03.054

बृहदश्व उवाच॥

bṛhadaśva uvāca॥

[बृहदश्व (bṛhadaśva) - Bṛhadaśva; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Bṛhadaśva said;)

Bṛhadaśva said.

अथ काले शुभे प्राप्ते तिथौ पुण्ये क्षणे तथा। आजुहाव महीपालान्भीमो राजा स्वयंवरे ॥०३-५४-१॥

atha kāle śubhe prāpte tithau puṇye kṣaṇe tathā। ājuhāva mahīpālān bhīmo rājā svayaṃvare ॥03-54-1॥

[अथ (atha) - then; काले (kāle) - at time; शुभे (śubhe) - auspicious; प्राप्ते (prāpte) - having arrived; तिथौ (tithau) - on lunar day; पुण्ये (puṇye) - holy; क्षणे (kṣaṇe) - at the moment; तथा (tathā) - also; आजुहाव (ājuhāva) - he summoned; महीपालान् (mahīpālān) - kings; भीमः (bhīmaḥ) - Bhīma; राजा (rājā) - the king; स्वयंवरे (svayaṃvare) - in the svayaṃvara (self-choice ceremony);]

(Then at the time, auspicious, having arrived, on the holy lunar day, at the moment also, he summoned the kings, Bhīma the king, in the svayaṃvara.)

Then, when the auspicious time had arrived on the holy lunar day and at the sacred moment, King Bhīma summoned the kings for the svayaṃvara. (03-54-1)

तच्छ्रुत्वा पृथिवीपालाः सर्वे हृच्छयपीडिताः। त्वरिताः समुपाजग्मुर्दमयन्तीमभीप्सवः ॥०३-५४-२॥

tacchrutvā pṛthivīpālāḥ sarve hṛcchayapīḍitāḥ। tvaritāḥ samupājagmur damayantīm abhipsavaḥ॥03-54-2॥

[तच्छ्रुत्वा (tacchrutvā) - having heard that; पृथिवीपालाः (pṛthivīpālāḥ) - kings of the earth; सर्वे (sarve) - all; हृच्छयपीडिताः (hṛcchayapīḍitāḥ) - afflicted by love's desire; त्वरिताः (tvaritāḥ) - hurried; समुपाजग्मुः (samupājagmuḥ) - they altogether approached; दमयन्तीम् (damayantīm) - Damayanti; अभीप्सवः (abhipsavaḥ) - wishing to obtain;]

(Having heard that, all the kings of the earth, afflicted by desire in their hearts, hurriedly altogether approached Damayanti wishing to obtain (her).)

Hearing that, all the kings of the world, overcome with love in their hearts, quickly came together to Damayanti, each wishing to win her. (03-54-2)

कनकस्तम्भरुचिरं तोरणेन विराजितम्। विविशुस्ते महारङ्गं नृपाः सिंहा इवाचलम् ॥०३-५४-३॥

kanakastambharuciraṁ toraṇena virājitam। viviśuste mahāraṅgaṁ nṛpāḥ siṁhā ivācalam॥03-54-3॥

[कनकस्तम्भरुचिरम् (kanakastambharuciram) - brilliant with golden pillars; तोरणेन (toraṇena) - with an archway; विराजितम् (virājitam) - adorned; विविशुः (viviśuḥ) - they entered; ते (te) - those; महारङ्गम् (mahāraṅgam) - great assembly-hall; नृपाः (nṛpāḥ) - kings; सिंहाः (siṁhāḥ) - like lions; इव (iva) - as; अचलम् (acalam) - mountain;]

(Brilliant with golden pillars, adorned with an archway, they entered that great assembly-hall, those kings, like lions as a mountain.)

Adorned with an archway and brilliant with golden pillars, those kings entered the great assembly-hall like lions entering a mountain. (03-54-3)

तत्रासनेषु विविधेष्वासीनाः पृथिवीक्षितः। सुरभिस्रग्धराः सर्वे सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः ॥०३-५४-४॥

tatrāsaneṣu vividheṣvāsīnāḥ pṛthivīkṣitaḥ। surabhisragdharāḥ sarve sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalāḥ ॥03-54-4॥

[तत्र (tatra) - there; आसनेषु (āsaneṣu) - on seats; विविधेषु (vividheṣu) - various; आसीनाः (āsīnāḥ) - seated; पृथिवीक्षितः (pṛthivīkṣitaḥ) - earth-gazed; (looking at the earth; sometimes, kings) सुरभिस्रग्धराः (surabhisragdharāḥ) - wearing fragrant garlands; सर्वे (sarve) - all; सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः (sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalāḥ) - having polished gemstone earrings;]

(There, on various seats, seated, earth-gazed. All wearing fragrant garlands, having polished gemstone earrings.)

There, all were seated on various seats, looking down at the earth, adorned with fragrant garlands and polished gemstone earrings. (03-54-4)

तां राजसमितिं पूर्णां नागैर्भोगवतीमिव। सम्पूर्णां पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्व्याघ्रैर्गिरिगुहामिव ॥०३-५४-५॥

tāṃ rājasamitiṃ pūrṇāṃ nāgair bhogavatīm iva। sampūrṇāṃ puruṣavyāghrair vyāghrair giriguhām iva ॥03-54-5॥

[तां (tāṃ) - her; (that one; that assembly;) राजसमितिं (rājasamitiṃ) - royal assembly; (assembly of kings;) पूर्णां (pūrṇāṃ) - filled; complete; नागैः (nīgaiḥ) - by nāgas; (by elephants; by serpents—here, by elephants;) भोगवतीम् (bhogavatīm) - Bhogavatī; (city of serpents;) इव (iva) - like; as; सम्पूर्णां (sampūrṇāṃ) - completely filled; full; पुरुषव्याघ्रैः (puruṣavyāghraiḥ) - by tiger-men; (men like tigers; heroic men;) व्याघ्रैः (vyāghraiḥ) - by tigers; गिरिगुहाम् (giriguhām) - mountain cave; इव (iva) - like; as;]

(That royal assembly, filled with elephants, like the city of Bhogavatī; (and) completely filled with men-tigers, like a cave in the mountain with tigers.)

That royal assembly, filled with elephants like Bhogavatī, (and) crowded with tiger-like men, resembled a mountain cave teeming with tigers. (03-54-5)

तत्र स्म पीना दृश्यन्ते बाहवः परिघोपमाः। आकारवन्तः सुश्लक्ष्णाः पञ्चशीर्षा इवोरगाः ॥०३-५४-६॥

tatra sma pīnā dṛśyante bāhavaḥ parighopamāḥ। ākāravantaḥ suślakṣṇāḥ pañcaśīrṣā ivoragāḥ॥03-54-6॥

[तत्र (tatra) - there; स्म (sma) - indeed; पीना (pīnā) - thick; दृश्यन्ते (dṛśyante) - are seen; बाहवः (bāhavaḥ) - arms; परिघोपमाः (parighopamāḥ) - like iron bars; आकारवन्तः (ākāravantaḥ) - having form; सुश्लक्ष्णाः (suślakṣṇāḥ) - very smooth; पञ्चशीर्षाः (pañcaśīrṣāḥ) - five-headed; इव (iva) - as if; उरगाः (uragāḥ) - serpents;]

(There indeed thick are seen arms like iron bars, having form, very smooth, five-headed as if serpents.)

There, indeed, thick arms are seen, resembling iron bars, well-formed, very smooth, like serpents with five heads. (03-54-6)

सुकेशान्तानि चारूणि सुनासानि शुभानि च। मुखानि राज्ञां शोभन्ते नक्षत्राणि यथा दिवि ॥०३-५४-७॥

sukeśāntāni cāruṇi sunāsāni śubhāni ca। mukhāni rājñāṃ śobhante nakṣatrāṇi yathā divi॥03-54-7॥

[सुकेशान्तानि (sukeśāntāni) - with beautiful hair-ends; चारूणि (cāruṇi) - lovely; सुनासानि (sunāsāni) - with beautiful noses; शुभानि (śubhāni) - auspicious; च (ca) - and; मुखानि (mukhāni) - faces; राज्ञां (rājñāṃ) - of the kings; शोभन्ते (śobhante) - shine; नक्षत्राणि (nakṣatrāṇi) - stars; यथा (yathā) - as; दिवि (divi) - in the sky;]

(With beautiful hair-ends, lovely, with beautiful noses, and auspicious are the faces of the kings shine as stars in the sky.)

The faces of the kings, with beautiful hair, charm, lovely noses, and auspiciousness, shine like stars in the sky. (03-54-7)

दमयन्ती ततो रङ्गं प्रविवेश शुभानना। मुष्णन्ती प्रभया राज्ञां चक्षूंषि च मनांसि च ॥०३-५४-८॥

damayantī tato raṅgaṃ praviveśa śubhānanā। muṣṇantī prabhayā rājñāṃ cakṣūṃṣi ca manāṃsi ca॥03-54-8॥

[दमयन्ती (damayantī) - Damayanti; (proper noun, name of a princess); ततः (tataḥ) - then; thereafter; रङ्गं (raṅgam) - arena; the stage; प्रविवेश (praviveśa) - entered; she entered; शुभानना (śubhānanā) - having an auspicious face; beautiful-faced; मुष्णन्ती (muṣṇantī) - stealing; taking away; प्रभया (prabhayā) - with radiance; by her splendor; राज्ञां (rājñām) - of the kings; चक्षूंषि (cakṣūṃṣi) - eyes; च (ca) - and; मनांसि (manāṃsi) - minds; च (ca) - and;]

(Damayanti then the arena entered, beautiful-faced, stealing by her radiance the kings' eyes and minds.)

Then Damayanti, resplendent and beautiful-faced, entered the arena, stealing by her radiance the eyes and minds of the kings. (03-54-8)

तस्या गात्रेषु पतिता तेषां दृष्टिर्महात्मनाम्। तत्र तत्रैव सक्ताभून्न चचाल च पश्यताम् ॥०३-५४-९॥

tasyā gātreṣu patitā teṣāṃ dṛṣṭir mahātmanām। tatra tatraiva saktābhūn na cacāla ca paśyatām॥03-54-9॥

[तस्या (tasyā) (tasyā) - her; of her; गात्रेषु (gātreṣu) (gātreṣu) - on limbs; upon body; पतिता (patitā) (patitā) - fallen; fixed; तेषां (teṣāṃ) (teṣāṃ) - of those; दृष्टिः (dṛṣṭiḥ) (dṛṣṭiḥ) - gaze; sight; महात्मनाम् (mahātmanām) (mahātmanām) - of the great-souled; of high-minded ones; तत्र (tatra) (tatra) - there; तत्रैव (tatraiva) (tatraiva) - right there; in that very place; सक्ता (saktā) (saktā) - fixed; attached; अभूत् (abhūt) (abhūt) - became; न (na) (na) - not; चचाल (cacāla) (cacāla) - moved; wavered; च (ca) (ca) - and; पश्यताम् (paśyatām) (paśyatām) - of those looking; of those observing;]

(Her on limbs fallen of those (great-souled ones) gaze; there right there fixed became, not moved and of those observing.)

The gaze of those great-souled ones, having fallen upon her limbs, remained fixed right there and did not move as they looked. (03-54-9)

ततः सङ्कीर्त्यमानेषु राज्ञां नामसु भारत। ददर्श भैमी पुरुषान्पञ्च तुल्याकृतीनिव ॥०३-५४-१०॥

tataḥ saṅkīrtyamāneṣu rājñāṃ nāmasu bhārata. dadarśa bhaimī puruṣān pañca tulyākṛtīn iva ॥03-54-10॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; सङ्कीर्त्यमानेषु (saṅkīrtyamāneṣu) - being praised; राज्ञां (rājñāṃ) - of the kings; नामसु (nāmasu) - among the names; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; ददर्श (dadarśa) - saw; भैमी (bhaimī) - the daughter of Bhīma; पुरुषान् (puruṣān) - men; पञ्च (pañca) - five; तुल्याकृतीन् (tulyākṛtīn) - of equal appearance; इव (iva) - as if;]

(Then, among the names of the kings being praised, O Bhārata, the daughter of Bhīma saw five men as if of equal appearance.)

Then, as the names of the kings were being extolled, O Bhārata, Bhīma's daughter saw five men who appeared almost identical. (03-54-10)

तान्समीक्ष्य ततः सर्वान्निर्विशेषाकृतीन्स्थितान्। संदेहादथ वैदर्भी नाभ्यजानान्नलं नृपम् ॥ यं यं हि ददृशे तेषां तं तं मेने नलं नृपम् ॥०३-५४-११॥

tān samīkṣya tataḥ sarvān nirviśeṣākṛtīn sthitān। saṃdehād atha vaidarbhī nābhyajānān nalaṃ nṛpam ॥ yaṃ yaṃ hi dadṛśe teṣāṃ taṃ taṃ mene nalaṃ nṛpam ॥03-54-11॥

[तान् (tān) - them; समीक्ष्य (samīkṣya) - having observed; ततः (tataḥ) - then; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; निर्विशेषाकृतीन् (nirviśeṣākṛtīn) - undistinguished in appearance; स्थितान् (sthitān) - standing; संदेहात् (saṃdehāt) - out of doubt; अथ (atha) - then; वैदर्भी (vaidarbhī) - the princess of Vidarbha; न (na) - not; अभ्यजानात् (abhyajānāt) - could recognize; नलम् (nalaṃ) - Nala; नृपम् (nṛpam) - the king; यं यं (yaṃ yaṃ) - whomsoever; हि (hi) - indeed; ददृशे (dadṛśe) - she saw; तेषाम् (teṣām) - among them; तं तं (taṃ taṃ) - that one; मेने (mene) - she considered; नलम् (nalaṃ) - Nala; नृपम् (nṛpam) - the king;]

(Having observed them then, all, standing with indistinguishable appearance, out of doubt then the princess of Vidarbha could not recognize Nala the king. Whomsoever indeed she saw among them, that one she considered (to be) Nala the king.)

Then, having observed them all standing with indistinguishable appearance, the princess of Vidarbha, due to doubt, could not recognize king Nala. Whoever she saw among them, she thought that one was king Nala. (03-54-11)

सा चिन्तयन्ती बुद्ध्याथ तर्कयामास भामिनी। कथं नु देवाञ्जानीयां कथं विद्यां नलं नृपम् ॥०३-५४-१२॥

sā cintayantī buddhyātha tarkayāmāsa bhāminī। kathaṁ nu devāñjānīyāṁ kathaṁ vidyāṁ nalaṁ nṛpam ॥03-54-12॥

[सा (sā) - she; चिन्तयन्ती (cintayantī) - thinking; बुद्ध्या (buddhyā) - with intelligence; अथ (atha) - then; तर्कयामास (tarkayāmāsa) - began to reason; भामिनी (bhāminī) - the radiant lady; कथं (kathaṁ) - how; नु (nu) - indeed; देवान् (devān) - the gods; जानीयाम् (jānīyām) - may I know; कथं (kathaṁ) - how; विद्याम् (vidyām) - may I know; नलम् (nalam) - Nala; नृपम् (nṛpam) - king;]

(She thinking with intelligence then began to reason, the radiant lady: "How indeed the gods may I know? How may I know Nala king?" (03-54-12))

She, thinking and reasoning with her intellect, the radiant lady began to ponder: "How indeed may I distinguish the gods? How may I recognize King Nala?" (03-54-12)

एवं सञ्चिन्तयन्ती सा वैदर्भी भृशदुःखिता। श्रुतानि देवलिङ्गानि चिन्तयामास भारत ॥०३-५४-१३॥

evaṃ sañcintayantī sā vaidarbhī bhṛśaduḥkhitā। śrutāni devaliṅgāni cintayāmāsa bhārata ॥03-54-13॥

[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; सञ्चिन्तयन्ती (sañcintayantī) - reflecting; सा (sā) - she; वैदर्भी (vaidarbhī) - the lady of Vidarbha; भृशदुःखिता (bhṛśaduḥkhitā) - greatly afflicted; श्रुतानि (śrutāni) - heard; देवलिङ्गानि (devaliṅgāni) - divine omens; चिन्तयामास (cintayāmāsa) - she considered; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]

(Thus reflecting she the lady of Vidarbha, greatly afflicted, heard divine omens she considered, O Bhārata.)

Thus, the lady of Vidarbha, greatly afflicted, was reflecting; having heard the divine omens, she considered them, O Bhārata. (03-54-13)

देवानां यानि लिङ्गानि स्थविरेभ्यः श्रुतानि मे। तानीह तिष्ठतां भूमावेकस्यापि न लक्षये ॥०३-५४-१४॥

devānāṃ yāni liṅgāni sthavirebhyaḥ śrutāni me। tānīha tiṣṭhatāṃ bhūmāvekasyāpi na lakṣaye॥03-54-14॥

[देवानाम् (devānām) - of the gods; यानि (yāni) - which; लिङ्गानि (liṅgāni) - manifestations; signs; स्थविरेभ्यः (sthavirebhyaḥ) - from the elders; श्रुतानि (śrutāni) - heard; मे (me) - by me; तानि (tāni) - those; इह (iha) - here; तिष्ठताम् (tiṣṭhatām) - standing; present; भूमौ (bhūmau) - on earth; एकस्यापि (ekasya api) - even of one; न (na) - not; लक्षये (lakṣaye) - I see;]

(Of the gods, which manifestations (signs) from the elders heard by me—those here, standing on earth, not even of one do I see.)

I do not see even a single one of the signs of the gods, as I have heard from the elders, here present on earth. (03-54-14)

सा विनिश्चित्य बहुधा विचार्य च पुनः पुनः। शरणं प्रति देवानां प्राप्तकालममन्यत ॥०३-५४-१५॥

sā viniścitya bahudhā vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ। śaraṇaṃ prati devānāṃ prāptakālam amanyata ॥03-54-15॥

[सा (sā) - she; विनिश्चित्य (viniścitya) - having determined; बहुधा (bahudhā) - in many ways; विचार्य (vicārya) - having considered; च (ca) - and; पुनः पुनः (punaḥ punaḥ) - again and again; शरणम् (śaraṇam) - refuge; प्रति (prati) - towards; देवानाम् (devānām) - of the gods; प्राप्तकालम् (prāptakālam) - appropriate time has come; अमन्यत (amanyata) - she thought;]

(She, having determined, in many ways having considered and again and again, towards the refuge of the gods, the appropriate time has come, she thought.)

She, having determined and considered in many ways again and again, thought that the time to seek refuge with the gods had arrived. (03-54-15)

वाचा च मनसा चैव नमस्कारं प्रयुज्य सा। देवेभ्यः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वेपमानेदमब्रवीत् ॥०३-५४-१६॥

vācā ca manasā caiva namaskāraṃ prayujya sā। devebhyaḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā vepamānedamabravīt॥03-54-16॥

[वाचा (vācā) - by speech; च (ca) - and; मनसा (manasā) - by mind; चैव (ca eva) - and indeed; नमस्कारं (namaskāram) - obeisance; प्रयुज्य (prayujya) - having performed; सा (sā) - she; देवेभ्यः (devebhyaḥ) - to the gods; प्राञ्जलिः (prāñjaliḥ) - with joined palms; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; वेपमाना (vepamānā) - trembling; इदम् (idam) - this; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]

(By speech and by mind indeed, having performed obeisance, she, having become with joined palms to the gods, trembling, this said.)

She, having paid obeisance to the gods both by speech and by mind, and standing with joined palms, trembling, spoke these words. (03-54-16)

हंसानां वचनं श्रुत्वा यथा मे नैषधो वृतः। पतित्वे तेन सत्येन देवास्तं प्रदिशन्तु मे ॥०३-५४-१७॥

haṁsānāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā yathā me naiṣadho vṛtaḥ। patitve tena satyena devās taṁ pradiśantu me॥03-54-17॥

[हंसानां (haṁsānāṁ) - of the swans; वचनं (vacanam) - speech; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; यथा (yathā) - as; in which manner; मे (me) - to me; नैषधः (naiṣadhaḥ) - Nishadha (Nala); वृतः (vṛtaḥ) - chosen; selected; पतित्वे (patitve) - as a husband; तेन (tena) - by that; सत्येन (satyena) - truth; देवाः (devāḥ) - the gods; तम् (tam) - him; प्रदिशन्तु (pradiśantu) - may they assign; मे (me) - to me;]

(Having heard the speech of the swans, as Nishadha (Nala) was chosen by me as a husband, by that truth may the gods assign him to me.)

Having heard the words of the swans, as I have chosen Nishadha (Nala) for my husband, by that truth, may the gods grant him to me. (03-54-17)

वाचा च मनसा चैव यथा नाभिचराम्यहम्। तेन सत्येन विबुधास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे ॥०३-५४-१८॥

vācā ca manasā caiva yathā na abhicarāmy aham। tena satyena vibudhās tam eva pradiśantu me॥03-54-18॥

[वाचा (vācā) - by speech; च (ca) - and; मनसा (manasā) - by mind; चैव (caiva) - and indeed; यथा (yathā) - just as; न (na) - not; अभिचरामि (abhicarāmi) - I transgress; अहम् (aham) - I; तेन (tena) - by that; सत्येन (satyena) - by truth; विबुधाः (vibudhāḥ) - the wise (gods); तम् (tam) - him; एव (eva) - only; प्रदिशन्तु (pradiśantu) - may they grant; मे (me) - to me;]

(By speech and by mind and indeed just as not I transgress I, by that truth let the wise only him grant to me.)

By the truth that I do not transgress in speech or mind, may the wise gods grant him to me. (03-54-18)

यथा देवैः स मे भर्ता विहितो निषधाधिपः। तेन सत्येन मे देवास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे ॥०३-५४-१९॥

yathā devaiḥ sa me bhartā vihito niṣadhādhipaḥ। tena satyena me devās tameva pradiśantu me॥03-54-19॥

[यथा (yathā) - just as; देवैः (devaiḥ) - by the gods; स (sa) - he; मे (me) - my; भर्ता (bhartā) - husband; विहितः (vihitaḥ) - appointed; निषधाधिपः (niṣadhādhipaḥ) - king of Niṣadha; तेन (tena) - by that; सत्येन (satyena) - by the truth; मे (me) - my; देवाः (devāḥ) - the gods; तम् (tam) - him; एव (eva) - only; प्रदिशन्तु (pradiśantu) - may they indicate; मे (me) - to me;]

(Just as by the gods he my husband (was) appointed king of Niṣadha, by that truth, to me may the gods indicate only him to me.)

Just as my husband was appointed king of Niṣadha by the gods, by that truth, may the gods reveal only him to me. (03-54-19)

स्वं चैव रूपं पुष्यन्तु लोकपालाः सहेश्वराः। यथाहमभिजानीयां पुण्यश्लोकं नराधिपम् ॥०३-५४-२०॥

svaṃ caiva rūpaṃ puṣyantu lokapālāḥ saheśvarāḥ। yathāhamabhijānīyāṃ puṇyaślokaṃ narādhipam॥03-54-20॥

[स्वं (svaṃ) - own; चैव (ca eva) - and indeed; रूपं (rūpaṃ) - form; पुष्यन्तु (puṣyantu) - may they nourish; लोकपालाः (lokapālāḥ) - guardians of the world; सहेश्वराः (saheśvarāḥ) - together with their lords; यथा (yathā) - so that; अहम् (aham) - I; अभिजानीयाम् (abhijānīyām) - may recognize; पुण्यश्लोकम् (puṇyaślokam) - of pure fame; नराधिपम् (narādhipam) - king;]

(Own indeed form may the guardians of the world together with their lords nourish, so that I may recognize the king of pure fame.)

Let the guardians of the world together with their lords nourish their own form, so that I may recognize the illustrious king. (03-54-20)

निशम्य दमयन्त्यास्तत्करुणं परिदेवितम्। निश्चयं परमं तथ्यमनुरागं च नैषधे ॥०३-५४-२१॥

niśamya damayantyās tat-karuṇaṃ paridevitam। niścayaṃ paramaṃ tathyam-anurāgaṃ ca naiṣadhe ॥03-54-21॥

[निशम्य (niśamya) - having heard; दमयन्त्याः (damayantyāḥ) - of Damayantī; तत्करुणं (tat-karuṇam) - that pitiful; परिदेवितम् (paridevitam) - lamentation; निश्चयं (niścayam) - decision; परमं (paramam) - supreme; तथ्यम् (tathyam) - true; अनुरागं (anurāgam) - attachment; च (ca) - and; नैषधे (naiṣadhe) - for Naiṣadha (Nala);]

(Having heard Damayantī's that pitiful lamentation, decision—supreme, true—attachment and for Naiṣadha.)

Having heard that pitiful lament of Damayantī, he formed a supreme, true resolve of love toward Naiṣadha (Nala). (03-54-21)

मनोविशुद्धिं बुद्धिं च भक्तिं रागं च भारत। यथोक्तं चक्रिरे देवाः सामर्थ्यं लिङ्गधारणे ॥०३-५४-२२॥

manoviśuddhiṁ buddhiṁ ca bhaktiṁ rāgaṁ ca bhārata। yathoktaṁ cakrire devāḥ sāmarthyaṁ liṅgadhāraṇe ॥03-54-22॥

[मनोविशुद्धिं (manoviśuddhiṁ) - purity of mind; बुद्धिं (buddhiṁ) - intellect; च (ca) - and; भक्तिं (bhaktiṁ) - devotion; रागं (rāgaṁ) - attachment; च (ca) - and; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata (descendant of Bharata); यथोक्तं (yathoktaṁ) - as mentioned; चक्रिरे (cakrire) - made; देवाः (devāḥ) - the gods; सामर्थ्यं (sāmarthyaṁ) - power; लिङ्गधारणे (liṅgadhāraṇe) - in assuming the form;]

(Purity of mind, intellect, and devotion, attachment, and, O Bhārata, as mentioned, the gods made the power in assuming the form.)

O Bhārata, as mentioned, the gods endowed purity of mind, intellect, devotion, and attachment, as the power in assuming the form. (03-54-22)

सापश्यद्विबुधान्सर्वानस्वेदान्स्तब्धलोचनान्। हृषितस्रग्रजोहीनान्स्थितानस्पृशतः क्षितिम् ॥०३-५४-२३॥

sāpaśyadvibudhānsarvānasvedānstabdhālocanān। hṛṣitasragrajohīnānsthitaānaspṛśataḥ kṣitim ॥03-54-23॥

[सा (sā) (sā) - she; अपश्यत् (apaśyat) (apaśyat) - saw; विबुधान् (vibudhān) (vibudhān) - divine beings; सर्वान् (sarvān) (sarvān) - all; अस्वेदान् (asvedān) (asvedān) - without sweat; स्तब्धलोचनान् (stabdha-locanān) (stabdha-locanān) - with motionless eyes; हृषितस्रग्रजःहीनान् (hṛṣita-srag-rajaḥ-hīnān) (hṛṣita-srag-rajaḥ-hīnān) - deprived of the pollen of disturbed garlands; स्थितान् (sthitān) (sthitān) - standing; अस्पृशतः (aspṛśataḥ) (aspṛśataḥ) - not touching; क्षितिम् (kṣitim) (kṣitim) - the ground;]

(She saw all the divine beings, without sweat, with fixed eyes, deprived of the pollen of disturbed garlands, standing not touching the ground.)

She saw all the gods, unsweating, with motionless eyes, whose garlands’ pollen was undisturbed, standing without touching the ground. (03-54-23)

छायाद्वितीयो म्लानस्रग्रजःस्वेदसमन्वितः। भूमिष्ठो नैषधश्चैव निमेषेण च सूचितः ॥०३-५४-२४॥

chāyādvitīyo mlānasrag-rajah-sveda-samanvitaḥ। bhūmiṣṭho naiṣadhaś-caiva nimeṣeṇa ca sūcitaḥ॥03-54-24॥

[छाया (chāyā) - shadow; द्वितीयः (dvitīyaḥ) - second; म्लान (mlāna) - withered; स्रग्-रजः (srag-rajaḥ) - garland-dust; स्वेद-समन्वितः (sveda-samanvitaḥ) - endowed with sweat; भूमिष्ठः (bhūmiṣṭhaḥ) - situated on the ground; नैषधः (naiṣadhaḥ) - Nala; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; निमेषेण (nimeṣeṇa) - by the blink of an eye; च (ca) - and; सूचितः (sūcitaḥ) - indicated;]

(Shadow second, withered garland-dust, endowed with sweat, situated on the ground Nala and indeed, by the blink of an eye and indicated.)

Nala, accompanied by a second shadow, faded garland-dust, and sweat, sitting on the ground, was instantly recognized. (03-54-24)

सा समीक्ष्य ततो देवान्पुण्यश्लोकं च भारत। नैषधं वरयामास भैमी धर्मेण भारत ॥०३-५४-२५॥

sā samīkṣya tato devān puṇyaślokaṃ ca bhārata। naiṣadhaṃ varayāmāsa bhaimī dharmeṇa bhārata॥03-54-25॥

[सा (sā) - she; समीक्ष्य (samīkṣya) - having observed; ततः (tataḥ) - then; देवान् (devān) - the gods; पुण्यश्लोकं (puṇyaślokam) - of virtuous fame; च (ca) - and; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; नैषधं (naiṣadam) - the prince of Niṣadha; वरयामास (varayāmāsa) - chose; भैमी (bhaimī) - daughter of Bhīma; धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - according to righteousness; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]

(She, having observed then the gods and the one of virtuous fame, O Bhārata, the prince of Niṣadha, chose, the daughter of Bhīma, according to righteousness, O Bhārata.)

O Bhārata, after observing the gods and the one of virtuous fame, the daughter of Bhīma (Damayanti) chose the prince of Niṣadha (Nala) according to righteousness. (03-54-25)

विलज्जमाना वस्त्रान्ते जग्राहायतलोचना। स्कन्धदेशेऽसृजच्चास्य स्रजं परमशोभनाम् ॥ वरयामास चैवैनं पतित्वे वरवर्णिनी ॥०३-५४-२६॥

vilajjamanā vastrānte jagrāhāyatalocanā। skandhadeśe'sṛjaccāsya srajaṃ paramaśobhanām॥ varayāmāsa caivainaṃ patitve varavarṇinī॥03-54-26॥

[विलज्जमाना (vilajjamanā) - ashamed; वस्त्रान्ते (vastrānte) - at the end of the garment; जग्राह (jagrāha) - she grasped; आयतलोचना (āyatalocanā) - wide-eyed woman; स्कन्धदेशे (skandhadeśe) - on the region of the shoulder; असृजत् (asṛjat) - she placed; च (ca) - and; अस्य (asya) - on him; स्रजं (srajaṃ) - garland; परमशोभनाम् (paramaśobhanām) - most beautiful; वरयामास (varayāmāsa) - chose; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; एनम् (enam) - him; पतित्वे (patitve) - as husband; वरवर्णिनी (varavarṇinī) - the beautifully complexioned woman;]

(Ashamed, at the end of the garment, she grasped, the wide-eyed woman. On the region of the shoulder, she placed and on him a garland, most beautiful. She chose and indeed him as husband, the beautifully complexioned woman. (03-54-26))

Ashamed, the wide-eyed woman grasped the end of her garment. She placed a most beautiful garland on his shoulder, and the beautifully complexioned woman chose him as her husband. (03-54-26)

ततो हा हेति सहसा शब्दो मुक्तो नराधिपैः। देवैर्महर्षिभिश्चैव साधु साध्विति भारत ॥ विस्मितैरीरितः शब्दः प्रशंसद्भिर्नलं नृपम् ॥०३-५४-२७॥

tato hā heti sahasā śabdo mukto narādhipaiḥ। devair maharṣibhiś caiva sādhu sādhv iti bhārata॥ vismitair īritaḥ śabdaḥ praśaṃsadbhir nalaṃ nṛpam॥03-54-27॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; हा (hā) - alas; हेति (heti) - oh!; सहसा (sahasā) - suddenly; शब्दः (śabdaḥ) - sound; मुक्तः (muktaḥ) - uttered; नराधिपैः (narādhipaiḥ) - by kings; देवैः (devaiḥ) - by the gods; महर्षिभिः (maharṣibhiḥ) - by great sages; च एव (ca eva) - and also; साधु साधु इति (sādhu sādhu iti) - bravo, bravo, thus; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; विस्मितैः (vismitaiḥ) - by those amazed; ईरितः (īritaḥ) - expressed; शब्दः (śabdaḥ) - sound; प्रशंसद्भिः (praśaṃsadbhiḥ) - by those praising; नलम् (nalaṃ) - Nala; नृपम् (nṛpam) - the king;]

(Then 'alas! oh!' a sound was suddenly uttered by the kings; by the gods and great sages also, 'bravo, bravo!' thus, O Bhārata. By those amazed, a sound was expressed by those praising King Nala.)

Then suddenly, the kings uttered sounds of 'alas! oh!'; the gods and great sages also exclaimed 'bravo, bravo!' O Bhārata. Amazed onlookers uttered words of praise for King Nala. (03-54-27)

वृते तु नैषधे भैम्या लोकपाला महौजसः। प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे नलायाष्टौ वरान्ददुः ॥०३-५४-२८॥

vṛte tu naiṣadhe bhaimyā lokapālā mahaujasaḥ। prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ sarve nalāyāṣṭau varān daduḥ ॥03-54-28॥

[वृते (vṛte) - having been chosen; तु (tu) - but; नैषधे (naiṣadhe) - to Nala; भैम्या (bhaimyā) - by the daughter of Bhīma (Damayantī); लोकपाला (lokapālā) - the guardians of the world; महौजसः (mahaujasaḥ) - of great strength; प्रहृष्टमनसः (prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ) - rejoicing in mind; सर्वे (sarve) - all; नलाय (nalāya) - to Nala; अष्टौ (aṣṭau) - eight; वरान् (varān) - boons; ददुः (daduḥ) - gave;]

(But, having been chosen by the daughter of Bhīma, to Nala, the guardians of the world of great strength, all, rejoicing in mind, gave eight boons to Nala.)

But when Nala was chosen by Damayantī (the daughter of Bhīma), the mighty guardians of the world, all with delighted hearts, gave eight boons to Nala. (03-54-28)

प्रत्यक्षदर्शनं यज्ञे गतिं चानुत्तमां शुभाम्। नैषधाय ददौ शक्रः प्रीयमाणः शचीपतिः ॥०३-५४-२९॥

pratyakṣadarśanaṃ yajñe gatiṃ cānuttamāṃ śubhām। naiṣadhāya dadau śakraḥ prīyamāṇaḥ śacīpatiḥ॥03-54-29॥

[प्रत्यक्षदर्शनं (pratyakṣadarśanam) - direct sighting; यज्ञे (yajñe) - in the sacrifice; गतिं (gatiṃ) - state; च (ca) - and; अनुत्तमां (anuttamām) - unsurpassed; शुभाम् (śubhām) - auspicious; नैषधाय (naiṣadhāya) - to Naiṣadha (Nala); ददौ (dadau) - gave; शक्रः (śakraḥ) - Śakra (Indra); प्रीयमाणः (prīyamāṇaḥ) - being pleased; शचीपतिः (śacīpatiḥ) - the husband of Śacī;]

(Direct sighting in the sacrifice, and the unsurpassed auspicious state, to Naiṣadha gave Śakra, being pleased, the husband of Śacī.)

Śakra, the husband of Śacī, being pleased, gave to Naiṣadha (Nala) direct sight in the sacrifice and the most auspicious state. (03-54-29)

अग्निरात्मभवं प्रादाद्यत्र वाञ्छति नैषधः। लोकानात्मप्रभांश्चैव ददौ तस्मै हुताशनः ॥०३-५४-३०॥

agnir ātmabhavaṃ prādādyatra vāñchati naiṣadhaḥ। lokān ātmaprabhāṃścaiva dadau tasmai hutāśanaḥ॥03-54-30॥

[अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; (Agni, the deity); आत्मभवम् (ātmabhavam) - born of oneself; one's own creation; प्रादात् (prādāt) - gave; granted; यत्र (yatra) - where; वाञ्छति (vāñchati) - desires; wishes; नैषधः (naiṣadhaḥ) - the king of Nishadha; (Nala); लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; आत्मप्रभान् (ātmaprabhān) - having their own light; self-luminous; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; certainly; ददौ (dadau) - gave; तस्मै (tasmai) - to him; हुताशनः (hutāśanaḥ) - Agni; (the fire god);]

(Agni gave his own creation where the Naiṣadha desires. Agni also indeed gave to him worlds that are self-luminous.)

Agni granted to Nala (the king of Nishadha) whatever he desired, and to him Agni also gave worlds that shine by their own light. (03-54-30)

यमस्त्वन्नरसं प्रादाद्धर्मे च परमां स्थितिम्। अपाम्पतिरपां भावं यत्र वाञ्छति नैषधः ॥०३-५४-३१॥

yamastvannarasaṁ prādāddharme ca paramāṁ sthitim। apāmpatirapāṁ bhāvaṁ yatra vāñchati naiṣadhaḥ ॥03-54-31॥

[यमः (yamaḥ) - Yama; (the god of death); त् (t) - but; (conjunction, used in sandhi as 'tu'); अन्यरसं (annarasaṁ) - the essence of food; (life or sap of food); प्रादात् (prādāt) - gave; (bestowed); धर्मे (dharme) - in Dharma; (the deity of righteousness); च (ca) - and; परमां (paramāṁ) - supreme; स्थितिम् (sthitim) - state; (existence); अपाम्-पतिः (apām-patiḥ) - Lord of Waters; (Varuṇa); अपाम् (apām) - of waters; भावं (bhāvaṁ) - nature; (essence, state); यत्र (yatra) - where; वाञ्छति (vāñchati) - desires; नैषधः (naiṣadhaḥ) - Naiṣadha; (Nala, king of Nishadha);]

(Yama but the essence of food gave, in Dharma and the supreme state. The Lord of Waters the nature of waters, where desires Naiṣadha.)

But Yama granted the essence of food, and the supreme state to Dharma. The Lord of Waters (Varuṇa) gave the nature of waters, as Naiṣadha desired. (03-54-31)

स्रजं चोत्तमगन्धाढ्यां सर्वे च मिथुनं ददुः। वरानेवं प्रदायास्य देवास्ते त्रिदिवं गताः ॥०३-५४-३२॥

srajaṃ cottamagandhāḍhyāṃ sarve ca mithunaṃ daduḥ। varānevaṃ pradāyāsya devāste tridivaṃ gatāḥ ॥03-54-32॥

[स्रजम् (srajam) - garland; च (ca) - and; उत्तम-गन्ध-आढ्याम् (uttama-gandha-āḍhyām) - endowed with excellent fragrance; सर्वे (sarve) - all; च (ca) - and; मिथुनम् (mithunam) - pair; ददुः (daduḥ) - gave; वरान् (varān) - boons; एवम् (evam) - thus; प्रदाय (pradāya) - having given; अस्य (asya) - to him; देवाः (devāḥ) - the gods; ते (te) - they; त्रिदिवम् (tridivam) - heaven; गताः (gatāḥ) - went;]

(Garland and endowed with excellent fragrance and all pair gave. Boons thus having given to him, the gods they to heaven went.)

The gods gave him a pair and a garland endowed with excellent fragrance; and thus, after granting him boons, they went to heaven. (03-54-32)

पार्थिवाश्चानुभूयास्या विवाहं विस्मयान्विताः। दमयन्त्याः प्रमुदिताः प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम् ॥०३-५४-३३॥

pārthivāś cānubhūyāsyā vivāhaṁ vismayānvitāḥ। damayantyāḥ pramuditāḥ pratijagmur yathāgatam ॥03-54-33॥

[पार्थिवाः (pārthivāḥ) - kings; च (ca) - and; अनुभूय (anubhūya) - having experienced; अस्या (asyāḥ) - her; विवाहम् (vivāham) - wedding; विस्मय-अन्विताः (vismaya-anvitāḥ) - filled with astonishment; दमयन्त्याः (damayantyāḥ) - of Damayanti; प्रमुदिताः (pramuditāḥ) - delighted; प्रतिजग्मुः (pratijagmuh) - returned; यथा-आगतम् (yathā-āgatam) - just as (they had) come;]

(And the kings, having experienced her wedding, filled with astonishment, of Damayanti, delighted, returned just as (they had) come.)

The kings, having witnessed Damayanti's wedding and filled with wonder and delight, returned to their homes just as they had come. (03-54-33)

अवाप्य नारीरत्नं तत्पुण्यश्लोकोऽपि पार्थिवः। रेमे सह तया राजा शच्येव बलवृत्रहा॥०३-५४-३४॥

avāpya nārī-ratnaṃ tat-puṇyaśloko'pi pārthivaḥ। reme saha tayā rājā śacy-eva balavṛtrahā॥03-54-34॥

[अवाप्य (avāpya) - having obtained; नारीरत्नं (nārī-ratnam) - woman-jewel; तत् (tat) - that; पुण्यश्लोकः (puṇyaślokaḥ) - renowned for virtue; अपि (api) - also; पार्थिवः (pārthivaḥ) - king; रेमे (reme) - delighted; सह (saha) - with; तया (tayā) - her; राजा (rājā) - king; शच्या (śacyā) - with Śacī; इव (iva) - like; बलवृत्रहा (balavṛtrahā) - the slayer of Vṛtra (Indra);]

(Having obtained that woman-jewel, the king, renowned for virtue also, delighted with her, the king like Indra with Śacī, the slayer of Vṛtra.)

Having obtained that jewel among women, the virtuous king delighted together with her, just as Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, did with his consort Śacī. (03-54-34)

अतीव मुदितो राजा भ्राजमानोऽशुमानिव। अरञ्जयत्प्रजा वीरो धर्मेण परिपालयन् ॥०३-५४-३५॥

atīva mudito rājā bhrājamāno'śumān iva। arañjayat prajā vīraḥ dharmeṇa paripālayan ॥03-54-35॥

[अतीव (atīva) - extremely; मुदितः (muditaḥ) - gladdened; राजा (rājā) - king; भ्राजमानः (bhrājamānaḥ) - shining; अशुमान् (aśumān) - the sun; इव (iva) - like; अरञ्जयत् (arañjayat) - caused to rejoice; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; वीरः (vīraḥ) - the hero; धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - with righteousness; परिपालयन् (paripālayan) - protecting;]

(Extremely gladdened, the king, shining like the sun, caused the subjects to rejoice, the hero protecting with righteousness.)

The king, filled with great joy and shining like the sun, the heroic protector upheld his subjects in righteousness. (03-54-35)

ईजे चाप्यश्वमेधेन ययातिरिव नाहुषः। अन्यैश्च क्रतुभिर्धीमान्बहुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः ॥०३-५४-३६॥

īje cāpy aśvamedhena yayātir iva nāhuṣaḥ। anyaiś ca kratubhir dhīmān bahubhiś cāpta-dakṣiṇaiḥ॥03-54-36॥

[ईजे (īje) - sacrificed; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अश्वमेधेन (aśvamedhena) - with the aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice); ययातिरिव (yayātir iva) - like Yayāti; नाहुषः (nāhuṣaḥ) - Nāhuṣa; अन्यैश्च (anyaiś ca) - and with others; क्रतुभिः (kratubhiḥ) - by sacrifices; धीमान् (dhīmān) - wise; बहुभिश्च (bahubhiś ca) - and with many; आप्तदक्षिणैः (āpta-dakṣiṇaiḥ) - with proper gifts;]

(Nāhuṣa also sacrificed with the aśvamedha, like Yayāti, and by other sacrifices, the wise one, and with many (sacrifices) accompanied by proper gifts.)

Like Yayāti, Nāhuṣa also performed the aśvamedha sacrifice and many other sacrifices, all with appropriate gifts, being wise. (03-54-36)

पुनश्च रमणीयेषु वनेषूपवनेषु च। दमयन्त्या सह नलो विजहारामरोपमः ॥०३-५४-३७॥

punaś ca ramaṇīyeṣu vaneṣu upavaneṣu ca. damayantyā saha nalo vijahāra amara-upamaḥ ॥03-54-37॥

[पुनश्च (punaś ca) - again and; रमणीयेषु (ramaṇīyeṣu) - in beautiful; वनेषु (vaneṣu) - in forests; उपवनेषु (upavaneṣu) - in groves; च (ca) - and; दमयन्त्या (damayantyā) - with Damayantī; सह (saha) - together with; नलः (nalaḥ) - Nala; विजहार (vijahāra) - enjoyed; अमरोपमः (amara-upamaḥ) - like the divine;]

(Again and in beautiful forests in groves and, with Damayantī together Nala enjoyed like the divine.)

Once again, Nala, like a god, enjoyed himself with Damayantī in the beautiful forests and groves. (03-54-37)

एवं स यजमानश्च विहरंश्च नराधिपः। ररक्ष वसुसम्पूर्णां वसुधां वसुधाधिपः ॥०३-५४-३८॥

evaṁ sa yajamānaś ca viharaṁś ca narādhipaḥ। rarakṣa vasusampūrṇāṁ vasudhāṁ vasudhādhipaḥ॥03-54-38॥

[एवं (evaṁ) - thus; सः (saḥ) - he; यजमानश्च (yajamānaś ca) - the sacrificer and; विहरंश्च (viharaṁś ca) - roaming and; नराधिपः (narādhipaḥ) - king; ररक्ष (rarakṣa) - protected; वसुसम्पूर्णां (vasusampūrṇāṁ) - full of treasures; वसुधां (vasudhāṁ) - the earth; वसुधाधिपः (vasudhādhipaḥ) - the lord of the earth;]

(Thus he, the sacrificer and roaming king, protected the earth full of treasures, the lord of the earth.)

Thus, that king, who was both the sacrificer and one who moved about, protected the earth that was full of riches, being its lord. (03-54-38)