03.065
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
hṛtarājye nale bhīmaḥ sabhārye preṣyatāṃ gate. dvijānprasthāpayāmāsa naladarśanakāṅkṣayā ॥03-65-1॥
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)
saṃdideśa ca tān bhīmaḥ vasu dattvā ca puṣkalam। mṛgayadhvaṃ nalaṃ caiva damayantīṃ ca me sutām॥03-65-2॥
Bhīma commanded them, and, having given them abundant wealth, said, "Go search for Nala and Damayantī, my daughter." (03-65-2)
asmin karmaṇi niṣpanne vijñāte niṣadhādhipe। gavāṃ sahasraṃ dāsyāmi yo vastā vāṇayiṣyati ॥ agrahāraṃ ca dāsyāmi grāmaṃ nagarasammitam ॥03-65-3॥
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)
na ca icchakyā vihānetuṃ damayantī nalo'pi vā। jñātamātre'pi dāsyāmi gavāṃ daśaśataṃ dhanam ॥03-65-4॥
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)
ityuktās te yayur hṛṣṭā brāhmaṇāḥ sarvatodiśam। pura-rāṣṭrāṇi cinvanto naiṣadhaṃ saha bhāryayā॥03-65-5॥
Thus addressed, the joyful Brāhmaṇas went in all directions, searching the cities and kingdoms for Nala, along with his wife. (03-65-5)
tataś cedi-purīṃ ramyāṃ sudevo nāma vai dvijaḥ। vicinvāno 'tha vaidarbhīm apaśyad rāja-veśmani ॥ puṇyāha-vācane rājñaḥ sunandā-sahitāṃ sthitām ॥03-65-6॥
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)
mandaprakhyāyamānena rūpeṇāpratimena tām। pinaddhāṃ dhūmajālena prabhām iva vibhāvasoḥ ॥03-65-7॥
She, whose peerless form appeared dim, was enwrapped in a veil of smoke, like the radiance of fire (hidden within smoke). (03-65-7)
tāṁ samīkṣya viśālākṣīm adhikaṁ malināṁ kṛśām। tarkayām āsa bhaimīti kāraṇair upapādayan ॥03-65-8॥
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)
sudeva uvāca॥
Sudeva said.
yatheyam me purā dṛṣṭā tathārūpeyamaṅganā। kṛtārtho'smyadya dṛṣṭvemāṃ lokakāntāmiva śriyam ॥03-65-9॥
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)
pūrṇacandrānanāṃ śyāmāṃ cāruvṛttapayodharām। kurvantīṃ prabhayā devīṃ sarvā vitimirā diśaḥ ॥03-65-10॥
The goddess, full-moon-faced, dark-complexioned, and beautifully endowed, made all directions free from darkness by her radiance. (03-65-10)
cāru-padma-palāśākṣīṃ manmathasya ratīm iva। iṣṭāṃ sarvasya jagataḥ pūrṇa-candra-prabhām iva ॥03-65-11॥
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)
vidarbhasarasas tasmād daivadōṣād ivoddhṛtām. malapaṅkānuliptāṅgīṃ mṛṇālīm iva tāṃ bhṛśam ॥03-65-12॥
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)
paurṇamāsīm iva niśāṃ rāhu-grasta-niśā-karām। pati-śoka-ākulāṃ dīnāṃ śuṣka-srotāṃ nadīm iva ॥03-65-13॥
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)
vidhvastaparṇakamalāṃ vitrāsitavihaṅgamām। hastihastaparikliṣṭāṃ vyākulām iva padminīm ॥03-65-14॥
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)
sukumārīṃ sujātāṅgīṃ ratnagarbhagṛhocitām। dahyamānāmivoṣṇena mṛṇālīmaciroddhṛtām॥03-65-15॥
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)
rūpaudāryaguṇopetāṃ maṇḍanārhāmamaṇḍitām। candralekhām iva navāṃ vyomni nīlābhra-saṃvṛtām॥03-65-16॥
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)
kāmabhogaiḥ priyair hīnāṃ hīnāṃ bandhujanena ca। dehaṃ dhārayatīṃ dīnāṃ bhartṛdarśanakāṅkṣayā॥03-65-17॥
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)
bhartā nāma paraṁ nāryā bhūṣaṇaṁ bhūṣaṇair vinā. eṣā virahitā tena śobhanāpi na śobhate ॥03-65-18॥
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)
duṣkaraṃ kurute'tyarthaṃ hīno yadanayā nalaḥ। dhārayaty ātmano dehaṃ na śokenāvasīdatि ॥03-65-19॥
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)
imām asita-keśāntām śata-patrāyatekṣaṇām। sukhārhām duḥkhitāṃ dṛṣṭvā mamāpi vyathate manaḥ॥03-65-20॥
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)
kadā nu khalu duḥkhasya pāraṃ yāsyati vai śubhā। bhartuḥ samāgamātsādhvī rohiṇī śaśino yathā ॥03-65-21॥
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)
asyā nūnaṃ punarlābhān naiṣadhaḥ prītim eṣyati. rājā rājyaparibhraṣṭaḥ punarlabdhveva medinīm ॥03-65-22॥
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)
tulyaśīlavayoyuktāṃ tulyābhijanasamyutām। naiṣadho'rhati vaidarbhīṃ taṃ ceyamasitekṣaṇā ॥03-65-23॥
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)
yuktaṃ tasyāprameyasya vīryasattvavato mayā। samāśvāsayituṃ bhāryāṃ patidarśanalālasām॥03-65-24॥
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)
ayam āśvāsayāmy enāṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām। adṛṣṭapūrvāṃ duḥkhasya duḥkhārtāṃ dhyānatatparām॥03-65-25॥
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)
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
evaṃ vimṛśya vividhaiḥ kāraṇair lakṣaṇaiś ca tām। upagamya tato bhaimīṃ sudevo brāhmaṇo'bravīt ॥03-65-26॥
Thus, after considering her in various respects, Sudeva the Brāhmaṇa approached Bhīma's daughter and spoke. (03-65-26)
ahaṃ sudevo vaidarbhī bhrātus te dayitaḥ sakhā। bhīmasya vacanād rājñas tvām anveṣṭum ihāgataḥ॥03-65-27॥
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)
kuśalī te pitā rājñi janitrī bhrātaraś ca te। āyuṣmantau kuśalinau tatrasthau dārakau ca te॥ tvatkṛte bandhuvargāś ca gatasattvā ivāsate॥03-65-28॥
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)
abhijñāya sudevaṃ tu damayantī yudhiṣṭhira। paryapṛcchattataḥ sarvānkrameṇa suhṛdaḥ svakān ॥03-65-29॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, having recognized Sudeva, Damayantī then asked all her friends, one after another. (03-65-29)
ruroda ca bhṛśaṃ rājan vaidarbhī śoka-karśitā। dṛṣṭvā sudevaṃ sahasā bhrātuḥ iṣṭaṃ dvijottamam॥03-65-30॥
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)
tato rudantīṁ tāṁ dṛṣṭvā sunandā śokakarśitām। sudevena sahaikānte kathayantīṁ ca bhārata ॥03-65-31॥
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)
janitryai preṣayām āsa sairandhrī rudate bhṛśam। brāhmaṇena samāgamya tāṃ veda yadi manyase॥03-65-32॥
Sairandhri, weeping greatly, sent (word) to the mother. If you think the Brāhmaṇa will know her by meeting her. (03-65-32)
atha cedipater mātā rājñaś cāntaḥpurāt tadā। jagāma yatra sā bālā brāhmaṇena sahābhavat॥03-65-33॥
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)
tataḥ sudevam ānāyya rājamātā viśāṁ pate। papraccha bhāryā kasya iyaṁ sutā vā kasya bhāminī॥03-65-34॥
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)
kathaṁ ca naṣṭā jñātibhyo bharturvā vāmalocanā। tvayā ca viditā vipra katham evaṅgatā satī ॥03-65-35॥
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)
etadicchāmyahaṁ tvatto jñātuṁ sarvamaśeṣataḥ। tattvena hi mamācakṣva pṛcchantyā devarūpiṇīm॥03-65-36॥
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)
evam uktas tayā rājan sudevo dvija-sattamaḥ। sukha-upaviṣṭa ācaṣṭa damayantyā yathā tatham ॥03-65-37॥
O king, when thus addressed by her, Sudeva, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, comfortably seated, told Damayantī everything as it was. (03-65-37)
