Damayanti's Answer to the Gods' Messenger

Verse 1 (3.53.1)

सा नमस्कृत्य देवेभ्यः प्रहस्य नलमब्रवीत् । प्रणयस्व यथाश्रद्धं राजन्किं करवाणि ते ॥

sā namaskṛtya devebhyaḥ prahasya nalamabravīt | praṇayasva yathāśraddhaṃ rājankiṃ karavāṇi te

Bowing to the gods, she laughed and said to Nala: "Take me as your wife, O king, as your heart desires. What may I do for you?

Verse 2 (3.53.2)

अहं चैव हि यच्चान्यन्ममास्ति वसु किंचन । तत्सर्वं तव विस्रब्धं कुरु प्रणयमीश्वर ॥

ahaṃ caiva hi yaccānyanmamāsti vasu kiṃcana | tatsarvaṃ tava visrabdhaṃ kuru praṇayamīśvara

I myself and whatever other wealth is mine — all of it is yours. Take me in marriage with full trust, my lord.

Note on the text: Corrected किंचना → किंचन (misprint in Wikisource; the indeclinable is किंचन, critical edition kiṃ cana).

Verse 3 (3.53.3)

हंसानां वचनं यत्तु तन्मां दहति पार्थिव । त्वत्कृते हि मया वीर राजानः सन्निपातिताः ॥

haṃsānāṃ vacanaṃ yattu tanmāṃ dahati pārthiva | tvatkṛte hi mayā vīra rājānaḥ sannipātitāḥ

The words the swans spoke burn me, O king. It is for your sake, hero, that I have had the kings assembled.

Verse 4 (3.53.4)

यदि त्वं भजमानां मां प्रत्याख्यास्यसि मानद । विषमग्निं जलं रज्जुमास्थास्ये तव कारणात् ॥

yadi tvaṃ bhajamānāṃ māṃ pratyākhyāsyasi mānada | viṣamagniṃ jalaṃ rajjumāsthāsye tava kāraṇāt

If you reject me, who give myself to you, O giver of honour, then for your sake I will turn to poison, fire, water or the rope."

Verse 5 (3.53.5)

एवमुक्तस्तु वैदर्भ्या नलस्तां प्रत्युवाच ह । तिष्ठत्सु लोकपालेषु कथं मानुषमिच्छसि ॥

evamuktastu vaidarbhyā nalastāṃ pratyuvāca ha | tiṣṭhatsu lokapāleṣu kathaṃ mānuṣamicchasi

Addressed thus by the princess of Vidarbha, Nala answered her: "When the guardians of the worlds are here, how can you want a man?

Verse 6 (3.53.6)

येषामहं लोककृतामीश्वराणां महात्मनाम् । न पादरजसा तुल्यो मनस्ते तेषु वर्तताम् ॥

yeṣāmahaṃ lokakṛtāmīśvarāṇāṃ mahātmanām | na pādarajasā tulyo manaste teṣu vartatām

I am not equal to the dust on the feet of those great-souled lords, the makers of the worlds. Let your heart turn to them.

Verse 7 (3.53.7)

विप्रियं ह्याचरन्मर्त्यो देवानां मृत्युमृच्छति । त्राहि मामनवद्याङ्गि वरयस्व सुरोत्तमान् ॥

vipriyaṃ hyācaranmartyo devānāṃ mṛtyumṛcchati | trāhi māmanavadyāṅgi varayasva surottamān

A mortal who displeases the gods meets his death. Save me, lady of flawless limbs: choose the best of the gods.

Note on the text: Corrected मृत्युच्छति → मृत्युमृच्छति (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara, मृत्युम् ऋच्छति, as in the critical edition's mṛtyum ṛcchati).

Verse 8 (3.53.8)

विरजांसि च वासांसि दिव्याश्चित्राः स्रजस्तथा । भूषणानि तु दिव्यानि देवान्प्राप्य तु भुङ्क्ष्व वै ॥

virajāṃsi ca vāsāṃsi divyāścitrāḥ srajastathā | bhūṣaṇāni tu divyāni devānprāpya tu bhuṅkṣva vai

Win the gods, and enjoy spotless garments, wonderful heavenly garlands and divine ornaments.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 1–2), which follows 3.53.7.

Verse 9 (3.53.9)

य इमां पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां संक्षिप्य ग्रसते पुनः । हुताशमीशं देवानां का तं न वरयेत्पतिम् ॥

ya imāṃ pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ saṃkṣipya grasate punaḥ | hutāśamīśaṃ devānāṃ kā taṃ na varayetpatim

Agni, lord among the gods, who gathers up this whole earth and devours it again — what woman would not choose him for her husband?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 3–4), which follows 3.53.7.

Verse 10 (3.53.10)

यस्य दण्डभयात्सर्वे भूतग्रामाः समागताः । धर्ममेवानुरुध्यन्ति का तं न वरयेत्पतिम् ॥

yasya daṇḍabhayātsarve bhūtagrāmāḥ samāgatāḥ | dharmamevānurudhyanti kā taṃ na varayetpatim

He for fear of whose rod all the hosts of beings, gathered together, keep to dharma alone — what woman would not choose him for her husband?

Note on the text: Corrected यस् → यस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a broken word, the apparatus reads yasya). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 5–6), which follows 3.53.7.

Verse 11 (3.53.11)

धर्मात्मानं महात्मानं दैत्यदानवमर्दनम् । महेन्द्रं सर्वदेवानां का तं न वरयेत्पतिम् ॥

dharmātmānaṃ mahātmānaṃ daityadānavamardanam | mahendraṃ sarvadevānāṃ kā taṃ na varayetpatim

Great Indra, lord of all the gods, righteous and great-souled, crusher of the daityas and danavas — what woman would not choose him for her husband?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 7–8), which follows 3.53.7.

Verse 12 (3.53.12)

क्रियतामविशङ्केन मनसा यदि मन्यसे । वरुणं लोकपालानां सुहृद्वाक्यमिदं शृणु ॥

kriyatāmaviśaṅkena manasā yadi manyase | varuṇaṃ lokapālānāṃ suhṛdvākyamidaṃ śṛṇu

Or, if you are so minded, choose Varuna among the guardians of the worlds, and do it without hesitation. Listen to these words of a friend."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 9–10), which follows 3.53.7.

Verse 13 (3.53.13)

नैषधेनैवमुक्ता सा दमयन्ती वचोऽब्रवीत् । समाप्लुताभ्यां नेत्राभ्यां शोकजेनाथ वारिणा ॥

naiṣadhenaivamuktā sā damayantī vaco'bravīt | samāplutābhyāṃ netrābhyāṃ śokajenātha vāriṇā

Addressed thus by the Nishadha king, Damayanti spoke, her eyes brimming with tears of grief:

Note on the text: Corrected बचोऽब्रवीत् → वचोऽब्रवीत् (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व, the apparatus reads vaco 'bravīt). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 11–12), which follows 3.53.7.

Verse 14 (3.53.14)

देवेभ्योऽहं नमस्कृत्य सर्वेभ्यः पृथिवीपते । वृणे त्वामेव भर्तारं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

devebhyo'haṃ namaskṛtya sarvebhyaḥ pṛthivīpate | vṛṇe tvāmeva bhartāraṃ satyametadbravīmi te

"Bowing to all the gods, lord of the earth, I choose you alone as my husband. I tell you this truly."

Note on the text: Corrected नमस्कृत् यसर्वेभ्यः → नमस्कृत्य सर्वेभ्यः (misprint in Wikisource; misplaced word break, the apparatus reads namaskṛtya sarvebhyaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 13–14), which follows 3.53.7.

Verse 15 (3.53.15)

तामुवाच ततो राजा वेपमानां कृताञ्जलिम् । दौत्येनागत्य कल्याणि नोत्सहे स्वार्थमीप्सितं ॥

tāmuvāca tato rājā vepamānāṃ kṛtāñjalim | dautyenāgatya kalyāṇi notsahe svārthamīpsitaṃ

Then the king said to her as she stood trembling with joined palms: "I have come as a messenger, fair lady. I cannot seek what I desire for myself.

Note on the text: Corrected वेषमानां → वेपमानां (misprint in Wikisource; ष for प, the apparatus reads vepamānāṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 15–16), which follows 3.53.7. Its second line there reads tathā bhadre vidhīyatām in place of नोत्सहे स्वार्थमीप्सितं.

Verse 16 (3.53.16)

कथं ह्यहं प्रतिश्रुत्य देवतानां विशेषतः । परार्थे यत्नमारभ्य कथं स्वार्थमिहोत्सहे ॥

kathaṃ hyahaṃ pratiśrutya devatānāṃ viśeṣataḥ | parārthe yatnamārabhya kathaṃ svārthamihotsahe

Having given my promise, and to the gods above all, and having undertaken a task on another's behalf, how can I seek my own ends here?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 17–18), which follows 3.53.7.

Verse 17 (3.53.17)

एष धर्मो यदि स्वार्थो ममापि भविता ततः । एवं स्वार्थं करिष्यामि तथा भद्रे विधीयताम् ॥

eṣa dharmo yadi svārtho mamāpi bhavitā tataḥ | evaṃ svārthaṃ kariṣyāmi tathā bhadre vidhīyatām

If my own end can be reached with dharma kept, then it will be mine as well. Only in that way will I pursue my own end; so let it be arranged, gentle lady."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 8 (lines 19–20), which follows 3.53.7.

Verse 18 (3.53.18)

ततो बाष्पाकुलां वाचं दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता । प्रत्याहरन्ती शनकैर्नलं राजानमब्रवीत् ॥

tato bāṣpākulāṃ vācaṃ damayantī śucismitā | pratyāharantī śanakairnalaṃ rājānamabravīt

Then Damayanti of the bright smile, her voice choked with tears, answered slowly and said to King Nala:

Note on the text: Corrected बाष्पाकुलांवाचं → बाष्पाकुलां वाचं (misprint in Wikisource; two words run together).

Verse 19 (3.53.19)

अस्त्युपायो मया दृष्टो निरपायो नरेश्वर । येन दोषो न भविता तव राजन्कथंचन ॥

astyupāyo mayā dṛṣṭo nirapāyo nareśvara | yena doṣo na bhavitā tava rājankathaṃcana

"I have found a way, lord of men, a way free from harm, by which no blame will fall on you in any way, O king.

Verse 20 (3.53.20)

त्वं चैव हि नरश्रेष्ठ देवाश्चेन्द्रपुरोगमाः । आयान्तु सहिताः सर्वे मम यत्र स्वयंवरः ॥

tvaṃ caiva hi naraśreṣṭha devāścendrapurogamāḥ | āyāntu sahitāḥ sarve mama yatra svayaṃvaraḥ

You, best of men, and the gods led by Indra — let all of you come together to the place where my svayamvara is held.

Verse 21 (3.53.21)

ततोऽहं लोकपालानां सन्निधौ त्वां नरेश्वर । वरयिष्ये नरव्याघ्र नैवं दोषो भविष्यति ॥

tato'haṃ lokapālānāṃ sannidhau tvāṃ nareśvara | varayiṣye naravyāghra naivaṃ doṣo bhaviṣyati

Then, in the presence of the guardians of the worlds, I will choose you, lord of men, tiger among men; and in this way there will be no blame."

Verse 22 (3.53.22)

एवमुक्तस्तु वैदर्भ्या नलो राजा विशांपते । आजगाम पुनस्तत्र यत्र देवाः समागताः ॥

evamuktastu vaidarbhyā nalo rājā viśāṃpate | ājagāma punastatra yatra devāḥ samāgatāḥ

Addressed thus by the princess of Vidarbha, King Nala, O lord of the people, went back to where the gods were gathered.

Note on the text: Corrected विशंपते → विशांपते (misprint in Wikisource; the long vowel of विशाम् is lost, critical edition viśāṃ pate).

Verse 23 (3.53.23)

तमपश्यंस्तथाऽऽयान्तं लोकपाला महेश्वराः । दृष्ट्वा चैनं ततोऽपृच्छन्वृत्तान्तं सर्वमेव तम् ॥

tamapaśyaṃstathā''yāntaṃ lokapālā maheśvarāḥ | dṛṣṭvā cainaṃ tato'pṛcchanvṛttāntaṃ sarvameva tam

The guardians of the worlds, those great lords, saw him coming; and when they saw him, they asked him for the whole account:

Verse 24 (3.53.24)

कच्चिद्दृष्टा त्वया राजन्दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता । किमब्रवीच्च नः सर्वान्वद भूमिपतेऽनघ ॥

kacciddṛṣṭā tvayā rājandamayantī śucismitā | kimabravīcca naḥ sarvānvada bhūmipate'nagha

"Did you see Damayanti of the bright smile, O king? And what did she say to all of us? Tell us, sinless lord of the earth."

Verse 25 (3.53.25)

भवद्भिरहमादिष्टो दमयन्त्या निवेशनम् । प्रविष्टः सुमहाकक्ष्यं दण्डिभिः स्थविरैर्वृतम् ॥

bhavadbhirahamādiṣṭo damayantyā niveśanam | praviṣṭaḥ sumahākakṣyaṃ daṇḍibhiḥ sthavirairvṛtam

"At your bidding I entered Damayanti's dwelling, with its great courtyard guarded by old men bearing staves.

Verse 26 (3.53.26)

प्रविशन्तं च मां तत्र न कश्चिद्दृष्टवान्नरः । ऋते तां पार्थिवसुतां भवतामेव तेजसा ॥

praviśantaṃ ca māṃ tatra na kaściddṛṣṭavānnaraḥ | ṛte tāṃ pārthivasutāṃ bhavatāmeva tejasā

As I went in, no one there saw me except the king's daughter herself, and that was by your power alone.

Note on the text: Corrected पार्तिवसुतां → पार्थिवसुतां (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ, critical edition pārthivasutāṃ).

Verse 27 (3.53.27)

सख्यश्चास्या मया दृष्टास्ताभिश्चाप्युपलक्षितः । विस्मिताश्चाभवन्सर्वा दृष्ट्वा मां विबुधेश्वराः ॥

sakhyaścāsyā mayā dṛṣṭāstābhiścāpyupalakṣitaḥ | vismitāścābhavansarvā dṛṣṭvā māṃ vibudheśvarāḥ

I saw her companions too, and they noticed me; and all of them were astonished at the sight of me, lords of the gods.

Verse 28 (3.53.28)

वर्ण्यमानेषु च मया भवत्सु रुचिरानना । मामेव गतसंकल्पा वृणीते सा सुरोत्तमाः ॥

varṇyamāneṣu ca mayā bhavatsu rucirānanā | māmeva gatasaṃkalpā vṛṇīte sā surottamāḥ

Even while I was praising you, best of the gods, the lovely-faced girl, her heart set on me, chooses me alone.

Note on the text: Corrected रुचिराननां → रुचिरानना (misprint in Wikisource; the word describes the subject of वृणीते and must be nominative, critical edition rucirānanā).

Verse 29 (3.53.29)

अब्रवीच्चैव मां बाला आयान्तु सहिताः सुराः । त्वया सह नरव्याघ्र मम यत्र स्वयंवरः ॥

abravīccaiva māṃ bālā āyāntu sahitāḥ surāḥ | tvayā saha naravyāghra mama yatra svayaṃvaraḥ

And the girl said to me: 'Let the gods come together with you, tiger among men, to the place where my svayamvara is held.

Note on the text: Corrected यत्रस्वयंवरः → यत्र स्वयंवरः (misprint in Wikisource; two words run together).

Verse 30 (3.53.30)

तेषामहं संनिधौ त्वां वरयिष्यामि नैषध । एवं तव महाबाहो दोषो न भवितेति ह ॥

teṣāmahaṃ saṃnidhau tvāṃ varayiṣyāmi naiṣadha | evaṃ tava mahābāho doṣo na bhaviteti ha

There, in their presence, I will choose you, king of Nishadha. In this way, mighty-armed one, no blame will fall on you.'

Verse 31 (3.53.31)

एतावदेव विबुधा यथावृत्तमुपाहृतम् । मया शेषे प्रमाणं तु भवन्तस्त्रिदशेश्वराः ॥

etāvadeva vibudhā yathāvṛttamupāhṛtam | mayā śeṣe pramāṇaṃ tu bhavantastridaśeśvarāḥ

This, O gods, is just what happened, as I have told it. For the rest, you lords of the thirty gods are the judges."