03.067
दमयन्त्युवाच॥
Damayanti said.
मां चेदिच्छसि जीवन्तीं मातः सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते। नरवीरस्य वै तस्य नलस्यानयने यत ॥०३-६७-१॥
O mother, if you wish me to live, I speak the truth to you: it is in bringing here that heroic man Nala. (03-67-1)
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Brihadashva said.
दमयन्त्या तथोक्ता तु सा देवी भृशदुःखिता। बाष्पेण पिहिता राजन्नोत्तरं किञ्चिदब्रवीत् ॥०३-६७-२॥
O king, thus addressed by Damayantī, the sorrowful lady, her voice choked with tears, gave some reply. (03-67-2)
तदवस्थां तु तां दृष्ट्वा सर्वमन्तःपुरं तदा। हाहाभूतमतीवासीद्भृशं च प्ररुरोद ह ॥०३-६७-३॥
But when they saw her in that state, the entire inner palace was filled with great wailing, and everyone wept intensely. (03-67-3)
ततो भीमं महाराज भार्या वचनमब्रवीत्। दमयन्ती तव सुता भर्तारमनुशोचति ॥०३-६७-४॥
Then Bhīma's wife said to the great king: "Damayantī, your daughter, grieves for her husband." (03-67-4)
अपकृष्य च लज्जां मां स्वयमुक्तवती नृप। प्रयतन्तु तव प्रेष्याः पुण्यश्लोकस्य दर्शने ॥०३-६७-५॥
O king, having cast off her modesty, she herself said: "Let your servants endeavor to obtain a sight of the virtuous one." (03-67-5)
तया प्रचोदितो राजा ब्राह्मणान्वशवर्तिनः। प्रास्थापयद्दिशः सर्वा यतध्वं नलदर्शने ॥०३-६७-६॥
Prompted by her, the king sent the obedient brāhmaṇas in all directions, saying, "Strive to find Nala." (03-67-6)
ततो विदर्भाधिपतेर्नियोगाद्ब्राह्मणर्षभाः। दमयन्तीमथो दृष्ट्वा प्रस्थिताः स्मेत्यथाब्रुवन् ॥०३-६७-७॥
Then, by the command of the king of Vidarbha, the foremost Brāhmaṇas, after seeing Damayantī, set out, and then they said thus. (03-67-7)
अथ तानब्रवीद्भैमी सर्वराष्ट्रेष्विदं वचः। ब्रुवध्वं जनसंसत्सु तत्र तत्र पुनः पुनः ॥०३-६७-८॥
Then the daughter of Bhīma spoke to them: 'In all kingdoms, say these words in the gatherings of people, here and there, repeatedly.' (03-67-8)
क्व नु त्वं कितव छित्त्वा वस्त्रार्धं प्रस्थितो मम। उत्सृज्य विपिने सुप्तामनुरक्तां प्रियां प्रिय ॥०३-६७-९॥
Where indeed are you, deceitful one, having cut off half the garment and departed from me, leaving in the forest your beloved who was sleeping and devoted, dear? (03-67-9)
सा वै यथा समादिष्टा तत्रास्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी। दह्यमाना भृशं बाला वस्त्रार्धेनाभिसंवृता ॥०३-६७-१०॥
She, indeed, as she was instructed, remains there longing for you, the young girl tormented intensely, covered only with half a garment. (03-67-10)
तस्या रुदन्त्याः सततं तेन शोकेन पार्थिव। प्रसादं कुरु वै वीर प्रतिवाक्यं ददस्व च ॥०३-६७-११॥
Because of her constant weeping and that grief, O king, grant your favor and give a reply, O hero. (03-67-11)
एतदन्यच्च वक्तव्यं कृपां कुर्याद्यथा मयि। वायुना धूयमानो हि वनं दहति पावकः ॥०३-६७-१२॥
This too and other matters should be spoken; show compassion as for me. Indeed, fire stirred by wind burns a forest. (03-67-12)
भर्तव्या रक्षणीया च पत्नी हि पतिना सदा। तन्नष्टमुभयं कस्माद्धर्मज्ञस्य सतस्तव ॥०३-६७-१३॥
A wife must always be supported and protected by her husband; how then could both be lost by you, who are righteous and virtuous? (03-67-13)
ख्यातः प्राज्ञः कुलीनश्च सानुक्रोशश्च त्वं सदा। संवृत्तो निरनुक्रोशः शङ्के मद्भाग्यसङ्क्षयात् ॥०३-६७-१४॥
You, who are always famous, wise, noble-born, and compassionate, have now become pitiless. I suspect this is because my good fortune has waned. (03-67-14)
स कुरुष्व महेष्वास दयां मयि नरर्षभ। आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मस्त्वत्त एव हि मे श्रुतम् ॥०३-६७-१५॥
Therefore, O mighty archer, show compassion to me, O best of men. I have indeed heard from you that non-cruelty is the highest dharma. (03-67-15)
एवं ब्रुवाणान्यदि वः प्रतिब्रूयाद्धि कश्चन। स नरः सर्वथा ज्ञेयः कश्चासौ क्व च वर्तते ॥०३-६७-१६॥
If, while speaking thus, anyone replies to you, that man should be thoroughly found out — who he is and where he lives. (03-67-16)
यच्च वो वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रूयात्प्रतिवचो नरः। तदादाय वचः क्षिप्रं ममावेद्यं द्विजोत्तमाः ॥०३-६७-१७॥
O best of the twice-born, whatever reply any man says after hearing your words, take that reply and quickly inform me. (03-67-17)
यथा च वो न जानीयाच्चरतो भीमशासनात्। पुनरागमनं चैव तथा कार्यमतन्द्रितैः ॥०३-६७-१८॥
Just as your return, while following Bhīma's command, should not be known, so too this must be accomplished with diligence. (03-67-18)
यदि वासौ समृद्धः स्याद्यदि वाप्यधनो भवेत्। यदि वाप्यर्थकामः स्याज्ज्ञेयमस्य चिकीर्षितम् ॥०३-६७-१९॥
Whether he is prosperous or impoverished, or even desires wealth—it should be known what he wishes to do. (03-67-19)
एवमुक्तास्त्वगच्छंस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतोदिशम्। नलं मृगयितुं राजंस्तथा व्यसनिनं तदा ॥०३-६७-२०॥
Thus addressed, the Brāhmaṇas then departed in all directions to search for the king Nala, who was afflicted. (03-67-20)
ते पुराणि सराष्ट्राणि ग्रामान्घोषांस्तथाश्रमान्। अन्वेषन्तो नलं राजन्नाधिजग्मुर्द्विजातयः ॥०३-६७-२१॥
O King, the twice-born, searching for Nala, went through ancient districts, villages, hamlets, and also hermitages. (03-67-21)
तच्च वाक्यं तथा सर्वे तत्र तत्र विशां पते। श्रावयां चक्रिरे विप्रा दमयन्त्या यथेरितम् ॥०३-६७-२२॥
O lord of people, all the brahmans everywhere caused that message, as spoken by Damayantī, to be proclaimed. (03-67-22)
