Critical Edition
बृहदश्व उवाच दमयन्ती ततो दृष्ट्वा पुण्यश्लोकं नराधिपम् उन्मत्तवदनुन्मत्ता देवने गतचेतसम्
AI Translation: Brihadashva said: Then Damayanti, seeing the king of men, the one of auspicious fame, like a mad woman, though not mad, with her mind gone in the temple,
भयशोकसमाविष्टा राजन्भीमसुता ततः चिन्तयामास तत्कार्यं सुमहत्पार्थिवं प्रति
AI Translation: Then, O king, Bhima's daughter, overcome with fear and grief, thought about that great task for the king.
सा शङ्कमाना तत्पापं चिकीर्षन्ती च तत्प्रियम् नलं च हृतसर्वस्वमुपलभ्येदमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Fearing that sin, and desiring to do what was pleasing to him, and seeing Nala who had lost all his wealth, she said this:
Supplementary Passages:
3.57.3 After 3, K1.2 B D (except Dn2 D1-3) ins.: *238 बृहत्सेनामतियशां तां धात्रीं परिचारिकाम् हितां सर्वार्थकुशलामनुरक्तां सुभाषिताम्
बृहत्सेने व्रजामात्यानानाय्य नलशासनात् आचक्ष्व यद्धृतं द्रव्यमवशिष्टं च यद्वसु
M. N. Dutt: 'O Brihadsena! inviting all the ministers in the name of king Nala, go and inform them what things are lost and what wealth still remains.
Supplementary Passages:
3.57.4 After 4, S ins.: *239 इत्येवं सा समादिष्टा बृहत्सेना नरेश्वर उवाच देव्या वचनं मन्त्रिणां सा समीपतः
ततस्ते मन्त्रिणः सर्वे विज्ञाय नलशासनम् अपि नो भागधेयं स्यादित्युक्त्वा पुनराव्रजन्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon all the ministers, having been informed of the summons of the king, uttered"O this was most unfortunate for them all” and advanced to Nala,
तास्तु सर्वाः प्रकृतयो द्वितीयं समुपस्थिताः न्यवेदयद्भीमसुता न च तत्प्रत्यनन्दत
M. N. Dutt: When again the daughter of Bhima informed Nala, that all his subjects came there in a body for the second time, the king said nothing to her in reply.
वाक्यमप्रतिनन्दन्तं भर्तारमभिवीक्ष्य सा दमयन्ती पुनर्वेश्म व्रीडिता प्रविवेश ह
AI Translation: Seeing her husband not accepting her words, Damayanti, ashamed, again entered the house.
निशम्य सततं चाक्षान्पुण्यश्लोकपराङ्मुखान् नलं च हृतसर्वस्वं धात्रीं पुनरुवाच ह
AI Translation: Hearing always about the dice, which were averse to the one of auspicious renown, and about Nala, whose entire wealth was taken away, the nurse spoke again.
बृहत्सेने पुनर्गच्छ वार्ष्णेयं नलशासनात् सूतमानय कल्याणि महत्कार्यमुपस्थितम्
AI Translation: Go again to Brihat-senā, O Varshnéya, at the command of Nala. O beautiful one, bring the charioteer. A great task is at hand.
बृहत्सेना तु तच्छ्रुत्वा दमयन्त्याः प्रभाषितम् वार्ष्णेयमानयामास पुरुषैराप्तकारिभिः
AI Translation: Hearing what Damayanti had said, Brihat-sena had the Varshneya brought by men who could accomplish the task.
वार्ष्णेयं तु ततो भैमी सान्त्वयञ्श्लक्ष्णया गिरा उवाच देशकालज्ञा प्राप्तकालमनिन्दिता
AI Translation: Then the blameless Bhima's wife, knowing the right time and place, spoke to Varshneya in gentle words, comforting him, and said what was appropriate.
जानीषे त्वं यथा राजा सम्यग्वृत्तः सदा त्वयि तस्य त्वं विषमस्थस्य साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: It is known to you how always you were treated by the monarch. Now it is necessary for you therefore, to remember this and help him in his distress.
यथा यथा हि नृपतिः पुष्करेणेह जीयते तथा तथास्य द्यूते वै रागो भूयोऽभिवर्धते
M. N. Dutt: The more the king is defeated by Pushkara in the game, the greater becomes his earnestness for it.
यथा च पुष्करस्याक्षा वर्तन्ते वशवर्तिनः तथा विपर्ययश्चापि नलस्याक्षेषु दृश्यते
M. N. Dutt: As the dice fall in accordance with the commands of Pushkara, so it is seen they are adverse to the interests of Nala in the play.
सुहृत्स्वजनवाक्यानि यथावन्न शृणोति च नूनं मन्ये न शेषोऽस्ति नैषधस्य महात्मनः
AI Translation: He does not listen to the words of his friends and relatives as they should be heard. I think, indeed, there is no remainder of the great Nāyaka.
Supplementary Passages:
3.57.15 After 15ab, K1.2 B D (except D1-3) S ins.: *240 ममापि च तथा वाक्यं नाभिनन्दति मोहितः S cont.: *241 यथा राज्ञः प्रदीप्तानां भाग्यानामद्य सारथे
यत्र मे वचनं राजा नाभिनन्दति मोहितः शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नास्मि सारथे कुरु मद्वचः न हि मे शुध्यते भावः कदाचिद्विनशेदिति
M. N. Dutt: O charioteer! I seek your protection. Act according to my commands. My mind is not very sanguine. King Nala may come to danger.
नलस्य दयितानश्वान्योजयित्वा महाजवान् इदमारोप्य मिथुनं कुण्डिनं यातुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Yoking the favourite steeds of Nala, fleet as the glance of mind and placing my twins (a son and a daughter) on the car, you should repair to Kundina in all haste.
मम ज्ञातिषु निक्षिप्य दारकौ स्यन्दनं तथा अश्वांश्चैतान्यथाकामं वस वान्यत्र गच्छ वा
M. N. Dutt: Leaving the children and the car and these horses with my relatives, do you go there or go away wherever it pleases you to go,'
दमयन्त्यास्तु तद्वाक्यं वार्ष्णेयो नलसारथिः न्यवेदयदशेषेण नलामात्येषु मुख्यशः
M. N. Dutt: Varshneya the charioteer of Nala, told in detail these words of Damayanti to the chief counsellors of Nala.
तैः समेत्य विनिश्चित्य सोऽनुज्ञातो महीपते ययौ मिथुनमारोप्य विदर्भांस्तेन वाहिना
M. N. Dutt: O lord of earth! deciding (the matter) with their aid and with their permission placing the children on the chariot the charioteer hastened towards Vidarbha.
हयांस्तत्र विनिक्षिप्य सूतो रथवरं च तम् इन्द्रसेनां च तां कन्यामिन्द्रसेनं च बालकम्
AI Translation: Having deposited the horses there, and the excellent chariot, and the girl Indrasena, and the boy Indrasena,
आमन्त्र्य भीमं राजानमार्तः शोचन्नलं नृपम् अटमानस्ततोऽयोध्यां जगाम नगरीं तदा
AI Translation: Having addressed Bhima and the king, he lamented and grieved, unable to control himself. Wandering, he then went to the city of Ayodhya.
Supplementary Passages:
3.57.22 After 22ab, T2 G (except G1) ins.: *242 क्व नु यास्यामि मनसा चिन्तयानो मुहुर्मुहुः
ऋतुपर्णं स राजानमुपतस्थे सुदुःखितः भृतिं चोपययौ तस्य सारथ्येन महीपते
M. N. Dutt: He approached king Rituparna with a sorrowful heart and entered into the service of the monarch as a charioteer.