Critical Edition
बृहदश्व उवाच अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य पर्णादो नाम वै द्विजः प्रत्येत्य नगरं भैमीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Brihadashva said : After a very long time, a Brahmana, Parnada by name, came back to the city of the king of the Vidharbhas and spoke to the daughter of king Bhima these words:
नैषधं मृगयानेन दमयन्ति दिवानिशम् अयोध्यां नगरीं गत्वा भाङ्गस्वरिरुपस्थितः
M. N. Dutt: “O Damayanti, searching Nala, the king of the Nishadhas, at last I went to the city of the Ayodhya and presented myself to Vangasuri.
श्रावितश्च मया वाक्यं त्वदीयं स महाजने ऋतुपर्णो महाभागो यथोक्तं वरवर्णिनि
AI Translation: And I have told the people the words you spoke, O you of excellent complexion, as the noble Rituparna said.
तच्छ्रुत्वा नाब्रवीत्किंचिदृतुपर्णो नराधिपः न च पारिषदः कश्चिद्भाष्यमाणो मयासकृत्
AI Translation: Hearing that, King Arindama did not say anything. And no one in the assembly, though addressed by me many times,
अनुज्ञातं तु मां राज्ञा विजने कश्चिदब्रवीत् ऋतुपर्णस्य पुरुषो बाहुको नाम नामतः
M. N. Dutt: When I was dismissed by the king, some person in the service of Rituparna, Bahuka by name, told me in private.
सूतस्तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य विरूपो ह्रस्वबाहुकः शीघ्रयाने सुकुशलो मृष्टकर्ता च भोजने
M. N. Dutt: That Bahuka is the charioteer of that foremost of monarchs. He is also possessed of extraordinary appearance and short arms; and is skilled in driving with speed and also in cooking sweet food.
स विनिःश्वस्य बहुशो रुदित्वा च मुहुर्मुहुः कुशलं चैव मां पृष्ट्वा पश्चादिदमभाषत
M. N. Dutt: Sighing heavily and frequently and weeping incessantly, he asked about my welfare; and then addressed me with these words:
वैषम्यमपि संप्राप्ता गोपायन्ति कुलस्त्रियः आत्मानमात्मना सत्यो जितस्वर्गा न संशयः रहिता भर्तृभिश्चैव न क्रुध्यन्ति कदाचन
M. N. Dutt: 'Although fallen into great calamity, the chaste women guard themselves by their own efforts; and thus undoubtedly obtain heaven (heavenly blessings).
Supplementary Passages:
3.68.8 After 8, K1 B D (except D2.3.5) S ins.: *312 प्राणांश्चारित्रकवचान्धारयन्ति वरस्त्रियः
विषमस्थेन मूढेन परिभ्रष्टसुखेन च यत्सा तेन परित्यक्ता तत्र न क्रोद्धुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: She should not be angry, forsaken as she was by a person, who himself was foolish, overtaken by distress and also destitute of all happiness.
प्राणयात्रां परिप्रेप्सोः शकुनैर्हृतवाससः आधिभिर्दह्यमानस्य श्यामा न क्रोद्धुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: It behoves the lady of unchanging youth not to be angry with a person, who was deprived to his cloth by a bird while trying for sustenance (in the forest); and also who was burning with woe.
सत्कृतासत्कृता वापि पतिं दृष्ट्वा तथागतम् भ्रष्टराज्यं श्रिया हीनं श्यामा न क्रोद्धुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Also, it behoves the lady, treated fairly or unfairly, not to be angry with her husband, seeing him in that miserable condition, in which he was deprived of both wealth and kingdom and oppressed with hunger and overwhelmed with distress.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा त्वरितोऽहमिहागतः श्रुत्वा प्रमाणं भवती राज्ञश्चैव निवेदय
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of his, I instantly came here. Do you, therefore, inform the king all about these words, which you have heard.”
एतच्छ्रुत्वाश्रुपूर्णाक्षी पर्णादस्य विशां पते दमयन्ती रहोऽभ्येत्य मातरं प्रत्यभाषत
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, hearing these words of Parnada, Damayanti, with her eyes filled with tears, repaired to her mother and said to her these words,
Supplementary Passages:
3.68.13 After 13, G1 ins.: *313 अयमर्थो मृषा न स्याद्ब्राह्मणस्य कथंचन
अयमर्थो न संवेद्यो भीमे मातः कथंचन त्वत्संनिधौ समादेक्ष्ये सुदेवं द्विजसत्तमम्
AI Translation: This meaning should not be known by Bhima, O mother, in any way. In your presence, I will instruct the best of Brahmins, Sudeva.
यथा न नृपतिर्भीमः प्रतिपद्येत मे मतम् तथा त्वया प्रयत्तव्यं मम चेत्प्रियमिच्छसि
AI Translation: "As the king is not fierce, so you should act, if you desire my welfare."
यथा चाहं समानीता सुदेवेनाशु बान्धवान् तेनैव मङ्गलेनाशु सुदेवो यातु माचिरम् समानेतुं नलं मातरयोध्यां नगरीमितः
M. N. Dutt: Let Sudeva go at once, with the performance of the same auspicious ceremonies, by the doing of which I was brought to my relatives instantly by him. O mother, let him go hence to the city of Ayodhya in order to bring Nala here."
Supplementary Passages:
3.68.16 After 16, S ins.: *314 ऋतुपर्णस्य भवने निवसन्तमरिंदमम्
विश्रान्तं च ततः पश्चात्पर्णादं द्विजसत्तमम् अर्चयामास वैदर्भी धनेनातीव भामिनी
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the beauteous lady, the daughter of the king of the Vidharbhas, worshipped, with the bestowal of immense riches, the foremost of the regenerate ones, who has now taken perfect rest. And she said to him, “O Brahmana, I will, again, give you much wealth at the arrival of Nala here.
Supplementary Passages:
3.68.17 After 17, S ins.: *315 उवाच चैनं महता संपूज्य द्रविणेन वै
नले चेहागते विप्र भूयो दास्यामि ते वसु त्वया हि मे बहु कृतं यथा नान्यः करिष्यति यद्भर्त्राहं समेष्यामि शीघ्रमेव द्विजोत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of the regenerate ones, indeed you have done much for me, which none else will do; and for this reason only that I will soon regain my husband.”
एवमुक्तोऽर्चयित्वा तामाशीर्वादैः सुमङ्गलैः गृहानुपययौ चापि कृतार्थः स महामनाः
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed by her, that high-souled Brahmana solaced Damayanti by the expression of auspicious benedictions, and then he returned home, thinking himself successful in his endeavours.
ततश्चानाय्य तं विप्रं दमयन्ती युधिष्ठिर अब्रवीत्संनिधौ मातुर्दुःखशोकसमन्विता
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O Yudhishthira, Damayanti summoned Sudeva; and overwhelmed with grief and calamity, she addressed him in the presence of her mother thus,
गत्वा सुदेव नगरीमयोध्यावासिनं नृपम् ऋतुपर्णं वचो ब्रूहि पतिमन्यं चिकीर्षती आस्थास्यति पुनर्भैमी दमयन्ती स्वयंवरम्
AI Translation: Go to the city of Sudéva and tell King Rituparna, who lives in Ayódhya, "My wife, Damayanti, wishes to choose another husband." Bhima will again accept Damayanti's self-choice.
तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो राजपुत्राश्च सर्वशः यथा च गणितः कालः श्वोभूते स भविष्यति
AI Translation: There the kings and princes all go And as the time has been calculated, it will be so tomorrow.
यदि संभावनीयं ते गच्छ शीघ्रमरिंदम सूर्योदये द्वितीयं सा भर्तारं वरयिष्यति न हि स ज्ञायते वीरो नलो जीवन्मृतोऽपि वा
M. N. Dutt: At the next sun-rise she will accept a second husband; as it is not known whether heroic Nala is still living or otherwise.'
एवं तया यथोक्तं वै गत्वा राजानमब्रवीत् ऋतुपर्णं महाराज सुदेवो ब्राह्मणस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, thus addressed by her, the Brahmana, Sudeva by name, started at once. He spoke to king Rituparna what he was ordered by her to do.