03.072
दमयन्त्युवाच॥
Damayanti said.
गच्छ केशिनि जानीहि क एष रथवाहकः। उपविष्टो रथोपस्थे विकृतो ह्रस्वबाहुकः ॥०३-७२-१॥
O Keśinī, go and find out who this charioteer is, who is seated in the chariot, deformed and with short arms. (03-72-1)
अभ्येत्य कुशलं भद्रे मृदुपूर्वं समाहिता। पृच्छेथाः पुरुषं ह्येनं यथातत्त्वमनिन्दिते ॥०३-७२-२॥
O gentle and blameless lady, having attentively approached, gently ask this person about his well-being, just as it truly is. (03-72-2)
अत्र मे महती शङ्का भवेदेष नलो नृपः। तथा च मे मनस्तुष्टिर्हृदयस्य च निर्वृतिः ॥०३-७२-३॥
Here, a great doubt arises for me—whether this is Nala the king. Yet, this also brings contentment to my mind and joy to my heart. (03-72-3)
ब्रूयाश्चैनं कथान्ते त्वं पर्णादवचनं यथा। प्रतिवाक्यं च सुश्रोणि बुध्येथास्त्वमनिन्दिते ॥०३-७२-४॥
At the end of the conversation, you should say to him the message from Parṇa, and you, O beautiful-hipped and blameless one, should also understand his reply. (03-72-4)
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
एवं समाहिता गत्वा दूती बाहुकमब्रवीत्। दमयन्त्यपि कल्याणी प्रासादस्थान्ववैक्षत ॥०३-७२-५॥
Thus, the composed female messenger went and spoke to Bāhuka; Damayantī, the auspicious one, also looked about the parts of the palace. (03-72-5)
केशिन्युवाच॥
Keśini said.
स्वागतं ते मनुष्येन्द्र कुशलं ते ब्रवीम्यहम्। दमयन्त्या वचः साधु निबोध पुरुषर्षभ ॥०३-७२-६॥
Welcome to you, O king of men; I wish you well. Please listen carefully to the words of Damayantī, O noblest of men. (03-72-6)
कदा वै प्रस्थिता यूयं किमर्थमिह चागताः। तत्त्वं ब्रूहि यथान्यायं वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छति ॥०३-७२-७॥
When did you set out, and for what purpose have you come here? Tell the truth properly, for Vaidarbhī wishes to hear it. (03-72-7)
बाहुक उवाच॥
Bāhuka said.
श्रुतः स्वयंवरो राज्ञा कौसल्येन यशस्विना। द्वितीयो दमयन्त्या वै श्वोभूत इति भामिनि ॥०३-७२-८॥
The illustrious king Kausalya heard of the self-choice ceremony; Damayanti's second will indeed happen tomorrow, O beautiful one. (03-72-8)
श्रुत्वा तं प्रस्थितो राजा शतयोजनयायिभिः। हयैर्वातजवैर्मुख्यैरहमस्य च सारथिः ॥०३-७२-९॥
Having heard him, the king set out with horses famed for covering a hundred yojanas a day, foremost in speed as the wind, and I was his charioteer. (03-72-9)
केशिन्युवाच॥
Keśinī said.
अथ योऽसौ तृतीयो वः स कुतः कस्य वा पुनः। त्वं च कस्य कथं चेदं त्वयि कर्म समाहितम् ॥०३-७२-१०॥
Now, who is that third among you—where is he from, whose is he, or again? And you—whose are you, how has this action come to be centered in you? (03-72-10)
बाहुक उवाच॥
Bahuka said;
पुण्यश्लोकस्य वै सूतो वार्ष्णेय इति विश्रुतः। स नले विद्रुते भद्रे भाङ्गस्वरिमुपस्थितः ॥०३-७२-११॥
Indeed, the charioteer of Puṇyaśloka, Vārṣṇeya by name and well-known as such, O blessed lady, approached Bhāṅgasvarī when Nala was disturbed. (03-72-11)
अहमप्यश्वकुशलः सूदत्वे च सुनिष्ठितः। ऋतुपर्णेन सारथ्ये भोजने च वृतः स्वयम् ॥०३-७२-१२॥
I too am skilled with horses and well-trained in cooking; I have been personally employed by Ṛtuparṇa for charioteering and preparing food. (03-72-12)
केशिन्युवाच॥
Keshini said.
अथ जानाति वार्ष्णेयः क्व नु राजा नलो गतः। कथञ्चित्त्वयि वैतेन कथितं स्यात्तु बाहुक ॥०३-७२-१३॥
Then Vārṣṇeya may find out where King Nala has gone. Somehow, perhaps, this may be revealed to you by Bāhuka. (03-72-13)
बाहुक उवाच॥
Bāhuka said.
इहैव पुत्रौ निक्षिप्य नलस्याशुभकर्मणः। गतस्ततो यथाकामं नैष जानाति नैषधम् ॥०३-७२-१४॥
Leaving the two sons of Nala, who had committed evil deeds, here itself, he departed from there as he wished; this person does not know about Nala. (03-72-14)
न चान्यः पुरुषः कश्चिन्नलं वेत्ति यशस्विनि। गूढश्चरति लोकेऽस्मिन्नष्टरूपो महीपतिः ॥०३-७२-१५॥
And no other man is able to know, O illustrious one; in this world, the king, taking eight forms, moves about in secret. (03-72-15)
आत्मैव हि नलं वेत्ति या चास्य तदनन्तरा। न हि वै तानि लिङ्गानि नलं शंसन्ति कर्हिचित् ॥०३-७२-१६॥
Only his own self and the woman nearest to him truly know Nala; for those marks never reveal Nala at any time. (03-72-16)
केशिन्युवाच॥
Keśini said.
योऽसावयोध्यां प्रथमं गतवान्ब्राह्मणस्तदा। इमानि नारीवाक्यानि कथयानः पुनः पुनः ॥०३-७२-१७॥
That Brāhmaṇa, who had first gone to Ayodhyā at that time, kept repeating these words of the women again and again. (03-72-17)
क्व नु त्वं कितव छित्त्वा वस्त्रार्धं प्रस्थितो मम। उत्सृज्य विपिने सुप्तामनुरक्तां प्रियां प्रिय ॥०३-७२-१८॥
Where have you gone, O deceitful one, after having cut away half of my garment and departed— abandoning me, your devoted and sleeping beloved, in the forest, O beloved? (3-72-18)
सा वै यथा समादिष्टा तत्रास्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी। दह्यमाना दिवारात्रं वस्त्रार्धेनाभिसंवृता ॥०३-७२-१९॥
She is truly living there, as instructed, awaiting you, tormented day and night, clothed only with half a garment. (03-72-19)
तस्या रुदन्त्याः सततं तेन दुःखेन पार्थिव। प्रसादं कुरु वै वीर प्रतिवाक्यं प्रयच्छ च ॥०३-७२-२०॥
O king, as she weeps constantly from that sorrow, show her your favor, O hero, and give her a reply. (03-72-20)
तस्यास्तत्प्रियमाख्यानं प्रब्रवीहि महामते। तदेव वाक्यं वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छत्यनिन्दिता ॥०३-७२-२१॥
O great-minded one, speak that dear story of hers; Vaidarbhi, the blameless, indeed wishes to hear that.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रतिवचस्तस्य दत्तं त्वया किल। यत्पुरा तत्पुनस्त्वत्तो वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छति ॥०३-७२-२२॥
After hearing this, Vaidarbhi desires to hear once again from you the reply that you formerly gave to him. (03-72-22)
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
एवमुक्तस्य केशिन्या नलस्य कुरुनन्दन। हृदयं व्यथितं चासीदश्रुपूर्णे च लोचने ॥०३-७२-२३॥
O Kurunandana, when Keśinī spoke thus to Nala, his heart was distressed and his eyes were filled with tears. (03-72-23)
स निगृह्यात्मनो दुःखं दह्यमानो महीपतिः। बाष्पसंदिग्धया वाचा पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत् ॥०३-७२-२४॥
The king, restraining his own sorrow and tormented within, said this again with a voice choked with tears. (03-72-24)
वैषम्यमपि सम्प्राप्ता गोपायन्ति कुलस्त्रियः। आत्मानमात्मना सत्यो जितस्वर्गा न संशयः ॥०३-७२-२५॥
Even when faced with adversity, noble women protect themselves; truly, they are conquerors of heaven, there is no doubt. (03-72-25)
रहिता भर्तृभिश्चैव न क्रुध्यन्ति कदाचन। प्राणांश्चारित्रकवचा धारयन्तीह सत्स्त्रियः ॥०३-७२-२६॥
Here, the virtuous women, even when without their husbands, never become angry; protected by the armor of their character, they sustain their very lives. (03-72-26)
प्राणयात्रां परिप्रेप्सोः शकुनैर्हृतवाससः। आधिभिर्दह्यमानस्य श्यामा न क्रोद्धुमर्हति ॥०३-७२-२७॥
Śyāmā should not become angry with one who, wishing to survive, has had his clothes taken by birds and is being tormented by troubles. (03-72-27)
सत्कृतासत्कृता वापि पतिं दृष्ट्वा तथागतम्। भ्रष्टराज्यं श्रिया हीनं क्षुधितं व्यसनाप्लुतम् ॥०३-७२-२८॥
Whether honored or dishonored, even if she sees her husband thus—who has come deprived of his kingdom, bereft of wealth, hungry, and overwhelmed with suffering.
एवं ब्रुवाणस्तद्वाक्यं नलः परमदुःखितः। न बाष्पमशकत्सोढुं प्ररुरोद च भारत ॥०३-७२-२९॥
While speaking thus those words, Nala, overwhelmed with grief, could not bear his tears and wept aloud, O Bhārata. (03-72-29)
ततः सा केशिनी गत्वा दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत्। तत्सर्वं कथितं चैव विकारं चैव तस्य तम् ॥०३-७२-३०॥
Then Keśinī, having gone to Damayantī, reported everything—she related all that had happened, as well as his condition. (03-72-30)
