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महाभारतः       mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-50

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बृहदश्व उवाच ।
आसीद्राजा नलो नाम वीरसेनसुतो बली ।
उपपन्नो गुणैरिष्टै रूपवानश्वकोविदः ॥१॥
1. bṛhadaśva uvāca ,
āsīdrājā nalo nāma vīrasenasuto balī ,
upapanno guṇairiṣṭai rūpavānaśvakovidaḥ.
1. bṛhadaśvaḥ uvāca āsīt rājā nalaḥ nāma vīrasenasutaḥ
balī upapannaḥ guṇaiḥ iṣṭaiḥ rūpavān aśvakovidaḥ
1. Bṛhadaśva said: 'There was a king named Nala, the powerful son of Vīrasena. He was endowed with desirable qualities, handsome, and an expert in horses.'
अतिष्ठन्मनुजेन्द्राणां मूर्ध्नि देवपतिर्यथा ।
उपर्युपरि सर्वेषामादित्य इव तेजसा ॥२॥
2. atiṣṭhanmanujendrāṇāṁ mūrdhni devapatiryathā ,
uparyupari sarveṣāmāditya iva tejasā.
2. atiṣṭhat manujendrāṇām mūrdhni devapatiḥ
yathā uparyupari sarveṣām ādityaḥ iva tejasā
2. He stood at the forefront of human rulers, just like the lord of gods (Indra). He was above all others, like the sun in his brilliance.
ब्रह्मण्यो वेदविच्छूरो निषधेषु महीपतिः ।
अक्षप्रियः सत्यवादी महानक्षौहिणीपतिः ॥३॥
3. brahmaṇyo vedavicchūro niṣadheṣu mahīpatiḥ ,
akṣapriyaḥ satyavādī mahānakṣauhiṇīpatiḥ.
3. brahmaṇyaḥ vedavit śūraḥ niṣadheṣu mahīpatiḥ
akṣapriyaḥ satyavādī mahān akṣauhiṇīpatiḥ
3. He was devoted to the Brahmins, a knower of the Vedas, brave, and the king of the Niṣadha country. He was fond of dice, truthful, and the lord of a great akṣauhiṇī (army).
ईप्सितो वरनारीणामुदारः संयतेन्द्रियः ।
रक्षिता धन्विनां श्रेष्ठः साक्षादिव मनुः स्वयम् ॥४॥
4. īpsito varanārīṇāmudāraḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ ,
rakṣitā dhanvināṁ śreṣṭhaḥ sākṣādiva manuḥ svayam.
4. īpsitaḥ varanārīṇām udāraḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ rakṣitā
dhanvinām śreṣṭhaḥ sākṣāt iva manuḥ svayam
4. He was desired by excellent women, generous, and self-controlled. He was a protector, the best among archers, as if directly Manu (the primeval lawgiver) himself.
तथैवासीद्विदर्भेषु भीमो भीमपराक्रमः ।
शूरः सर्वगुणैर्युक्तः प्रजाकामः स चाप्रजः ॥५॥
5. tathaivāsīdvidarbheṣu bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ ,
śūraḥ sarvaguṇairyuktaḥ prajākāmaḥ sa cāprajaḥ.
5. tathā eva āsīt vidarbheṣu bhīmaḥ bhīmaparākramaḥ
śūraḥ sarvaguṇaiḥ yuktaḥ prajākāmaḥ saḥ ca aprajaḥ
5. Similarly, in the country of Vidarbha, there was Bhīma, who possessed terrible valor. He was brave, endowed with all virtues, and desired progeny, but he was childless.
स प्रजार्थे परं यत्नमकरोत्सुसमाहितः ।
तमभ्यगच्छद्ब्रह्मर्षिर्दमनो नाम भारत ॥६॥
6. sa prajārthe paraṁ yatnamakarotsusamāhitaḥ ,
tamabhyagacchadbrahmarṣirdamano nāma bhārata.
6. saḥ prajārthe param yatnam akarot susamāhitaḥ
tam abhyagacchat brahmarṣiḥ damanaḥ nāma bhārata
6. For the sake of progeny, he made a great effort (yatna) with intense concentration. Then, O Bhārata (descendant of Bharata), the Brahmarṣi named Damana approached him.
तं स भीमः प्रजाकामस्तोषयामास धर्मवित् ।
महिष्या सह राजेन्द्र सत्कारेण सुवर्चसम् ॥७॥
7. taṁ sa bhīmaḥ prajākāmastoṣayāmāsa dharmavit ,
mahiṣyā saha rājendra satkāreṇa suvarcasam.
7. tam saḥ bhīmaḥ prajākāmaḥ toṣayāmāsa dharmavit
mahiṣyā saha rājendra satkāreṇa suvarcasam
7. O king, that Bhima, who understood natural law (dharma) and desired offspring, pleased Suvarcas respectfully, accompanied by his queen.
तस्मै प्रसन्नो दमनः सभार्याय वरं ददौ ।
कन्यारत्नं कुमारांश्च त्रीनुदारान्महायशाः ॥८॥
8. tasmai prasanno damanaḥ sabhāryāya varaṁ dadau ,
kanyāratnaṁ kumārāṁśca trīnudārānmahāyaśāḥ.
8. tasmai prasannaḥ damanaḥ sabhāryāya varam dadau
kanyāratnam kumārān ca trīn udārān mahāyaśāḥ
8. Damana, who was pleased and highly renowned, bestowed a boon upon Bhima and his wife: a jewel-like daughter and three noble sons.
दमयन्तीं दमं दान्तं दमनं च सुवर्चसम् ।
उपपन्नान्गुणैः सर्वैर्भीमान्भीमपराक्रमान् ॥९॥
9. damayantīṁ damaṁ dāntaṁ damanaṁ ca suvarcasam ,
upapannānguṇaiḥ sarvairbhīmānbhīmaparākramān.
9. damayantīm damam dāntam damanam ca suvarcasam
upapannān guṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ bhīmān bhīmaparākramān
9. (He gave) Damayanti, and three noble sons: Dama, who was self-controlled; Damana; and Suvarcas. All of these sons were endowed with every good quality, formidable, and possessed of valor like Bhima's.
दमयन्ती तु रूपेण तेजसा यशसा श्रिया ।
सौभाग्येन च लोकेषु यशः प्राप सुमध्यमा ॥१०॥
10. damayantī tu rūpeṇa tejasā yaśasā śriyā ,
saubhāgyena ca lokeṣu yaśaḥ prāpa sumadhyamā.
10. damayantī tu rūpeṇa tejasā yaśasā śriyā
saubhāgyena ca lokeṣu yaśaḥ prāpa sumadhyamā
10. Indeed, the slender-waisted Damayanti achieved renown among people through her beauty, radiance, fame, splendor, and good fortune.
अथ तां वयसि प्राप्ते दासीनां समलंकृतम् ।
शतं सखीनां च तथा पर्युपास्ते शचीमिव ॥११॥
11. atha tāṁ vayasi prāpte dāsīnāṁ samalaṁkṛtam ,
śataṁ sakhīnāṁ ca tathā paryupāste śacīmiva.
11. atha tām vayasi prāpte dāsīnām samalaṅkṛtam
śatam sakhīnām ca tathā paryupāste śacīm iva
11. Then, when she reached maturity, a hundred adorned maids and female friends attended upon her, just as attendants serve Shachi.
तत्र स्म भ्राजते भैमी सर्वाभरणभूषिता ।
सखीमध्येऽनवद्याङ्गी विद्युत्सौदामिनी यथा ।
अतीव रूपसंपन्ना श्रीरिवायतलोचना ॥१२॥
12. tatra sma bhrājate bhaimī sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā ,
sakhīmadhye'navadyāṅgī vidyutsaudāminī yathā ,
atīva rūpasaṁpannā śrīrivāyatalocanā.
12. tatra sma bhrājate bhaimī
sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā sakhīmadhye anavadyāṅgī
vidyutsaudāminī yathā atīva
rūpasaṃpannā śrīḥ iva āyatālocanā
12. There, Damayanti (Bhaimī) shone, adorned with all her ornaments. Amidst her friends, she had a faultless body and was like a flash of lightning (vidyutsaudāminī). Exceedingly beautiful and wide-eyed, she was like the goddess of prosperity (Śrī).
न देवेषु न यक्षेषु तादृग्रूपवती क्वचित् ।
मानुषेष्वपि चान्येषु दृष्टपूर्वा न च श्रुता ।
चित्तप्रमाथिनी बाला देवानामपि सुन्दरी ॥१३॥
13. na deveṣu na yakṣeṣu tādṛgrūpavatī kvacit ,
mānuṣeṣvapi cānyeṣu dṛṣṭapūrvā na ca śrutā ,
cittapramāthinī bālā devānāmapi sundarī.
13. na deveṣu na yakṣeṣu tādṛgrūpavatī
kvacit mānuṣeṣu api ca anyeṣu
dṛṣṭapūrvā na ca śrutā cittapramāthinī
bālā devānām api sundarī
13. A woman of such beauty was never seen before nor heard of anywhere, neither among the gods, nor among the yakṣas, nor even among humans or other beings. This captivating young lady was beautiful even to the gods.
नलश्च नरशार्दूलो रूपेणाप्रतिमो भुवि ।
कन्दर्प इव रूपेण मूर्तिमानभवत्स्वयम् ॥१४॥
14. nalaśca naraśārdūlo rūpeṇāpratimo bhuvi ,
kandarpa iva rūpeṇa mūrtimānabhavatsvayam.
14. nalaḥ ca naraśārdūlaḥ rūpeṇa apratimaḥ bhuvi
kandarpaḥ iva rūpeṇa mūrtimān abhavat svayam
14. And Nala, that tiger among men (naraśārdūla), was unequalled in beauty on earth. He himself was, in his form, like the god of love (Kandarpa) embodied.
तस्याः समीपे तु नलं प्रशशंसुः कुतूहलात् ।
नैषधस्य समीपे तु दमयन्तीं पुनः पुनः ॥१५॥
15. tasyāḥ samīpe tu nalaṁ praśaśaṁsuḥ kutūhalāt ,
naiṣadhasya samīpe tu damayantīṁ punaḥ punaḥ.
15. tasyāḥ samīpe tu nalam praśaśaṃsuḥ kutūhalāt
naiṣadhasya samīpe tu damayantīm punaḥ punaḥ
15. Out of curiosity, people repeatedly praised Nala in Damayantī's presence, and Damayantī in Nala's (Naiṣadha's) presence.
तयोरदृष्टकामोऽभूच्छृण्वतोः सततं गुणान् ।
अन्योन्यं प्रति कौन्तेय स व्यवर्धत हृच्छयः ॥१६॥
16. tayoradṛṣṭakāmo'bhūcchṛṇvatoḥ satataṁ guṇān ,
anyonyaṁ prati kaunteya sa vyavardhata hṛcchayaḥ.
16. tayoḥ adṛṣṭakāmaḥ abhūt śṛṇvatoḥ satatam guṇān
anyonyam prati kaunteya sa vyavardhata hṛcchayaḥ
16. O son of Kuntī (Kaunteya), as those two (Nala and Damayantī) constantly heard about each other's virtues, a passion (kāma) that they had not yet seen for themselves began to grow within them, intensifying towards each other.
अशक्नुवन्नलः कामं तदा धारयितुं हृदा ।
अन्तःपुरसमीपस्थे वन आस्ते रहोगतः ॥१७॥
17. aśaknuvannalaḥ kāmaṁ tadā dhārayituṁ hṛdā ,
antaḥpurasamīpasthe vana āste rahogataḥ.
17. aśaknuvan nalaḥ kāmam tadā dhārayitum hṛdā
antaḥpurasamīpasthe vane āste rahogataḥ
17. Unable to contain his love (kāma) within his heart, Nala then went to a secluded grove (vana) located near the inner palace (antaḥpura) and remained there in solitude.
स ददर्श तदा हंसाञ्जातरूपपरिच्छदान् ।
वने विचरतां तेषामेकं जग्राह पक्षिणम् ॥१८॥
18. sa dadarśa tadā haṁsāñjātarūpaparicchadān ,
vane vicaratāṁ teṣāmekaṁ jagrāha pakṣiṇam.
18. sa dadarśa tadā haṃsān jātarūpaparicchadān
vane vicaratām teṣām ekam jagrāha pakṣiṇam
18. Then, in that grove (vana), he saw swans (haṃsa) whose plumage appeared like gold. Among those wandering birds, he caught one.
ततोऽन्तरिक्षगो वाचं व्याजहार तदा नलम् ।
न हन्तव्योऽस्मि ते राजन्करिष्यामि हि ते प्रियम् ॥१९॥
19. tato'ntarikṣago vācaṁ vyājahāra tadā nalam ,
na hantavyo'smi te rājankariṣyāmi hi te priyam.
19. tataḥ antarikṣagaḥ vācam vyājahāra tadā nalam na
hantavyaḥ asmi te rājan kariṣyāmi hi te priyam
19. Then, the swan spoke to Nala: 'O king, I should not be killed by you; indeed, I will do something pleasing for you.'
दमयन्तीसकाशे त्वां कथयिष्यामि नैषध ।
यथा त्वदन्यं पुरुषं न सा मंस्यति कर्हिचित् ॥२०॥
20. damayantīsakāśe tvāṁ kathayiṣyāmi naiṣadha ,
yathā tvadanyaṁ puruṣaṁ na sā maṁsyati karhicit.
20. damayantīsākāśe tvām kathayiṣyāmi naiṣadha
yathā tvat anyam puruṣam na sā maṃsyati karhicit
20. O prince of Niṣadha (Naiṣadha), I will speak of you in Damayantī's presence so that she will never consider any other person besides you.
एवमुक्तस्ततो हंसमुत्ससर्ज महीपतिः ।
ते तु हंसाः समुत्पत्य विदर्भानगमंस्ततः ॥२१॥
21. evamuktastato haṁsamutsasarja mahīpatiḥ ,
te tu haṁsāḥ samutpatya vidarbhānagamaṁstataḥ.
21. evam uktaḥ tataḥ haṃsam utsasarja mahīpatiḥ te
tu haṃsāḥ samutpatya vidarbhān agaman tataḥ
21. Addressed in this way, the king (mahīpati) then released the swan. And those swans, having flown up, subsequently went to the region of Vidarbha.
विदर्भनगरीं गत्वा दमयन्त्यास्तदान्तिके ।
निपेतुस्ते गरुत्मन्तः सा ददर्शाथ तान्खगान् ॥२२॥
22. vidarbhanagarīṁ gatvā damayantyāstadāntike ,
nipetuste garutmantaḥ sā dadarśātha tānkhagān.
22. vidarbhanagarīm gatvā damayantyāḥ tadā antike
nipetuḥ te garutmantaḥ sā dadarśa atha tān khagān
22. Having reached the city of Vidarbha, those winged creatures then alighted near Damayantī. At that time, she saw those birds.
सा तानद्भुतरूपान्वै दृष्ट्वा सखिगणावृता ।
हृष्टा ग्रहीतुं खगमांस्त्वरमाणोपचक्रमे ॥२३॥
23. sā tānadbhutarūpānvai dṛṣṭvā sakhigaṇāvṛtā ,
hṛṣṭā grahītuṁ khagamāṁstvaramāṇopacakrame.
23. sā tān adbhutarūpān vai dṛṣṭvā sakhigaṇāvṛtā
hṛṣṭā grahītum khagamān tvaramāṇā upacakrame
23. Having seen those birds of wondrous form, she, surrounded by her female companions, was delighted and quickly began to catch them.
अथ हंसा विससृपुः सर्वतः प्रमदावने ।
एकैकशस्ततः कन्यास्तान्हंसान्समुपाद्रवन् ॥२४॥
24. atha haṁsā visasṛpuḥ sarvataḥ pramadāvane ,
ekaikaśastataḥ kanyāstānhaṁsānsamupādravan.
24. atha haṃsāḥ visasṛpuḥ sarvataḥ pramadāvane
ekaikaśaḥ tataḥ kanyāḥ tān haṃsān samupādravan
24. Then the swans scattered everywhere throughout the pleasure grove. Immediately, the maidens, each one by one, ran after those swans.
दमयन्ती तु यं हंसं समुपाधावदन्तिके ।
स मानुषीं गिरं कृत्वा दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत् ॥२५॥
25. damayantī tu yaṁ haṁsaṁ samupādhāvadantike ,
sa mānuṣīṁ giraṁ kṛtvā damayantīmathābravīt.
25. damayantī tu yam haṃsam samupādhāvat antike
saḥ mānuṣīm giram kṛtvā damayantīm atha abravīt
25. However, the swan that Damayanti ran closest to, then, uttering human speech, spoke to Damayanti.
दमयन्ति नलो नाम निषधेषु महीपतिः ।
अश्विनोः सदृशो रूपे न समास्तस्य मानुषाः ॥२६॥
26. damayanti nalo nāma niṣadheṣu mahīpatiḥ ,
aśvinoḥ sadṛśo rūpe na samāstasya mānuṣāḥ.
26. damayanti nalaḥ nāma niṣadheṣu mahīpatiḥ
aśvinoḥ sadṛśaḥ rūpe na samāḥ tasya mānuṣāḥ
26. O Damayanti, there is a king named Nala who rules the Niṣadhas, and he is comparable to the two Aśvins in beauty. No mortals are equal to him.
तस्य वै यदि भार्या त्वं भवेथा वरवर्णिनि ।
सफलं ते भवेज्जन्म रूपं चेदं सुमध्यमे ॥२७॥
27. tasya vai yadi bhāryā tvaṁ bhavethā varavarṇini ,
saphalaṁ te bhavejjanma rūpaṁ cedaṁ sumadhyame.
27. tasya vai yadi bhāryā tvam bhavethā varavarṇini
saphalam te bhavet janma rūpam ca idam sumadhyame
27. O lady of beautiful complexion, if you were to become his wife, your birth would certainly be fruitful, and this beauty of yours would also be so, O slender-waisted one.
वयं हि देवगन्धर्वमनुष्योरगराक्षसान् ।
दृष्टवन्तो न चास्माभिर्दृष्टपूर्वस्तथाविधः ॥२८॥
28. vayaṁ hi devagandharvamanuṣyoragarākṣasān ,
dṛṣṭavanto na cāsmābhirdṛṣṭapūrvastathāvidhaḥ.
28. vayam hi devagandharvamanuṣyoragarākṣasān
dṛṣṭavantaḥ na ca asmābhiḥ dṛṣṭapūrvaḥ tathāvidhaḥ
28. Indeed, we have seen gods, gandharvas, humans, serpents, and rākṣasas; yet, we have never before seen anyone of his kind.
त्वं चापि रत्नं नारीणां नरेषु च नलो वरः ।
विशिष्टाया विशिष्टेन संगमो गुणवान्भवेत् ॥२९॥
29. tvaṁ cāpi ratnaṁ nārīṇāṁ nareṣu ca nalo varaḥ ,
viśiṣṭāyā viśiṣṭena saṁgamo guṇavānbhavet.
29. tvam ca api ratnam nārīṇām nareṣu ca nalaḥ varaḥ
viśiṣṭāyāḥ viśiṣṭena saṅgamaḥ guṇavān bhavet
29. You are truly a jewel among women, and Nala is the best among men. A union between such an excellent woman and an excellent man would be truly exceptional and meritorious.
एवमुक्ता तु हंसेन दमयन्ती विशां पते ।
अब्रवीत्तत्र तं हंसं तमप्येवं नलं वद ॥३०॥
30. evamuktā tu haṁsena damayantī viśāṁ pate ,
abravīttatra taṁ haṁsaṁ tamapyevaṁ nalaṁ vada.
30. evam uktā tu haṃsena damayantī viśām pate
abravīt tatra tam haṃsam tam api evam nalam vada
30. Thus addressed by the swan, Damayantī then said to that swan: "You must also convey this to Nala."
तथेत्युक्त्वाण्डजः कन्यां वैदर्भस्य विशां पते ।
पुनरागम्य निषधान्नले सर्वं न्यवेदयत् ॥३१॥
31. tathetyuktvāṇḍajaḥ kanyāṁ vaidarbhasya viśāṁ pate ,
punarāgamya niṣadhānnale sarvaṁ nyavedayat.
31. tathā iti uktvā aṇḍajaḥ kanyām vaidarbbhasya viśām
pate punaḥ āgamya niṣadhāt nale sarvam nyavedayat
31. Having said, 'So be it,' the swan, O lord of men, returned from Niṣadha and reported everything concerning the princess of Vidarbha to Nala.