Critical Edition
बृहदश्व उवाच अथ काले शुभे प्राप्ते तिथौ पुण्ये क्षणे तथा आजुहाव महीपालान्भीमो राजा स्वयंवरे
M. N. Dutt: Brihadashva said: When the auspicious hour, the sacred lunar day and the propitious season set in the king Bhima summoned all the rulers of the earth to the Svayamvara.
तच्छ्रुत्वा पृथिवीपालाः सर्वे हृच्छयपीडिताः त्वरिताः समुपाजग्मुर्दमयन्तीमभीप्सवः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing this, all the rulers of the carth, repressed by her love and filled with the desire for Damayanti, repaired (to the Svayamvara).
कनकस्तम्भरुचिरं तोरणेन विराजितम् विविशुस्ते महारङ्गं नृपाः सिंहा इवाचलम्
M. N. Dutt: Those kings entered the amphi-thcater furnished with golden pillars and adorned with beautiful gates even as the furious lions force their way into the mountain caves.
तत्रासनेषु विविधेष्वासीनाः पृथिवीक्षितः सुरभिस्रग्धराः सर्वे सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः
M. N. Dutt: There all the rulers of the earth decked in fragrant garlands and adorned with ornaments set with gems suspended from their cars, took their respective seats.
तां राजसमितिं पूर्णां नागैर्भोगवतीमिव संपूर्णां पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्व्याघ्रैर्गिरिगुहामिव
M. N. Dutt: That sacred conclave of the rulers of the earth abounded in the foremost of men even as Bhogavati abounds in the Nagas or as the mountain caves in tigers.
Supplementary Passages:
3.54.5 After 5ab, T2 G (G1 missing) ins.: *220 प्रविवेश नलो देवैः पुण्यश्लोको नराधिपः After 5, D1 ins.: *221 देवगन्धर्वपतयो ददृशुर्विस्मयान्विताः पौरजानपदाश्चैव ये तत्रासन्समाहिताः
तत्र स्म पीना दृश्यन्ते बाहवः परिघोपमाः आकारवन्तः सुश्लक्ष्णाः पञ्चशीर्षा इवोरगाः
M. N. Dutt: Their arms were sincwy looking like maces; and they were well-shaped and smooth, even as the five-headed snakes.
सुकेशान्तानि चारूणि सुनासानि शुभानि च मुखानि राज्ञां शोभन्ते नक्षत्राणि यथा दिवि
M. N. Dutt: The countenance of the kings, embellished with beautiful locks and fine noses and brows, glittered even as the stars shine in the firmament.
दमयन्ती ततो रङ्गं प्रविवेश शुभानना मुष्णन्ती प्रभया राज्ञां चक्षूंषि च मनांसि च
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the fair-complexioned Damayanti entered the amphi-theater; and thus attracted the eyes and hearts of the assembled princes.
तस्या गात्रेषु पतिता तेषां दृष्टिर्महात्मनाम् तत्र तत्रैव सक्ताभून्न चचाल च पश्यताम्
M. N. Dutt: When the kings beheld her, their cyes, unmoved, were finally fixed upon those parts of her body, wherever they had fallen first.
ततः संकीर्त्यमानेषु राज्ञां नामसु भारत ददर्श भैमी पुरुषान्पञ्च तुल्याकृतीनिव
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, ( Bharata, the names of the kings having been ultered, the daughter of Bhima beheld five persons all alike in their form.
तान्समीक्ष्य ततः सर्वान्निर्विशेषाकृतीन्स्थितान् संदेहादथ वैदर्भी नाभ्यजानान्नलं नृपम् यं यं हि ददृशे तेषां तं तं मेने नलं नृपम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter the daughter of the king of the Vidharbhas, having seen all of them of similar forms could not make out which one was prince Nala; for doubts had already arisen in her mind.
Supplementary Passages:
3.54.11 After 11cd, S (G1 missing) ins.: *222 निर्विशेषवयोवेषरूपाणां तत्र सा शुभा
सा चिन्तयन्ती बुद्ध्याथ तर्कयामास भामिनी कथं नु देवाञ्जानीयां कथं विद्यां नलं नृपम्
AI Translation: Then the beautiful one, thinking with her intellect, pondered: "How can I know the gods? How can I know King Nala?"
एवं संचिन्तयन्ती सा वैदर्भी भृशदुःखिता श्रुतानि देवलिङ्गानि चिन्तयामास भारत
AI Translation: Thus thinking, the daughter of Vidarbha, was extremely unhappy. She heard about the signs of the gods and thought about them, O descendant of Bharata.
देवानां यानि लिङ्गानि स्थविरेभ्यः श्रुतानि मे तानीह तिष्ठतां भूमावेकस्यापि न लक्षये
AI Translation: The signs of the gods that I have heard from the elders I do not see even one of them here on the earth.
सा विनिश्चित्य बहुधा विचार्य च पुनः पुनः शरणं प्रति देवानां प्राप्तकालममन्यत
AI Translation: Having deliberated on this in many ways and again and again, she considered it the right time to go to the gods for refuge.
वाचा च मनसा चैव नमस्कारं प्रयुज्य सा देवेभ्यः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वेपमानेदमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Having bowed with speech and mind, she bowed to the gods with folded hands and trembling said this:
हंसानां वचनं श्रुत्वा यथा मे नैषधो वृतः पतित्वे तेन सत्येन देवास्तं प्रदिशन्तु मे
AI Translation: Having heard the words of the swans, as the Nishada has chosen me, By that truth, may the gods grant me
वाचा च मनसा चैव यथा नाभिचराम्यहम् तेन सत्येन विबुधास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे
M. N. Dutt: As I am always firm to him either in speech or thought, so for the sake of that truth, it beloves the celestials to point him out to me.
यथा देवैः स मे भर्ता विहितो निषधाधिपः तेन सत्येन मे देवास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे
M. N. Dutt: When it was settled to me by the celestials that the prince of the Nishadhas should be my husband; for the sake of that truth it behoves the celestials to point him to me.
Supplementary Passages:
3.54.19 After 19, K1.2 B Dn D4-6 ins.: *223 यथेदं व्रतमारब्धं नलस्याराधने मया
स्वं चैव रूपं पुष्यन्तु लोकपालाः सहेश्वराः यथाहमभिजानीयां पुण्यश्लोकं नराधिपम्
M. N. Dutt: It behoves the Lokapalas, the most excellent of the gods, therefore, to assume their respective forms, that I may ascertain that virtuous prince (Nala).
निशम्य दमयन्त्यास्तत्करुणं परिदेवितम् निश्चयं परमं तथ्यमनुरागं च नैषधे
AI Translation: Hearing Damayanti's piteous lament, and the certainty, the supreme truth, and the love for Nala,
मनोविशुद्धिं बुद्धिं च भक्तिं रागं च भारत यथोक्तं चक्रिरे देवाः सामर्थ्यं लिङ्गधारणे
AI Translation: Purity of mind, intelligence, devotion, and passion, O descendant of Bharata, As stated, the gods performed the wearing of the linga for the sake of power.
सापश्यद्विबुधान्सर्वानस्वेदान्स्तब्धलोचनान् हृषितस्रग्रजोहीनान्स्थितानस्पृशतः क्षितिम्
M. N. Dutt: She then beheld all the gods, not perspiring, with fixed eyes and spotless garlands (round their neck) and seated without touching the earth.
छायाद्वितीयो म्लानस्रग्रजःस्वेदसमन्वितः भूमिष्ठो नैषधश्चैव निमेषेण च सूचितः
M. N. Dutt: She, on the other hand, saw Nala standing pre-eminent with his own shadow and (unlike the gods) full of perspiration and with floral wreaths stained with dust and the king of the Nishadhas was also seated on the ground with staring eyes.
सा समीक्ष्य ततो देवान्पुण्यश्लोकं च भारत नैषधं वरयामास भैमी धर्मेण भारत
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata, she saw both the celestials and that righteous king. But, O descendant of Pandu, the daughter of Bhima accepted (as her husband) the prince of the Nishadhas in accordance with her vow.
विलज्जमाना वस्त्रान्ते जग्राहायतलोचना स्कन्धदेशेऽसृजच्चास्य स्रजं परमशोभनाम् वरयामास चैवैनं पतित्वे वरवर्णिनी
M. N. Dutt: The bashful and larged-eyed maiden held the flying-end of her cloth and put a most handsome garland round his neck. Thus the . fair-faced damsel had chosen him as his lord.
ततो हा हेति सहसा शब्दो मुक्तो नराधिपैः देवैर्महर्षिभिश्चैव साधु साध्विति भारत विस्मितैरीरितः शब्दः प्रशंसद्भिर्नलं नृपम्
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata! all the celestials and the great sages became struck with amazement and uttered the cry. “Excellent and Excellent” while at the same time they were praising king Nala.
Supplementary Passages:
3.54.27 After 27, K1.2 B D (except D1-3) ins.: *224 दमयन्तीं तु कौरव्य वीरसेनसुतो नृपः आश्वासयद्वरारोहां प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना यत्त्वं भजसि कल्याणि पुमांसं देवसंनिधौ तस्मान्मां विद्धि भर्तारमेतत्ते वचने रतम् यावच्च मे धरिष्यन्ति प्राणा देहे शुचिस्मिते तावत्त्वयि भविष्यामि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते दमयन्ती तथा वाग्भिरभिनन्द्य कृताञ्जलिः तौ परस्परतः प्रीतौ दृष्ट्वा त्वग्निपुरोगमान् तानेव शरणं देवाञ्जग्मतुर्मनसा तदा
वृते तु नैषधे भैम्या लोकपाला महौजसः प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे नलायाष्टौ वरान्ददुः
M. N. Dutt: Then the guardians of the worlds of great splendour, beholding the prince of the Nishadhas accepted by the daughter of Bhima, became greatly gratified; and they all granted to Nala eight boons.
प्रत्यक्षदर्शनं यज्ञे गतिं चानुत्तमां शुभाम् नैषधाय ददौ शक्रः प्रीयमाणः शचीपतिः
M. N. Dutt: At first Shakra, the husband of Sachi, well pleased, bestowed upon the king of the Nishadhas a boon. viz., that in the sacrifices he should attain to divinity and thence to each of the extraordinarily great and happy abodes.
अग्निरात्मभवं प्रादाद्यत्र वाञ्छति नैषधः लोकानात्मप्रभांश्चैव ददौ तस्मै हुताशनः
M. N. Dutt: Agni gave assurance of his own presence wherever the king of the Nishadhas would wish. Hutashana also granted to him regions as resplendent as himself.
यमस्त्वन्नरसं प्रादाद्धर्मे च परमां स्थितिम् अपांपतिरपां भावं यत्र वाञ्छति नैषधः
AI Translation: Yama gave him the taste of food and the highest position in Dharma. The lord of the waters gave him the state of the waters, which the king of Nishadha desired.
Supplementary Passages:
3.54.31 After 31ab, Dc1 D1 ins.: *225 वरद्वयं ददौ तस्मै प्रीयमाणोऽर्कनन्दनः
स्रजं चोत्तमगन्धाढ्यां सर्वे च मिथुनं ददुः वरानेवं प्रदायास्य देवास्ते त्रिदिवं गताः
AI Translation: and a garland of the best fragrant flowers, and all gave a pair of garments, Having thus given the best gifts, those gods went to heaven.
Supplementary Passages:
3.54.32 After 32, S (except M2; G1 missing) ins.: *226 एतत्सर्वं नलोऽपश्यद्दमयन्ती च भारत यथा स्वप्नं महाराज तथैव ददृशुर्जनाः ततः स्वयंवरं चक्रे भीमो राजातिमानुषम् समागतेषु सर्वेषु भूपालेषु विशां पते दमयन्त्यपि तद्दृष्ट्वा राजमण्डलमृद्धिमत् अन्वीक्ष्य नैषधं वव्रे भैमी धर्मेण भारत
पार्थिवाश्चानुभूयास्या विवाहं विस्मयान्विताः दमयन्त्याः प्रमुदिताः प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Having granted these boons to him, all the celestials returned to heaven. And the monarchs also, having witnessed this choicemarriage of Damayanti with Nala, became filled with astonishment; and highly gratified, went away wherever they came from.
Supplementary Passages:
3.54.33 After 33, K1.2 B D (except D1-3) S (except M2; G1 missing) ins.: *227 गतेषु पार्थिवेन्द्रेषु भीमः प्रीतो महामनाः विवाहं कारयामास दमयन्त्या नलस्य च K1.2 B D (except D1-3) cont.: *228 उष्य तत्र यथाकामं नैषधो द्विपदां वरः भीमेन समनुज्ञातो जगाम नगरं स्वकम्
अवाप्य नारीरत्नं तत्पुण्यश्लोकोऽपि पार्थिवः रेमे सह तया राजा शच्येव बलवृत्रहा
M. N. Dutt: O king, that righteous prince, having obtained a maiden like a gem, began to enjoy her sweet company, even as the slayer of Bala and Vritra enjoys the company of Sachi.
अतीव मुदितो राजा भ्राजमानोंऽशुमानिव अरञ्जयत्प्रजा वीरो धर्मेण परिपालयन्
M. N. Dutt: The warlike monarch, resplendent as the sun, was exceedingly glad to rule and maintain his subjects most righteously.
ईजे चाप्यश्वमेधेन ययातिरिव नाहुषः अन्यैश्च क्रतुभिर्धीमान्बहुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः
M. N. Dutt: That talented one like Yayati the son of Nahusha held the horse and several other sacrifices, offering abundant gifts of the Brahmanas.
पुनश्च रमणीयेषु वनेषूपवनेषु च दमयन्त्या सह नलो विजहारामरोपमः
M. N. Dutt: Then again Nala passed his days in joy in the company of Damayanti in the woods and the pleasure gardens, even as the immortals themselves.
Supplementary Passages:
3.54.37 After 37, Dc1 Dn D1-3 ins.: *229 जनयामास च नलो दमयन्त्यां महामनाः इन्द्रसेनं सुतं चापि इन्द्रसेनां च कन्याकाम्
एवं स यजमानश्च विहरंश्च नराधिपः ररक्ष वसुसंपूर्णां वसुधां वसुधाधिपः
M. N. Dutt: Thus the ruler of the earth, the fore-most of men having celebrated the sacrifices and passed his days in joy (with Damayanti), governed the earth abounding in wealth.