03.075
दमयन्त्युवाच॥
Damayantī said;
न मामर्हसि कल्याण पापेन परिशङ्कितुम्। मया हि देवानुत्सृज्य वृतस्त्वं निषधाधिप ॥०३-७५-१॥
You should not, O auspicious one, suspect me of sin. I have indeed chosen you, O lord of Niṣadha, abandoning even the gods. (03-75-1)
तवाभिगमनार्थं तु सर्वतो ब्राह्मणा गताः। वाक्यानि मम गाथाभिर्गायमाना दिशो दश ॥०३-७५-२॥
But for the purpose of your approach, brāhmaṇas have gone from all sides, singing my verses in songs, into the ten directions. (03-75-2)
ततस्त्वां ब्राह्मणो विद्वान्पर्णादो नाम पार्थिव। अभ्यगच्छत्कोसलायामृतुपर्णनिवेशने ॥०३-७५-३॥
Then, O king, a learned brāhmaṇa named Parṇāda approached you in Kosalā, at the abode of Ṛtupārṇa. (03-75-3)
तेन वाक्ये हृते सम्यक्प्रतिवाक्ये तथाहृते। उपायोऽयं मया दृष्टो नैषधानयने तव ॥०३-७५-४॥
Since both the statement and the counter-statement were properly eliminated in this way, I have found this means for your Naiṣadha-mission. (03-75-4)
त्वामृते न हि लोकेऽन्य एकाह्ना पृथिवीपते। समर्थो योजनशतं गन्तुमश्वैर्नराधिप ॥०३-७५-५॥
O lord of the earth, O lord of men, except for you, truly, no one else in the world is able to travel a hundred yojanas in a single day with horses. (03-75-5)
तथा चेमौ महीपाल भजेऽहं चरणौ तव। यथा नासत्कृतं किञ्चिन्मनसापि चराम्यहम् ॥०३-७५-६॥
O king, thus I worship these two feet of yours, so that I may not do anything improperly, even in my mind. (03-75-6)
अयं चरति लोकेऽस्मिन्भूतसाक्षी सदागतिः। एष मुञ्चतु मे प्राणान्यदि पापं चराम्यहम् ॥०३-७५-७॥
This being moves in this world as the witness of all creatures, ever moving. Let him take my life if I commit sin. (03-75-7)
तथा चरति तिग्मांशुः परेण भुवनं सदा। स विमुञ्चतु मे प्राणान्यदि पापं चराम्यहम् ॥०३-७५-८॥
Just as the sun always moves through the sky over the world, let him take my life if I commit any evil. (03-75-8)
चन्द्रमाः सर्वभूतानामन्तश्चरति साक्षिवत्। स विमुञ्चतु मे प्राणान्यदि पापं चराम्यहम् ॥०३-७५-९॥
The moon moves within all beings like a witness; may he release my life if I commit evil. (03-75-9)
एते देवास्त्रयः कृत्स्नं त्रैलोक्यं धारयन्ति वै। विब्रुवन्तु यथासत्यमेते वाद्य त्यजन्तु माम् ॥०३-७५-१०॥
These three gods indeed support the entire three worlds. Let them, if they are truthful, declare this as it is, or else let them abandon me. (03-75-10)
एवमुक्ते ततो वायुरन्तरिक्षादभाषत। नैषा कृतवती पापं नल सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ॥०३-७५-११॥
After these words were spoken, then Vāyu spoke from the sky: "This woman has not committed any sin, O Nala; I tell you the truth." (03-75-11)
राजञ्शीलनिधिः स्फीतो दमयन्त्या सुरक्षितः। साक्षिणो रक्षिणश्चास्या वयं त्रीन्परिवत्सरान् ॥०३-७५-१२॥
O king, the treasure of virtue flourished, protected by Damayanti. We have been her witnesses and guardians for three years. (03-75-12)
उपायो विहितश्चायं त्वदर्थमतुलोऽनया। न ह्येकाह्ना शतं गन्ता त्वदृतेऽन्यः पुमानिह ॥०३-७५-१३॥
This means has been undertaken for your sake and is unsurpassed by her; for truly, no other man here except you can go a hundred yojanas in a single day. (03-75-13)
उपपन्ना त्वया भैमी त्वं च भैम्या महीपते। नात्र शङ्का त्वया कार्या सङ्गच्छ सह भार्यया ॥०३-७५-१४॥
O king, Bhaimī has been obtained by you, and you are (reunited) with Bhaimī. You should have no doubt here; unite with your wife. (03-75-14)
तथा ब्रुवति वायौ तु पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात ह। देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्ववौ च पवनः शिवः ॥०३-७५-१५॥
As he was speaking thus to Vāyu, a shower of flowers fell; the divine drums resounded, and an auspicious wind blew. (03-75-15)
तदद्भुततमं दृष्ट्वा नलो राजाथ भारत। दमयन्त्यां विशङ्कां तां व्यपाकर्षदरिंदमः ॥०३-७५-१६॥
O Bhārata, then Nala the king, subduer of foes, having seen that most wonderful thing, removed that doubt in Damayantī. (03-75-16)
ततस्तद्वस्त्रमरजः प्रावृणोद्वसुधाधिपः। संस्मृत्य नागराजानं ततो लेभे वपुः स्वकम् ॥०३-७५-१७॥
Then the prince covered the lord of the earth with that cloth. Remembering the king of the nāgas, he then regained his own body. (03-75-17)
स्वरूपिणं तु भर्तारं दृष्ट्वा भीमसुता तदा। प्राक्रोशदुच्चैरालिङ्ग्य पुण्यश्लोकमनिन्दिता ॥०३-७५-१८॥
But having seen her husband in his original form, Bhīma’s daughter then embraced the illustrious and blameless one, and cried out loudly. (03-75-18)
भैमीमपि नलो राजा भ्राजमानो यथा पुरा। सस्वजे स्वसुतौ चापि यथावत्प्रत्यनन्दत ॥०३-७५-१९॥
Nala the king, shining as he once did, embraced Damayantī and also joyfully welcomed his two children as was proper. (03-75-19)
ततः स्वोरसि विन्यस्य वक्त्रं तस्य शुभानना। परीता तेन दुःखेन निशश्वासायतेक्षणा ॥०३-७५-२०॥
Then, the auspicious-faced woman, placing his face upon her own chest, overcome by that sorrow, with eyes full of sighs, sighed deeply. (03-75-20)
तथैव मलदिग्धाङ्गी परिष्वज्य शुचिस्मिता। सुचिरं पुरुषव्याघ्रं तस्थौ साश्रुपरिप्लुता ॥०३-७५-२१॥
In the same way, with her body smeared with dirt, she embraced him, her face bearing a pure smile, and stood for a long time before the tiger among men, overwhelmed with tears. (03-75-21)
ततः सर्वं यथावृत्तं दमयन्त्या नलस्य च। भीमायाकथयत्प्रीत्या वैदर्भ्या जननी नृप ॥०३-७५-२२॥
Then, O king, the mother of the princess of Vidarbha affectionately related to Bhīma everything as it had happened concerning Damayantī and Nala. (03-75-22)
ततोऽब्रवीन्महाराजः कृतशौचमहं नलम्। दमयन्त्या सहोपेतं काल्यं द्रष्टा सुखोषितम् ॥०३-७५-२३॥
Then the great king said, "Having purified myself, I will see Nala, who, together with Damayantī, has approached in the morning, having slept comfortably." (03-75-23)
ततस्तौ सहितौ रात्रिं कथयन्तौ पुरातनम्। वने विचरितं सर्वमूषतुर्मुदितौ नृप ॥०३-७५-२४॥
Then, O king, those two joyfully spent the night together in the forest, recounting all the ancient stories they had experienced. (03-75-24)
स चतुर्थे ततो वर्षे सङ्गम्य सह भार्यया। सर्वकामैः सुसिद्धार्थो लब्धवान्परमां मुदम् ॥०३-७५-२५॥
Then, in the fourth year, he, having united with his wife, being well-fulfilled in all desires, obtained supreme joy. (03-75-25)
दमयन्त्यपि भर्तारमवाप्याप्यायिता भृशम्। अर्धसञ्जातसस्येव तोयं प्राप्य वसुन्धरा ॥०३-७५-२६॥
Damayantī too, having regained her husband, was greatly nourished, just as the earth with half-grown crops is, upon receiving water. (03-75-26)
सैवं समेत्य व्यपनीततन्द्री; शान्तज्वरा हर्षविवृद्धसत्त्वा। रराज भैमी समवाप्तकामा; शीतांशुना रात्रिरिवोदितेन ॥०३-७५-२७॥
Thus, having drawn near, with her fatigue gone, fever calmed, and exhilarated by joy, the daughter of Bhīma shone, her desires fulfilled, just like the night shines when the moon with cool rays rises. (03-75-27)
