03.068
bṛhadaśva uvāca॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
atha dīrghasya kālasya parṇādo nāma vai dvijaḥ। pratyetya nagaraṃ bhaimīm idaṃ vacanam abravīt॥03-68-1॥
Then, after a long period, the twice-born named Parṇāda indeed, having arrived at the city, spoke these words to Bhaimī. (03-68-1)
naiṣadhaṃ mṛgayānena damayanti divāniśam। ayodhyāṃ nagarīṃ gatvā bhāṅgasvarir upasthitaḥ ॥03-68-2॥
Damayanti hunted in the kingdom of Nishadha day and night. Having gone to the city of Ayodhya, the one with the broken voice has arrived. (03-68-2)
śrāvitaś ca mayā vākyaṃ tvadīyaṃ sa mahā-jane। ṛtuparṇo mahā-bhāgo yathoktaṃ vara-varṇini॥03-68-3॥
O beautiful lady, your statement has also been announced by me in the great assembly as stated, to Ṛtuparṇa, the most fortunate one. (03-68-3)
tacchrutvā nābravīt kiñcid ṛtuparṇo narādhipaḥ। na ca pāriṣadaḥ kaścid bhāṣyamāṇo mayāsakṛt॥03-68-4॥
Having heard that, King Ṛtuparṇa did not say anything, nor did any of the courtiers, though I repeatedly spoke to them. (03-68-4)
anujñātaṃ tu māṃ rājñā vijane kaścid abravīt। ṛtuparṇasya puruṣo bāhuko nāma nāmataḥ ॥03-68-5॥
But permitted by the king, someone spoke to me in a secluded place: the man of Ṛtuparṇa named Bāhuka by name. (03-68-5)
sūtas tasya narendrasya virūpo hrasvabāhukaḥ। śīghrayāne sukuśalo mṛṣṭakartā ca bhojane॥03-68-6॥
The charioteer of that king was ugly and short-armed; he was skilled in driving swiftly, very capable, and an excellent cook. (03-68-6)
sa viniḥśvasya bahuśo ruditvā ca muhurmuhuḥ। kuśalaṃ caiva māṃ pṛṣṭvā paścādidam abhāṣata ॥03-68-7॥
He sighed deeply many times, wept repeatedly, and after asking about my well-being, then spoke the following words. (03-68-7)
vaiṣamyam api samprāptā gopāyanti kulastriyaḥ। ātmānam ātmanā satyo jitasvargā na saṃśayaḥ ॥ rahitā bhartṛbhiś caiva na krudhyanti kadācana ॥03-68-8॥
Even when faced with adversity, noble women protect themselves on their own. Truly, they are conquerors of heaven—there is no doubt. Even when deprived of their husbands, they never become angry. (03-68-8)
viṣamasthena mūḍhena paribhraṣṭasukhena ca। yatsā tena parityaktā tatra na krodhdhumarhati ॥03-68-9॥
A woman abandoned by a man who is suffering adversity, deluded, and deprived of happiness, should not become angry in such a situation. (03-68-9)
prāṇayātrāṃ pariprepsoḥ śakunair hṛtavāsasaḥ। ādhibhir dahyamānasya śyāmā na krodhum arhati॥03-68-10॥
Śyāmā should not be angry at a person, suffering due to afflictions, whose clothing was taken away by birds while he struggled just to keep alive. (03-68-10)
satkṛtāsatkṛtā vāpi patiṁ dṛṣṭvā tathāgatam। bhraṣṭarājyaṁ śriyā hīnaṁ śyāmā na krodhumarhati॥03-68-11॥
Whether honored or dishonored, even after seeing her husband come in such a state—deprived of kingdom and bereft of prosperity—the dark-complexioned woman should not be angry. (03-68-11)
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā tvarito'ham ihāgataḥ। śrutvā pramāṇaṃ bhavatī rājñaś caiva nivedaya ॥03-68-12॥
Having heard his statements, I quickly came here. After hearing this evidence, you should convey it to the king as well. (03-68-12)
etat-śrutvā-aśru-pūrṇa-akṣī parṇāt asya viśāṃ pate। damayantī rahaḥ abhyetya mātaraṃ pratyabhāṣata ॥03-68-13॥
Having heard this, with her eyes full of tears, Damayantī, after coming in private from the leaf, addressed her mother, O lord of the peoples. (03-68-13)
ayam artho na saṃvedyo bhīme mātaḥ kathaṃcana। tvat-saṃnidhau samādekṣye sudevaṃ dvija-sattamam ॥03-68-14॥
O mother, Bhima must not know of this matter in any way. In your presence, I will carefully observe Sudeva, the best of Brahmins. (03-68-14)
yathā na nṛpatir bhīmaḥ pratipadyeta me matam। tathā tvayā prayattavyaṃ mama cet priyam icchasi॥03-68-15॥
Just as King Bhīma would not accept my opinion, in the same way, you must make an effort, if you wish to please me. (03-68-15)
yathā cāhaṃ samānītā sudevenāśu bāndhavān। tenaiva maṅgalenāśu sudevo yātu māciram॥ samānetuṃ nalaṃ mātarayodhyāṃ nagarīmitaḥ॥03-68-16॥
Just as I have swiftly brought the relatives through Sudeva, let Sudeva himself, with auspiciousness, quickly go and bring Nala and mother to the city of Ayodhya from here without delay. (03-68-16)
viśrāntaṁ ca tataḥ paścāt parṇādaṁ dvijasattamam। arcayām āsa vaidarbhī dhanena atīva bhāminī ॥03-68-17॥
Then, after Parṇāda, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, had rested, Vaidehi, the exceedingly beautiful woman, worshipped him with wealth. (03-68-17)
nale cehāgate vipra bhūyo dāsyāmi te vasu। tvayā hi me bahu kṛtaṃ yathā nānyaḥ kariṣyati ॥ yadbhartṛāhaṃ sameṣyāmi śīghrameva dvijottama ॥03-68-18॥
When Nala comes here, O brāhmaṇa, I will again give you wealth, for you have done for me much that no one else would do. I shall soon be reunited with my husband, O best of brāhmaṇas. (03-68-18)
evam-ukto'rcayitvā tām-āśīrvādaiḥ sumaṅgalaiḥ। gṛhān-upayayau cāpi kṛtārthaḥ sa mahā-manāḥ॥03-68-19॥
Having been thus addressed, he worshipped her with blessings and auspicious words; then, the great-minded one, his purpose accomplished, also went home. (03-68-19)
tataś cānāyya taṃ vipraṃ damayantī yudhiṣṭhira। abravīt saṃnidhau mātur duḥkhaśokasamanvitā ॥03-68-20॥
Then, having brought that brāhmaṇa, Damayantī, filled with sorrow and grief, spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira in her mother's presence. (03-68-20)
gatvā sudeva nagarīm-ayodhyāvāsinaṁ nṛpam। ṛtuparṇaṁ vaco brūhi patim-anyaṁ cikīrṣatī ॥ āsthāsyati punar bhaimī damayantī svayaṁvaram ॥03-68-21॥
Go, Sudeva, to the city and speak to King Ṛtuparṇa of Ayodhya: "Damayantī, daughter of Bhīma, is desiring another husband and will hold a svayaṁvara again." (03-68-21)
tatra gacchanti rājāno rājaputrāś ca sarvaśaḥ। yathā ca gaṇitaḥ kālaḥ śvobhūte sa bhaviṣyati॥03-68-22॥
There, kings and princes all go together; when the computed time arises tomorrow, it will happen. (03-68-22)
yadi sambhāvanīyaṃ te gaccha śīghram ariṃdama। sūryodaye dvitīyaṃ sā bhartāraṃ varayiṣyati ॥ na hi sa jñāyate vīro nalo jīvan mṛto'pi vā ॥03-68-23॥
If it is possible for you, go quickly, O subduer of foes. At sunrise, she will choose another husband. For that heroic Nala is not recognized as living or dead. (03-68-23)
evaṃ tayā yathoktaṃ vai gatvā rājānam abravīt। ṛtuparṇaṃ mahārāja sudevo brāhmaṇas tadā ॥03-68-24॥
Thus, as instructed by her, Sudeva the Brahmin went and addressed King Rituparna, O great king, at that time. (03-68-24)
