03.053
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
sā namaskṛtya devebhyaḥ prahasya nalam abravīt। praṇayasva yathāśraddhaṃ rājan kiṃ karavāṇi te ॥03-53-1॥
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)
ahaṁ caiva hi yaccānyan mamāsti vasu kiñcana। sarvaṁ tat tava viśrabdhaṁ kuru praṇayāmīśvara ॥03-53-2॥
O Lord, I and indeed, whatever other wealth I have, all of it—confidently dispose of as your own.
haṁsānāṁ vacanaṁ yat tat tan māṁ dahati pārthiva। tvat-kṛte hi mayā vīra rājānaḥ saṁnipātitāḥ॥03-53-3॥
O king, the words of the swans burn me. Indeed, O hero, for your sake I have gathered together the kings. (03-53-3)
yadi ced bhajamānāṁ māṁ pratyākhyāsyasi mānada। viṣam-agniṁ jalaṁ rajjuṁ āsthāsye tava kāraṇāt ॥03-53-4॥
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)
evam-uktas-tu vaidarbhya nalas-tāṁ pratyuvāca ha। tiṣṭhatsu lokapāleṣu kathaṁ mānuṣam icchasi॥03-53-5॥
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)
yeṣām ahaṃ loka-kṛtām īśvarāṇāṃ mahātmanām। na pāda-rajasā tulyo manas te teṣu vartatām॥03-53-6॥
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)
vipriyaṃ hy ācaran martyo devānāṃ mṛtyum ṛcchati। trāhi mām anavadyāṅgi varayasva surottamān ॥03-53-7॥
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)
tato bāṣpakalāṃ vācaṃ damayantī śucismitā। pravyāharantī śanakair nalaṃ rājanam abravīt ॥03-53-8॥
Then Damayantī, with a pure smile and tear-choked voice, spoke softly and said to King Nala. (03-53-8)
astyupāyo mayā dṛṣṭo nirapāyo nareśvara। yena doṣo na bhavitā tava rājan kathaṃcana ॥03-53-9॥
O king, I have perceived a method, free from harm, by which no fault will arise for you in any way. (03-53-9)
tvaṃ caiva hi naraśreṣṭha devāścāgnipurogamāḥ। āyāntu sahitāḥ sarve mama yatra svayaṃvaraḥ ॥03-53-10॥
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)
tato'haṃ lokapālānāṃ sannidhau tvāṃ nareśvara. varayiṣye naravyāghra naivaṃ doṣo bhaviṣyati ॥03-53-11॥
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)
evam-uktas tu vaidarbhyā nalo rājā viśāṃ pate। ājagāma punas tatra yatra devāḥ samāgatāḥ॥03-53-12॥
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)
tam apaśyaṁs tathā yāntaṁ lokapālāḥ saheśvarāḥ। dṛṣṭvā ca enaṁ tato 'pṛcchan vṛttāntaṁ sarvam eva tat ॥03-53-13॥
The guardians of the worlds together with the lords saw him thus approaching. Seeing him, they then asked him for the entire account.
devā ūcuḥ॥
The gods said.
kacciddṛṣṭā tvayā rājan damayantī śucismitā। kimabravīc ca naḥ sarvān vada bhūmipate'nagha ॥03-53-14॥
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)
nala uvāca॥
Nala said.
bhavadbhir aham ādiṣṭo damayantyā niveśanam। praviṣṭaḥ sumahā-kakṣyaṃ daṇḍibhiḥ sthavirair vṛtam ॥03-53-15॥
I was sent by you and, instructed by Damayantī, entered the residence—an immense chamber guarded by staff-bearers and elders. (03-53-15)
praviśantaṃ ca māṃ tatra na kaścid dṛṣṭavān naraḥ। ṛte tāṃ pārthivasutāṃ bhavatām eva tejasā ॥03-53-16॥
And when I entered there, no man saw me except her, the princess, due only to your brilliance. (03-53-16)
sakhyaś cāsyā mayā dṛṣṭās tābhiś cāpy upalakṣitaḥ। vismitāś cābhavan dṛṣṭvā sarvā māṃ vibudheśvarāḥ॥03-53-17॥
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)
varṇyamāneṣu ca mayā bhavatsu rucirānanā। mām eva gata-saṅkalpā vṛṇīte surasattamāḥ॥03-53-18॥
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)
abravīc caiva māṃ bālā āyāntu sahitāḥ surāḥ। tvayā saha naraśreṣṭha mama yatra svayaṃvaraḥ॥03-53-19॥
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)
teṣāmahaṃ saṃnidhau tvāṃ varayiṣye narottama। evaṃ tava mahābāho doṣo na bhaviteti ha ॥03-53-20॥
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)
etāvadeva vibudhā yathāvṛttam udāhṛtam। mayāśeṣaṃ pramāṇaṃ tu bhavantaḥ tridaśeśvarāḥ॥03-53-21॥
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)
