidarbha, King Nala, O lord of men, again went to the place where the gods were assembled. (03-53-12)
तमपश्यंस्तथायान्तं लोकपालाः सहेश्वराः। दृष्ट्वा चैनं ततोऽपृच्छन्वृत्तान्तं सर्वमेव तत् ॥०३-५३-१३॥
The guardians of the worlds together with the lords saw him thus approaching. Seeing him, they then asked him for the entire account.
देवा ऊचुः॥
The gods said.
कच्चिद्दृष्टा त्वया राजन्दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता। किमब्रवीच्च नः सर्वान्वद भूमिपतेऽनघ ॥०३-५३-१४॥
O king, have you seen Damayanti with the pure smile? What did she say to all of us? Please tell, O lord of the earth, O sinless one. (03-53-14)
नल उवाच॥
Nala said.
भवद्भिरहमादिष्टो दमयन्त्या निवेशनम्। प्रविष्टः सुमहाकक्ष्यं दण्डिभिः स्थविरैर्वृतम् ॥०३-५३-१५॥
I was sent by you and, instructed by Damayantī, entered the residence—an immense chamber guarded by staff-bearers and elders. (03-53-15)
प्रविशन्तं च मां तत्र न कश्चिद्दृष्टवान्नरः। ऋते तां पार्थिवसुतां भवतामेव तेजसा ॥०३-५३-१६॥
And when I entered there, no man saw me except her, the princess, due only to your brilliance. (03-53-16)
सख्यश्चास्या मया दृष्टास्ताभिश्चाप्युपलक्षितः। विस्मिताश्चाभवन्दृष्ट्वा सर्वा मां विबुधेश्वराः ॥०३-५३-१७॥
Her friends were seen by me and I was also noticed by them. All the lords of the gods were astonished upon seeing me. (03-53-17)
वर्ण्यमानेषु च मया भवत्सु रुचिरानना। मामेव गतसङ्कल्पा वृणीते सुरसत्तमाः ॥०३-५३-१८॥
And as I describe all of you as options, O lovely-faced one, the foremost of the gods, with her confusion gone, chooses only me. (03-53-18)
अब्रवीच्चैव मां बाला आयान्तु सहिताः सुराः। त्वया सह नरश्रेष्ठ मम यत्र स्वयंवरः ॥०३-५३-१९॥
She then said to me, "Let the maiden and the gods come together, along with you, O best of men, to where my svayamvara (self-choice ceremony) is." (03-53-19)
तेषामहं संनिधौ त्वां वरयिष्ये नरोत्तम। एवं तव महाबाहो दोषो न भवितेति ह ॥०३-५३-२०॥
O best of men, I will choose you in their presence. Thus, O mighty-armed one, you will not incur any fault. (03-53-20)
एतावदेव विबुधा यथावृत्तमुदाहृतम्। मयाशेषं प्रमाणं तु भवन्तस्त्रिदशेश्वराः ॥०३-५३-२१॥
O gods, I have narrated only this much as it happened. The rest of the evidence, O lords of the gods, belongs to you. (03-53-21)
