03.066
sudeva uvāca॥
Sudeva said.
vidarbharājo dharmātmā bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ। sute'yaṁ tasya kalyāṇī damayantīti viśrutā॥03-66-1॥
The king of Vidarbha, the righteous Bhīma of great prowess, had a daughter, the auspicious Damayantī, who was well-known. (03-66-1)
rājā tu naiṣadho nāma vīrasenasuto nalaḥ। bhāryeyaṃ tasya kalyāṇī puṇyaślokasya dhīmataḥ॥03-66-2॥
But the king named Niṣadha, Nala, who is Vīrasena's son, has this auspicious wife, the wise and virtuous one. (03-66-2)
sa vai dyūte jito bhrātrā hṛtarājyō mahīpatiḥ। damayantyā gataḥ sārdham na prajñāyata karhicit ॥03-66-3॥
That king, whose kingdom was taken and who was defeated in the dice-game by his brother, having gone together with Damayantī, was never known (where he was). (03-66-3)
te vayaṃ damayanty-arthe carāmaḥ pṛthivīm-imām। sey-am-āsāditā bālā tava putra-niveśane॥03-66-4॥
We are those who have been wandering this earth for Damayantī. This girl has been found in the house of your son. (03-66-4)
asyā rūpeṇa sadṛśī mānuṣī neha vidyate। asyāścaiva bhruvormadhye sahajaḥ pipluruttamaḥ ॥ śyāmāyāḥ padmasaṅkāśo lakṣito'ntarhito mayā ॥03-66-5॥
There is no human woman here comparable to her in form. And between her eyebrows, there is naturally an excellent mole. On the dark-complexioned one a lotus-like mark, I have observed, hidden, by me. (03-66-5)
malena saṁvṛto hy asyās tanvābhreṇeva candramāḥ। cihnabhūto vibhūtyartham ayaṁ dhātrā vinirmitaḥ॥03-66-6॥
Just as the Moon is covered by a slender cloud, her body is covered with dirt; this mark has been created by the Creator for the sake of distinction. (03-66-6)
pratipatkaluṣe vendor lekhā nāti virājate। na cāsyā naśyate rūpaṁ vapur malasamācitam ॥ asaṁskṛtam api vyaktaṁ bhāti kāñcana-saṁnibham ॥03-66-7॥
When the moon is tainted by the impurity of the new moon, its crescent does not shine greatly; yet its form does not disappear, its body is still covered with impurity. Even uncleansed, it still appears manifest, shining like gold. (03-66-7)
anena vapuṣā bālā piplunānena caiva ha। lakṣiteyaṃ mayā devī pihito'gnirivoṣmaṇā ॥03-66-8॥
O Lady, by this form and also by this fatness, I have noticed, indeed, that you are like fire covered by its own heat. (03-66-8)
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya sudevasya viśāṃ pate| sunandā śodhayāmāsa piplupracchādanaṃ malam ॥03-66-9॥
O lord of the people, having heard the words of Sudeva, Sunanda cleansed the filth from the covering made of pippala leaves. (03-66-9)
sa malenāpakṛṣṭena piplustasyā viyārocat. damayantyāstadā vyabhre nabhasīva niśākaraḥ ॥03-66-10॥
His body, cleansed of dirt, appeared to Damayantī just like the moon in a cloudless sky. (03-66-10)
pipluṁ dṛṣṭvā sunandā ca rājamātā ca bhārata। rudantyau tāṁ pariṣvajya muhūrtamiva tasthatuḥ॥ utsṛjya bāṣpaṁ śanakai rājamātā idam abravīt॥03-66-11॥
O Bhārata, seeing Piplū, Sunandā and the queen mother embraced her, and, weeping, stood for a moment. Then, having shed her tears, the queen mother slowly spoke these words. (03-66-11)
bhaginyā duhitā me'si piplunānena sūcitā। ahaṃ ca tava mātā ca rājanyasya mahātmanaḥ॥ sute daśārṇādhipateḥ sudāmnaścārudarśane॥03-66-12॥
You are my daughter by (my) sister, as Pipluna has informed. Both I and your mother belong to the great-hearted kṣatriya line. O beautiful one, in the son of Sudāmā, the ruler of Daśārṇa. (03-66-12)
bhīmasya rājñaḥ sā dattā vīrabāhoḥ ahaṁ punaḥ। tvaṁ tu jātā mayā dṛṣṭā daśārṇeṣu pitur-gṛhe॥03-66-13॥
She was given by King Bhīma to Vīrabāhu. But as for you, I saw you again, born in your father's house in Daśārṇa. (03-66-13)
yathaiva te piturgehaṃ tathedamapi bhāmini। yathaiva hi mama aiśvaryaṃ damayanti tathā tava ॥03-66-14॥
O beautiful one, just as your father's house is yours, so also is this (house). Just as Damayanti shares in my wealth, so too (is) your share.
tāṃ prahṛṣṭena manasā damayantī viśāṃ pate। abhivādya mātur-bhaginīm idaṃ vacanam abravīt ॥03-66-15॥
O lord of the people, Damayantī, with a joyful mind, having saluted her mother's sister, spoke these words. (03-66-15)
ajñāyamānāpi satī sukham asmi uṣiteha vai। sarvakāmaiḥ suviḥitā rakṣyamāṇā sadā tvayā॥03-66-16॥
Even without being recognized, I have been happy living here, always well-provided with all my desires and constantly protected by you. (03-66-16)
sukhātsukhataraḥ vāsaḥ bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ। ciraviproṣitāṃ mātar māmanujñātum arhasi॥03-66-17॥
Certainly, a happier dwelling than before will be found, without any doubt. O mother, since I have been away for long, you ought to permit me. (03-66-17)
dārakau ca hi me nītau vasatas tatra bālakau। pitrā vihīṇau śokārtau mayā caiva kathaṁ nu tau ॥03-66-18॥
The two boys, indeed my sons, have been taken away; while living there, those two children, deprived of their father and afflicted by sorrow, how truly can I support those two? (03-66-18)
yadi cāpi priyaṃ kiñcin mayi kartum ihecchasi। vidarbhān yātum icchāmi śīghraṃ me yānam ādiśa ॥03-66-19॥
If you wish to do something pleasing for me here, order a vehicle for me quickly, for I wish to go to the Vidarbhas. (03-66-19)
bāḍhamityeva tāmuktvā hṛṣṭā mātṛṣvasā nṛpa। guptāṃ balena mahatā putrasyānumate tataḥ ॥03-66-20॥
The maternal aunt, O king, having gladly said just 'Certainly' to her, then kept her hidden by great force, with her son's consent. (03-66-20)
prasthāpayad rāja-mātā śrīmatā nara-vāhinā। yānena bharata-śreṣṭha svanna-pāna-paricchadām ॥03-66-21॥
The queen mother, splendid, set forth in a palanquin borne by men, with food, drink and attendants, O best of the Bharatas. (03-66-21)
tataḥ sā nacirādeva vidarbhān agamac chubhā। tāṃ tu bandhujanaḥ sarvaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ pratyapūjayat ॥03-66-22॥
Then, without delay, the auspicious lady went to Vidarbha. All her relatives and family members joyfully welcomed and honored her. (03-66-22)
sarvān kuśalino dṛṣṭvā bāndhavān dārakau ca tau। mātaraṃ pitaraṃ caiva sarvaṃ caiva sakhījanam॥03-66-23॥
After seeing that all their relatives were safe, the two boys also saw their mother, father, and all their companions. (03-66-23)
devatāḥ pūjayāmāsa brāhmaṇāṃś ca yaśasvinī। vidhinā pareṇa kalyāṇī damayantī viśāṃ pate ॥03-66-24॥
The illustrious, auspicious Damayantī honored the gods and Brāhmaṇas by the supreme rite, O lord of the people. (03-66-24)
atarpayatsudevaṃ ca go-sahasreṇa pārthivaḥ। prīto dṛṣṭvaiva tanayāṃ grāmeṇa draviṇena ca॥03-66-25॥
The king, upon seeing his daughter, was pleased and gratified Sudeva with a thousand cows, as well as a village and wealth. (03-66-25)
sā vyuṣṭā rajanīṃ tatra pitur veśmani bhāminī। viśrāntā mātaraṃ rājan nidaṃ vacanam abravīt॥03-66-26॥
After spending the night there in her father's house, the radiant lady, having rested, spoke these words to her mother, O king. (03-66-26)
