03.073
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा भृशं शोकपरायणा। शङ्कमाना नलं तं वै केशिनीमिदमब्रवीत् ॥०३-७३-१॥
But Damayantī, deeply absorbed in sorrow after hearing that, suspecting Nala, said this to Keśinī. (03-73-1)
गच्छ केशिनि भूयस्त्वं परीक्षां कुरु बाहुके। आब्रुवाणा समीपस्था चरितान्यस्य लक्षय ॥०३-७३-२॥
Go, Keśinī, once more test Bahuka. Ask those who are nearby and observe his actions. (03-73-2)
यदा च किञ्चित्कुर्यात्स कारणं तत्र भामिनि। तत्र सञ्चेष्टमानस्य संलक्ष्यं ते विचेष्टितम् ॥०३-७३-३॥
O passionate lady, when he does something there for a reason, then the actions of one behaving (thus) there, your actions, are to be noticed. (03-73-3)
न चास्य प्रतिबन्धेन देयोऽग्निरपि भामिनि। याचते न जलं देयं सम्यगत्वरमाणया ॥०३-७३-४॥
O beautiful lady, fire should not be given to him with obstruction, even for fire itself. When someone requests water, it should not be withheld but properly given by one who is not hasty. (03-73-4)
एतत्सर्वं समीक्ष्य त्वं चरितं मे निवेदय। यच्चान्यदपि पश्येथास्तच्चाख्येयं त्वया मम ॥०३-७३-५॥
After examining all this, inform me about the conduct. And whatever else you might see, that too must be told to me by you. (03-73-5)
दमयन्त्यैवमुक्ता सा जगामाथाशु केशिनी। निशाम्य च हयज्ञस्य लिङ्गानि पुनरागमत् ॥०३-७३-६॥
Thus addressed by Damayantī, the lovely-haired woman then swiftly departed. And, having heard the signs of the horse-sacrifice, she returned again. (03-73-6)
सा तत्सर्वं यथावृत्तं दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत्। निमित्तं यत्तदा दृष्टं बाहुके दिव्यमानुषम् ॥०३-७३-७॥
She reported to Damayantī everything exactly as it had happened, including the divine and human omens she had seen at that time in Bāhuka. (03-73-7)
केशिन्युवाच॥
Keśinī said.
दृढं शुच्युपचारोऽसौ न मया मानुषः क्वचित्। दृष्टपूर्वः श्रुतो वापि दमयन्ति तथाविधः ॥०३-७३-८॥
O Damayanti, I have never before seen or even heard of any human, such as this one, who is so firmly devoted to pure conduct. (03-73-8)
ह्रस्वमासाद्य सञ्चारं नासौ विनमते क्वचित्। तं तु दृष्ट्वा यथासङ्गमुत्सर्पति यथासुखम् ॥ सङ्कटेऽप्यस्य सुमहद्विवरं जायतेऽधिकम् ॥०३-७३-९॥
Having reached a narrow passage, he never bends anywhere; but seeing it, proceeds forward according to what fits and as is comfortable. Even in a tight place, for him, a very large opening arises more. (03-73-9)
ऋतुपर्णस्य चार्थाय भोजनीयमनेकशः। प्रेषितं तत्र राज्ञा च मांसं सुबहु पाशवम् ॥०३-७३-१०॥
For Ṛtuparṇa's purpose, the king sent there a great quantity of edible food and a large amount of animal meat. (03-73-10)
तस्य प्रक्षालनार्थाय कुम्भस्तत्रोपकल्पितः। स तेनावेक्षितः कुम्भः पूर्ण एवाभवत्तदा ॥०३-७३-११॥
For his washing, a pitcher was prepared there. When he looked at it, the pitcher immediately became full at that time. (03-73-11)
ततः प्रक्षालनं कृत्वा समधिश्रित्य बाहुकः। तृणमुष्टिं समादाय आविध्यैनं समादधत् ॥०३-७३-१२॥
Afterwards, having cleansed himself, Bāhuka approached, took a fistful of grass, swung it, and applied it to him. (03-73-12)
अथ प्रज्वलितस्तत्र सहसा हव्यवाहनः। तदद्भुततमं दृष्ट्वा विस्मिताहमिहागता ॥०३-७३-१३॥
Then the fire suddenly blazed up there; having seen that most wonderful thing, I have come here astonished. (03-73-13)
अन्यच्च तस्मिन्सुमहदाश्चर्यं लक्षितं मया। यदग्निमपि संस्पृश्य नैव दह्यत्यसौ शुभे ॥०३-७३-१४॥
And, O fair lady, I observed yet another very great marvel in him: namely, that even when he touches fire, he does not burn. (03-73-14)
छन्देन चोदकं तस्य वहत्यावर्जितं द्रुतम्। अतीव चान्यत्सुमहदाश्चर्यं दृष्टवत्यहम् ॥०३-७३-१५॥
The driver moves it at will, turning it swiftly. And I have seen another extremely great wonder. (03-73-15)
यत्स पुष्पाण्युपादाय हस्ताभ्यां ममृदे शनैः। मृद्यमानानि पाणिभ्यां तेन पुष्पाणि तान्यथ ॥०३-७३-१६॥
He gently took those flowers in his hands and softened them. Those flowers, being softened by his hands, (he used) then. (03-73-16)
भूय एव सुगन्धीनि हृषितानि भवन्ति च। एतान्यद्भुतकल्पानि दृष्ट्वाहं द्रुतमागता ॥०३-७३-१७॥
Again, indeed, fragrant and delightful things have appeared; having seen these marvelous forms, I came here quickly. (03-73-17)
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा पुण्यश्लोकस्य चेष्टितम्। अमन्यत नलं प्राप्तं कर्मचेष्टाभिसूचितम् ॥०३-७३-१८॥
But Damayanti, having heard of the virtuous-famed one's actions, thought that Nala had come, as it was indicated by the manner of actions. (03-73-18)
सा शङ्कमाना भर्तारं नलं बाहुकरूपिणम्। केशिनीं श्लक्ष्णया वाचा रुदती पुनरब्रवीत् ॥०३-७३-१९॥
She, suspecting her husband Nala who had taken the form of an arm, spoke again to Keshini with gentle words, weeping. (03-73-19)
पुनर्गच्छ प्रमत्तस्य बाहुकस्योपसंस्कृतम्। महानसाच्छृतं मांसं समादायैहि भामिनि ॥०३-७३-२०॥
O beautiful lady, go again and take the cooked meat prepared by inattentive Bāhuka from the kitchen and come. (03-73-20)
सा गत्वा बाहुके व्यग्रे तन्मांसमपकृष्य च। अत्युष्णमेव त्वरिता तत्क्षणं प्रियकारिणी ॥ दमयन्त्यै ततः प्रादात्केशिनी कुरुनन्दन ॥०३-७३-२१॥
O delight of the Kurus, Keśinī, having gone while Bāhuka was occupied, quickly pulled out the meat while it was very hot and affectionately gave it at that very moment to Damayantī. (03-73-21)
सोचिता नलसिद्धस्य मांसस्य बहुशः पुरा। प्राश्य मत्वा नलं सूदं प्राक्रोशद्भृशदुःखिता ॥०३-७३-२२॥
Formerly, having often eaten meat prepared by Nala and recalling Nala as the cook, she lamented and, greatly distressed, cried out loudly. (03-73-22)
वैक्लव्यं च परं गत्वा प्रक्षाल्य च मुखं ततः। मिथुनं प्रेषयामास केशिन्या सह भारत ॥०३-७३-२३॥
O Bhārata, then, having come out of deep confusion and having washed his mouth, he sent the pair along with Keśinī.
इन्द्रसेनां सह भ्रात्रा समभिज्ञाय बाहुकः। अभिद्रुत्य ततो राजा परिष्वज्याङ्कमानयत् ॥०३-७३-२४॥
When Bāhuka recognized Indrasena along with her brother, he came running; then the king embraced them and brought them onto his lap. (03-73-24)
बाहुकस्तु समासाद्य सुतौ सुरसुतोपमौ। भृशं दुःखपरीतात्मा सस्वरं प्ररुदोद ह ॥०३-७३-२५॥
But Bāhuka, having come near his two sons, who were like sons of the gods, being overwhelmed with sorrow, cried aloud.
नैषधो दर्शयित्वा तु विकारमसकृत्तदा। उत्सृज्य सहसा पुत्रौ केशिनीमिदमब्रवीत् ॥०३-७३-२६॥
Then the prince of Niṣadha, repeatedly displaying emotion, suddenly let go of his two sons and spoke this to Keśinī. (03-73-26)
इदं सुसदृशं भद्रे मिथुनं मम पुत्रयोः। ततो दृष्ट्वैव सहसा बाष्पमुत्सृष्टवानहम् ॥०३-७३-२७॥
O auspicious one, this pair is very similar to my sons; therefore, on seeing them, I suddenly shed tears. (03-73-27)
बहुशः सम्पतन्तीं त्वां जनः शङ्केत दोषतः। वयं च देशातिथयो गच्छ भद्रे नमोऽस्तु ते ॥०३-७३-२८॥
Often, people may suspect you as being at fault when you approach. And we, being guests from another country, shall go, O noble lady. Our salutations be to you. (03-73-28)
