03.067
damayanty-uvāca॥
Damayanti said.
māṃ cedicchasi jīvantīṃ mātaḥ satyaṃ bravīmi te. naravīrasya vai tasya nalasyānayane yata ॥03-67-1॥
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)
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Brihadashva said.
damayantyā tathoktā tu sā devī bhṛśaduḥkhitā। bāṣpeṇa pihitā rājannottaraṃ kiñcidabravīt ॥03-67-2॥
O king, thus addressed by Damayantī, the sorrowful lady, her voice choked with tears, gave some reply. (03-67-2)
tadavasthāṁ tu tāṁ dṛṣṭvā sarvam antaḥpuraṁ tadā। hāhābhūtam atīvāsīd bhṛśaṁ ca praruroda ha ॥03-67-3॥
But when they saw her in that state, the entire inner palace was filled with great wailing, and everyone wept intensely. (03-67-3)
tato bhīmaṃ mahārāja bhāryā vacanam abravīt। damayantī tava sutā bhartāram anuśocati॥03-67-4॥
Then Bhīma's wife said to the great king: "Damayantī, your daughter, grieves for her husband." (03-67-4)
apakṛṣya ca lajjām māṃ svayamuktavatī nṛpa। prayatantu tava preṣyāḥ puṇyaślokasya darśane ॥03-67-5॥
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)
tayā pracodito rājā brāhmaṇān vaśavartinaḥ। prāsthāpayad diśaḥ sarvā yatadhvaṃ naladarśane ॥03-67-6॥
Prompted by her, the king sent the obedient brāhmaṇas in all directions, saying, "Strive to find Nala." (03-67-6)
tato vidarbhādhipater niyogād brāhmaṇaṛṣabhāḥ। damayantīm atho dṛṣṭvā prasthitāḥ sma ity athābruvan ॥03-67-7॥
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)
atha tān abravīd bhaimī sarvarāṣṭreṣu idaṃ vacaḥ. bruvadhvaṃ jana-saṃsatsu tatra tatra punaḥ punaḥ ॥03-67-8॥
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)
kva nu tvaṃ kitava chittvā vastrārdhaṃ prasthito mama। utsṛjya vipine suptām-anuraktāṃ priyāṃ priya ॥03-67-9॥
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)
sā vai yathā samādiṣṭā tatrāste tvat-pratīkṣiṇī। dahyamānā bhṛśaṃ bālā vastrārdhenābhisaṃvṛtā ॥03-67-10॥
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)
tasyā rudantyāḥ satataṃ tena śokena pārthiva। prasādaṃ kuru vai vīra prativākyaṃ dadasva ca ॥03-67-11॥
Because of her constant weeping and that grief, O king, grant your favor and give a reply, O hero. (03-67-11)
etad anyac ca vaktavyaṃ kṛpāṃ kuryād yathā mayi। vāyunā dhūyamāno hi vanaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ ॥03-67-12॥
This too and other matters should be spoken; show compassion as for me. Indeed, fire stirred by wind burns a forest. (03-67-12)
bhartavyā rakṣaṇīyā ca patnī hi patinā sadā। tan naṣṭam ubhayaṃ kasmād dharmajñasya satas tava॥03-67-13॥
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)
khyātaḥ prājñaḥ kulīnaś ca sānukrośaś ca tvaṃ sadā। saṃvṛtto niranukrośaḥ śaṅke mad-bhāgya-saṅkṣayāt ॥03-67-14॥
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)
sa kuruṣva maheṣvāsa dayāṃ mayi nararṣabha। ānṛśaṃsyaṃ paro dharmas tvatta eva hi me śrutam ॥03-67-15॥
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)
evaṃ bruvāṇān yadi vaḥ pratibrūyād hi kaścana। sa naraḥ sarvathā jñeyaḥ kaśca asau kva ca vartate ॥03-67-16॥
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)
yacca vo vacanaṁ śrutvā brūyāt prativaco naraḥ. tad ādāya vacaḥ kṣipraṁ mama avedyaṁ dvijottamāḥ ॥03-67-17॥
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)
yathā ca vo na jānīyāc carato bhīmaśāsanāt। punarāgamanaṃ caiva tathā kāryam atandritaiḥ॥03-67-18॥
Just as your return, while following Bhīma's command, should not be known, so too this must be accomplished with diligence. (03-67-18)
yadi vāsau samṛddhaḥ syād yadi vāpy adhanō bhavet। yadi vāpy arthakāmaḥ syāj jñeyam asya cikīrṣitam ॥03-67-19॥
Whether he is prosperous or impoverished, or even desires wealth—it should be known what he wishes to do. (03-67-19)
evamuktās tv agacchaṃs te brāhmaṇāḥ sarvatodiśam। nalaṃ mṛgayituṃ rājaṃs tathā vyasaninaṃ tadā ॥03-67-20॥
Thus addressed, the Brāhmaṇas then departed in all directions to search for the king Nala, who was afflicted. (03-67-20)
te purāṇi sarāṣṭrāṇi grāmāṅ ghoṣāṃs tathāśramān। anveṣanto nalaṃ rājann ādhijagmur dvijātayaḥ ॥03-67-21॥
O King, the twice-born, searching for Nala, went through ancient districts, villages, hamlets, and also hermitages. (03-67-21)
tac ca vākyaṃ tathā sarve tatra tatra viśāṃ pate। śrāvayāṃ cakrire viprā damayantyā yatheritām ॥03-67-22॥
O lord of people, all the brahmans everywhere caused that message, as spoken by Damayantī, to be proclaimed. (03-67-22)
