Critical Edition
बृहदश्व उवाच सर्वं विकारं दृष्ट्वा तु पुण्यश्लोकस्य धीमतः आगत्य केशिनी क्षिप्रं दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत्
M. N. Dutt: Brihadashva said: Having learnt all about the mental agony of that righteous and wise one, Keshini came back and spoke everything to Damayanti.
दमयन्ती ततो भूयः प्रेषयामास केशिनीम् मातुः सकाशं दुःखार्ता नलशङ्कासमुत्सुका
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Damayanti sent again Keshini to her mother; as she, sorely aggrieved, was most desirous to see Nala.
परीक्षितो मे बहुशो बाहुको नलशङ्कया रूपे मे संशयस्त्वेकः स्वयमिच्छामि वेदितुम्
M. N. Dutt: Damayanti said: “Suspecting Bahuka to be Nala, I have examined him several times; but I have some doubt about his appearance, which I like to know myself.
स वा प्रवेश्यतां मातर्मां वानुज्ञातुमर्हसि विदितं वाथ वाज्ञातं पितुर्मे संविधीयताम्
M. N. Dutt: O mother, with or without the knowledge of my father, make this arrangement for me; either allow him to enter my mansion or give me permission to go to him.”
एवमुक्ता तु वैदर्भ्या सा देवी भीममब्रवीत् दुहितुस्तमभिप्रायमन्वजानाच्च पार्थिवः
M. N. Dutt: Thus spoken by Vaidharbhi, that lady told king Bhima the intention of his daughter, which the king learned.
सा वै पित्राभ्यनुज्ञाता मात्रा च भरतर्षभ नलं प्रवेशयामास यत्र तस्याः प्रतिश्रयः
AI Translation: O bull among the Bharata lineage, with the permission of her father and mother, she had Nala brought in, where he was to stay.
Supplementary Passages:
3.74.6 After 6, N ins.: *342 तां स्म दृष्ट्वैव सहसा दमयन्तीं नलो नृपः आविष्टः शोकदुःखाभ्यां बभूवाश्रुपरिप्लुतः
तं तु दृष्ट्वा तथायुक्तं दमयन्ती नलं तदा तीव्रशोकसमाविष्टा बभूव वरवर्णिनी
M. N. Dutt: Then that excellent of women, Damayanti, beholding Nala is that plight, was greatly afflicted with sorrow.
ततः काषायवसना जटिला मलपङ्किनी दमयन्ती महाराज बाहुकं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O great king, Damayanti, who was dressed in a red garment, wearing matted hairs and tainted with clay and dust, spoke these words do Bahuka:
दृष्टपूर्वस्त्वया कश्चिद्धर्मज्ञो नाम बाहुक सुप्तामुत्सृज्य विपिने गतो यः पुरुषः स्त्रियम्
M. N. Dutt: "O Bahuka, did you ever see any men, who, known as virtuous, had gone away leaving his wife asleep in the woods?
अनागसं प्रियां भार्यां विजने श्रममोहिताम् अपहाय तु को गच्छेत्पुण्यश्लोकमृते नलम्
M. N. Dutt: Who excepts that righteous Nala, could go away, abandoning his beloved hand unoffending wife in the woods, when she was overtaken by fatigue?
किं नु तस्य मया कार्यमपराद्धं महीपतेः यो मामुत्सृज्य विपिने गतवान्निद्रया हृताम्
M. N. Dutt: What offence did I give to that ruler of the earth since my youth, for which he had gone away forsaking me in the woods; while I was overpowered by sleep?
साक्षाद्देवानपाहाय वृतो यः स मया पुरा अनुव्रतां साभिकामां पुत्रिणीं त्यक्तवान्कथम्
M. N. Dutt: Formerly I had selected him as my lord, rejecting the very celestials. Therefore how it was that he should abandon his wife, who am ever devoted and dear to him as also the mother of his children?
अग्नौ पाणिगृहीतां च हंसानां वचने स्थिताम् भरिष्यामीति सत्यं च प्रतिश्रुत्य क्व तद्गतम्
M. N. Dutt: He had taken my hand; and, before the fire and in the presence of all the gods, he had pledged that he would truly be mine. But where now was that pledge gone?"
दमयन्त्या ब्रुवन्त्यास्तु सर्वमेतदरिंदम शोकजं वारि नेत्राभ्यामसुखं प्रास्रवद्बहु
M. N. Dutt: O chastiser of foes, while Damayanti was speaking all these, tears of sorrow flowed copiously from her eyes.
अतीव कृष्णताराभ्यां रक्तान्ताभ्यां जलं तु तत् परिस्रवन्नलो दृष्ट्वा शोकार्त इदमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: When Nala saw her thus oppressed with sorrow, he also shed tears from his eyes, which were black like those of the gazelle, with red extremities; and addressed her, saying:
मम राज्यं प्रनष्टं यन्नाहं तत्कृतवान्स्वयम् कलिना तत्कृतं भीरु यच्च त्वामहमत्यजम्
M. N. Dutt: "O timid one, the loss of my kingdom was not wrought by me. It was done by Kali, on whose account I had abandoned you in the woods.
त्वया तु धर्मभृच्छ्रेष्ठे शापेनाभिहतः पुरा वनस्थया दुःखितया शोचन्त्या मां विवाससम्
AI Translation: But you, best of upholders of dharma, were struck by a curse in the past. While dwelling in the forest, afflicted and grieving for me, who was banished,
स मच्छरीरे त्वच्छापाद्दह्यमानोऽवसत्कलिः त्वच्छापदग्धः सततं सोऽग्नाविव समाहितः
AI Translation: The demon Kali, burning in your body, lived there, O Lord, due to your curse. He, burnt by your curse, always remained in the fire, as if in a state of concentration.
Supplementary Passages:
3.74.18 After 18ab, K4 D2.3 ins.: *343 कर्कोटकविषाद्दग्धो मम सत्येन शोभने
मम च व्यवसायेन तपसा चैव निर्जितः दुःखस्यान्तेन चानेन भवितव्यं हि नौ शुभे
M. N. Dutt: Now he had been vanquished by my observances and devotion. Therefore, auspicious one, there will be an end of our sorrows.
विमुच्य मां गतः पापः स ततोऽहमिहागतः त्वदर्थं विपुलश्रोणि न हि मेऽन्यत्प्रयोजनम्
M. N. Dutt: O you of round hips, leaving me, the wretched one had gone away. It is for this that I could come here. Indeed, in my coming here I have no other object than to get you back.
Supplementary Passages:
3.74.20 After 20ab, K3 ins.: *344 आविष्टः शोकदुःखाभ्यां बाष्पधारापरिप्लुतः
कथं नु नारी भर्तारमनुरक्तमनुव्रतम् उत्सृज्य वरयेदन्यं यथा त्वं भीरु कर्हिचित्
M. N. Dutt: O timid one, is it possible that a lady, forsaking her dear and devoted lord, will ever select a second husband like yourself?
दूताश्चरन्ति पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां नृपतिशासनात् भैमी किल स्म भर्तारं द्वितीयं वरयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: At the command of the monarch, the messengers are roving all over the world, proclaiming that the daughter of king Bhima would surely choose a second husband.
स्वैरवृत्ता यथाकाममनुरूपमिवात्मनः श्रुत्वैव चैवं त्वरितो भाङ्गस्वरिरुपस्थितः
M. N. Dutt: And like an unchaste woman, she would choose one, worthy of her, whomever she likes. Hearing this, the royal son of Vangasura had arrived here with all speed."
Supplementary Passages:
3.74.23 After 23, Ś1 K3 ins.: *345 कथमुत्सृज्य भर्तारं निभृतैव वधूश्चरेत्
दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा नलस्य परिदेवितम् प्राञ्जलिर्वेपमाना च भीता वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these weeping of Nala, Damayanti became greatly terrified; and she, trembling with fear and with folded hands, spoke these words.