03.074
बृहदश्व उवाच॥
Bṛhadaśva said.
सर्वं विकारं दृष्ट्वा तु पुण्यश्लोकस्य धीमतः। आगत्य केशिनी क्षिप्रं दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत् ॥०३-७४-१॥
Keśinī, after observing all the changes in the wise and virtuous one, quickly came and reported them to Damayantī. (03-74-1)
दमयन्ती ततो भूयः प्रेषयामास केशिनीम्। मातुः सकाशं दुःखार्ता नलशङ्कासमुत्सुका ॥०३-७४-२॥
Damayantī, tormented by grief and anxiously longing due to concern for Nala, once again sent Keśinī to her mother. (03-74-2)
परीक्षितो मे बहुशो बाहुको नलशङ्कया। रूपे मे संशयस्त्वेकः स्वयमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥०३-७४-३॥
I have tested Bāhuka many times, suspecting him to be Nala; but regarding his appearance, I have only one doubt left, which I wish to resolve myself. (03-74-3)
स वा प्रवेश्यतां मातर्मां वानुज्ञातुमर्हसि। विदितं वाथ वाज्ञातं पितुर्मे संविधीयताम् ॥०३-७४-४॥
O mother, either let him be allowed to enter or grant permission to me. Whether it is known or understood by my father, let it be arranged accordingly. (03-74-4)
एवमुक्ता तु वैदर्भ्या सा देवी भीममब्रवीत्। दुहितुस्तमभिप्रायमन्वजानाच्च पार्थिवः ॥०३-७४-५॥
Having thus been addressed by the princess of Vidarbha, the noble lady spoke to Bhīma. The king understood his daughter's intention as well. (03-74-5)
सा वै पित्राभ्यनुज्ञाता मात्रा च भरतर्षभ। नलं प्रवेशयामास यत्र तस्याः प्रतिश्रयः ॥०३-७४-६॥
O bull among the Bharatas, having obtained permission from her father and mother, she caused Nala to enter the place where her abode was. (03-74-6)
तं तु दृष्ट्वा तथायुक्तं दमयन्ती नलं तदा। तीव्रशोकसमाविष्टा बभूव वरवर्णिनी ॥०३-७४-७॥
But when Damayantī saw Nala in that condition, the beautiful-complexioned lady was overcome by intense sorrow. (03-74-7)
ततः काषायवसना जटिला मलपङ्किनी। दमयन्ती महाराज बाहुकं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥०३-७४-८॥
Then Damayantī, wearing ochre robes, with matted hair and covered in dirt, O great king, spoke words to Bāhuka. (03-74-8)
दृष्टपूर्वस्त्वया कश्चिद्धर्मज्ञो नाम बाहुक। सुप्तामुत्सृज्य विपिने गतो यः पुरुषः स्त्रियम् ॥०३-७४-९॥
Previously, you saw a man named Bāhuka, who knew dharma; he abandoned a sleeping woman in the forest and left. (03-74-9)
अनागसं प्रियां भार्यां विजने श्रममोहिताम्। अपहाय तु को गच्छेत्पुण्यश्लोकमृते नलम् ॥०३-७४-१०॥
Who would abandon his blameless beloved wife, fatigued and bewildered, in a lonely place, except the celebrated Nala? (03-74-10)
किं नु तस्य मया कार्यमपराद्धं महीपतेः। यो मामुत्सृज्य विपिने गतवान्निद्रया हृताम् ॥०३-७४-११॥
What offense or duty, indeed, have I committed against the lord of the earth? He who has gone, having abandoned me, who was taken away by sleep, in the forest. (03-74-11)
साक्षाद्देवानपाहाय वृतो यः स मया पुरा। अनुव्रतां साभिकामां पुत्रिणीं त्यक्तवान्कथम् ॥०३-७४-१२॥
How could I, who long ago chose him over the very gods, now abandon a devoted and desirous wife who has given me a son? (03-74-12)
अग्नौ पाणिगृहीतां च हंसानां वचने स्थिताम्। भरिष्यामीति सत्यं च प्रतिश्रुत्य क्व तद्गतम् ॥०३-७४-१३॥
Having taken your hand in the fire and abided by the promise of the swans, after promising truthfully "I will support," where has that promise gone? (03-74-13)
दमयन्त्या ब्रुवन्त्यास्तु सर्वमेतदरिंदम। शोकजं वारि नेत्राभ्यामसुखं प्रास्रवद्बहु ॥०३-७४-१४॥
As Damayantī spoke all this, O subduer of foes, much unhappy tear-water, born of sorrow, flowed from her eyes. (03-74-14)
अतीव कृष्णताराभ्यां रक्तान्ताभ्यां जलं तु तत्। परिस्रवन्नलो दृष्ट्वा शोकार्त इदमब्रवीत् ॥०३-७४-१५॥
Seeing that water dripping from his excessively dark and bloodshot eyes, the Fire god, afflicted by grief, spoke these words. (03-74-15)
मम राज्यं प्रनष्टं यन्नाहं तत्कृतवान्स्वयम्। कलिना तत्कृतं भीरु यच्च त्वामहमत्यजम् ॥०३-७४-१६॥
My kingdom is destroyed—not by me, I did not do it myself. It was caused by Kali, O fearful one, and it was also that I abandoned you. (03-74-16)
त्वया तु धर्मभृच्छ्रेष्ठे शापेनाभिहतः पुरा। वनस्थया दुःखितया शोचन्त्या मां विवाससम् ॥०३-७४-१७॥
But, O best among upholders of dharma, formerly I was struck by a curse by you, as I lived in the forest, grieving, distressed, and clothed as an exile. (03-74-17)
स मच्छरीरे त्वच्छापाद्दह्यमानोऽवसत्कलिः। त्वच्छापदग्धः सततं सोऽग्नाविव समाहितः ॥०३-७४-१८॥
Kali, having entered my body, remained there, being burned by your curse. Always burned by your curse, he was absorbed as one is in fire. (03-74-18)
मम च व्यवसायेन तपसा चैव निर्जितः। दुःखस्यान्तेन चानेन भवितव्यं हि नौ शुभे ॥०३-७४-१९॥
Through my determination and penance, suffering has certainly been overcome; by this end of sorrow, O auspicious one, indeed, happiness is destined for both of us. (03-74-19)
विमुच्य मां गतः पापः स ततोऽहमिहागतः। त्वदर्थं विपुलश्रोणि न हि मेऽन्यत्प्रयोजनम्॥०३-७४-२०॥
After releasing me, that wicked one left; so I have come here. O broad-hipped lady, I have no other purpose but you. (03-74-20)
कथं नु नारी भर्तारमनुरक्तमनुव्रतम्। उत्सृज्य वरयेदन्यं यथा त्वं भीरु कर्हिचित् ॥०३-७४-२१॥
How could a woman, devoted and attached to her husband, ever abandon him and choose another, as you, timid one, have done? (03-74-21)
दूताश्चरन्ति पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां नृपतिशासनात्। भैमी किल स्म भर्तारं द्वितीयं वरयिष्यति ॥०३-७४-२२॥
Messengers are traversing the entire earth on the king's command. It is said that Bhaimī will choose a second husband. (03-74-22)
स्वैरवृत्ता यथाकाममनुरूपमिवात्मनः। श्रुत्वैव चैवं त्वरितो भाङ्गस्वरिरुपस्थितः ॥०३-७४-२३॥
Acting on her own, just as she wished and as suited her nature; when she heard this, Bhāṅgasvari quickly came. (03-74-23)
दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा नलस्य परिदेवितम्। प्राञ्जलिर्वेपमाना च भीता वचनमब्रवीत् ॥०३-७४-२४॥
But Damayanti, hearing that lamentation of Nala, with joined palms, trembling and fearful, spoke these words. (03-74-24)
