03.065
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
हृतराज्ये नले भीमः सभार्ये प्रेष्यतां गते। द्विजान्प्रस्थापयामास नलदर्शनकाङ्क्षया ॥०३-६५-१॥
After Nala, with his wife, had departed into servitude upon losing his kingdom, Bhima sent brahmins in search of Nala out of his longing to see him. (03-65-1)
संदिदेश च तान्भीमो वसु दत्त्वा च पुष्कलम्। मृगयध्वं नलं चैव दमयन्तीं च मे सुताम् ॥०३-६५-२॥
Bhīma commanded them, and, having given them abundant wealth, said, "Go search for Nala and Damayantī, my daughter." (03-65-2)
अस्मिन्कर्मणि निष्पन्ने विज्ञाते निषधाधिपे। गवां सहस्रं दास्यामि यो वस्तावानयिष्यति ॥ अग्रहारं च दास्यामि ग्रामं नगरसंमितम् ॥०३-६५-३॥
After this task is accomplished and the lord of Niṣadha is identified, I will give a thousand cows to whoever brings the object. I will also give an agrahāra — a village equivalent to a city. (03-65-3)
न चेच्छक्याविहानेतुं दमयन्ती नलोऽपि वा। ज्ञातमात्रेऽपि दास्यामि गवां दशशतं धनम् ॥०३-६५-४॥
Nor can Damayantī or even Nala be separated merely by wishing; as soon as it is discovered, I shall give a thousand cows as wealth. (03-65-4)
इत्युक्तास्ते ययुर्हृष्टा ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतोदिशम्। पुरराष्ट्राणि चिन्वन्तो नैषधं सह भार्यया ॥०३-६५-५॥
Thus addressed, the joyful Brāhmaṇas went in all directions, searching the cities and kingdoms for Nala, along with his wife. (03-65-5)
ततश्चेदिपुरीं रम्यां सुदेवो नाम वै द्विजः। विचिन्वानोऽथ वैदर्भीमपश्यद्राजवेश्मनि ॥ पुण्याहवाचने राज्ञः सुनन्दासहितां स्थिताम् ॥०३-६५-६॥
Then, Sudeva, the twice-born named, searching, saw the beautiful city of Cedi, where the princess of Vidarbha was standing in the king's palace together with Sunanda at the auspicious proclamation of the king. (03-65-6)
मन्दप्रख्यायमानेन रूपेणाप्रतिमेन ताम्। पिनद्धां धूमजालेन प्रभामिव विभावसोः ॥०३-६५-७॥
She, whose peerless form appeared dim, was enwrapped in a veil of smoke, like the radiance of fire (hidden within smoke). (03-65-7)
तां समीक्ष्य विशालाक्षीमधिकं मलिनां कृशाम्। तर्कयामास भैमीति कारणैरुपपादयन् ॥०३-६५-८॥
Having observed her—large-eyed, exceedingly dirty and emaciated—he reasoned, "She is the daughter of the earth," supporting this by logical reasons. (03-65-8)
सुदेव उवाच॥
Sudeva said.
यथेयं मे पुरा दृष्टा तथारूपेयमङ्गना। कृतार्थोऽस्म्यद्य दृष्ट्वेमां लोककान्तामिव श्रियम् ॥०३-६५-९॥
Just as I saw this woman of such a form before, today I am fulfilled, having seen her, who is like Lakṣmī, the delight of the world. (03-65-9)
पूर्णचन्द्राननां श्यामां चारुवृत्तपयोधराम्। कुर्वन्तीं प्रभया देवीं सर्वा वितिमिरा दिशः ॥०३-६५-१०॥
The goddess, full-moon-faced, dark-complexioned, and beautifully endowed, made all directions free from darkness by her radiance. (03-65-10)
चारुपद्मपलाशाक्षीं मन्मथस्य रतीमिव। इष्टां सर्वस्य जगतः पूर्णचन्द्रप्रभामिव ॥०३-६५-११॥
With beautiful eyes like lotus-palāśa petals, like Rati the consort of Manmatha; beloved by all the world, like the radiance of the full moon. (03-65-11)
विदर्भसरसस्तस्माद्दैवदोषादिवोद्धृताम्। मलपङ्कानुलिप्ताङ्गीं मृणालीमिव तां भृशम् ॥०३-६५-१२॥
Just as a lotus stem, lifted out of the Vidarbha lake by misfortune and heavily smeared with mud and dirt, so too was she greatly affected. (03-65-12)
पौर्णमासीमिव निशां राहुग्रस्तनिशाकराम्। पतिशोकाकुलां दीनां शुष्कस्रोतां नदीमिव ॥०३-६५-१३॥
She was like the full-moon night whose moon is eclipsed by Rāhu, like a river with its stream dried up, overcome with grief for her husband and distressed. (03-65-13)
विध्वस्तपर्णकमलां वित्रासितविहङ्गमाम्। हस्तिहस्तपरिक्लिष्टां व्याकुलामिव पद्मिनीम् ॥०३-६५-१४॥
Like a disturbed lotus pond—its petals and lotuses torn, its birds scattered in fear, trampled by the elephant's trunk—distressed. (03-65-14)
सुकुमारीं सुजाताङ्गीं रत्नगर्भगृहोचिताम्। दह्यमानामिवोष्णेन मृणालीमचिरोद्धृताम् ॥०३-६५-१५॥
A very delicate maiden, with gracefully formed limbs, suited to a palace adorned with jewels, was being scorched by the heat, like a lotus-stalk freshly plucked from water. (03-65-15)
रूपौदार्यगुणोपेतां मण्डनार्हाममण्डिताम्। चन्द्रलेखामिव नवां व्योम्नि नीलाभ्रसंवृताम् ॥०३-६५-१६॥
Possessing the qualities of beauty and nobility, fit for ornamentation though unadorned, she was like a new crescent moon in the sky veiled by dark clouds. (03-65-16)
कामभोगैः प्रियैर्हीनां हीनां बन्धुजनेन च। देहं धारयतीं दीनां भर्तृदर्शनकाङ्क्षया ॥०३-६५-१७॥
Deprived of sensual pleasures and beloved company, without the support of relatives, she maintained her body in misery, yearning for the sight of her husband. (03-65-17)
भर्ता नाम परं नार्या भूषणं भूषणैर्विना। एषा विरहिता तेन शोभनापि न शोभते ॥०३-६५-१८॥
The husband is truly the greatest ornament of a woman; without him, however adorned with other ornaments, even a beautiful woman does not appear radiant. (03-65-18)
दुष्करं कुरुतेऽत्यर्थं हीनो यदनया नलः। धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न शोकेनावसीदति ॥०३-६५-१९॥
Nala, who has been deprived by her, accomplishes what is most difficult—he preserves his own life and does not succumb to sorrow. (03-65-19)
इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रायतेक्षणाम्। सुखार्हां दुःखितां दृष्ट्वा ममापि व्यथते मनः ॥०३-६५-२०॥
On seeing this woman, with dark hair at the end and eyes like lotus petals, who deserves happiness but is suffering, even my mind is distressed. (03-65-20)
कदा नु खलु दुःखस्य पारं यास्यति वै शुभा। भर्तुः समागमात्साध्वी रोहिणी शशिनो यथा ॥०३-६५-२१॥
When indeed will this virtuous lady reach the end of her suffering, as the virtuous Rohiṇī does upon reunion with her husband, the Moon? (03-65-21)
अस्या नूनं पुनर्लाभान्नैषधः प्रीतिमेष्यति। राजा राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः पुनर्लब्ध्वेव मेदिनीम् ॥०३-६५-२२॥
Surely, by regaining her, Niṣadha (Nala) will attain joy, just as a king who, having been deprived of his kingdom, rejoices upon recovering his land. (03-65-22)
तुल्यशीलवयोयुक्तां तुल्याभिजनसंयुताम्। नैषधोऽर्हति वैदर्भीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा ॥०३-६५-२३॥
She, who is endowed with similar character, age, and noble lineage, is worthy of the king of Nishadha; and he, in turn, is worthy of the dark-eyed princess of Vidarbha. (03-65-23)
युक्तं तस्याप्रमेयस्य वीर्यसत्त्ववतो मया। समाश्वासयितुं भार्यां पतिदर्शनलालसाम् ॥०३-६५-२४॥
It is proper for me, who belong to him of immeasurable might and strength, to comfort his wife, who is longing to see her husband. (03-65-24)
अयमाश्वासयाम्येनां पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्। अदृष्टपूर्वां दुःखस्य दुःखार्तां ध्यानतत्पराम् ॥०३-६५-२५॥
I am consoling her—she whose face resembles the full moon, who has never before been seen, who is stricken by sorrow and devoted to meditation. (03-65-25)
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
एवं विमृश्य विविधैः कारणैर्लक्षणैश्च ताम्। उपगम्य ततो भैमीं सुदेवो ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत् ॥०३-६५-२६॥
Thus, after considering her in various respects, Sudeva the Brāhmaṇa approached Bhīma's daughter and spoke. (03-65-26)
अहं सुदेवो वैदर्भि भ्रातुस्ते दयितः सखा। भीमस्य वचनाद्राज्ञस्त्वामन्वेष्टुमिहागतः ॥०३-६५-२७॥
I am Sudeva of Vidarbha, your brother’s beloved friend. By the command of Bhīma, the king, I have come here to search for you. (03-65-27)
कुशली ते पिता राज्ञि जनित्री भ्रातरश्च ते। आयुष्मन्तौ कुशलिनौ तत्रस्थौ दारकौ च ते ॥ त्वत्कृते बन्धुवर्गाश्च गतसत्त्वा इवासते ॥०३-६५-२८॥
Your father is well, O queen, as are your mother and brothers. Your two sons residing there are also well and long-lived. But for your sake, your relatives remain as if bereft of spirit. (03-65-28)
अभिज्ञाय सुदेवं तु दमयन्ती युधिष्ठिर। पर्यपृच्छत्ततः सर्वान्क्रमेण सुहृदः स्वकान् ॥०३-६५-२९॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, having recognized Sudeva, Damayantī then asked all her friends, one after another. (03-65-29)
रुरोद च भृशं राजन्वैदर्भी शोककर्शिता। दृष्ट्वा सुदेवं सहसा भ्रातुरिष्टं द्विजोत्तमम् ॥०३-६५-३०॥
O king, the princess of Vidarbha, emaciated by grief, wept bitterly when she suddenly saw Sudeva, the dear and best of the twice-born, cherished by her brother. (03-65-30)
ततो रुदन्तीं तां दृष्ट्वा सुनन्दा शोककर्शिताम्। सुदेवेन सहैकान्ते कथयन्तीं च भारत ॥०३-६५-३१॥
Then, O Bharata, Sunanda, seeing her weeping and consumed by grief, with Sudeva, together in private, while she was also speaking, (acted thus). (03-65-31)
जनित्र्यै प्रेषयामास सैरन्ध्री रुदते भृशम्। ब्राह्मणेन समागम्य तां वेद यदि मन्यसे ॥०३-६५-३२॥
Sairandhri, weeping greatly, sent (word) to the mother. If you think the Brāhmaṇa will know her by meeting her. (03-65-32)
अथ चेदिपतेर्माता राज्ञश्चान्तःपुरात्तदा। जगाम यत्र सा बाला ब्राह्मणेन सहाभवत् ॥०३-६५-३३॥
Then, the mother of the king of Cedi and the king, from the inner palace at that time, went to where that maiden was together with the brāhmaṇa. (03-65-33)
ततः सुदेवमानाय्य राजमाता विशां पते। पप्रच्छ भार्या कस्येयं सुता वा कस्य भामिनी ॥०३-६५-३४॥
Then, after bringing Sudēva, the queen mother, O lord of men, asked: 'Whose wife is this radiant woman, or whose daughter is she?' (03-65-34)
कथं च नष्टा ज्ञातिभ्यो भर्तुर्वा वामलोचना। त्वया च विदिता विप्र कथमेवङ्गता सती ॥०३-६५-३५॥
O lovely-eyed one, how did you become lost from your relatives or your husband, and how did you come to be known by you, O Brahmin, in this way, O chaste woman? (03-65-35)
एतदिच्छाम्यहं त्वत्तो ज्ञातुं सर्वमशेषतः। तत्त्वेन हि ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छन्त्या देवरूपिणीम् ॥०३-६५-३६॥
I desire to know all this completely from you. Truly, tell me everything, for I, appearing in a divine form, am asking. (03-65-36)
एवमुक्तस्तया राजन्सुदेवो द्विजसत्तमः। सुखोपविष्ट आचष्ट दमयन्त्या यथातथम् ॥०३-६५-३७॥
O king, when thus addressed by her, Sudeva, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, comfortably seated, told Damayantī everything as it was. (03-65-37)
