Damayanti Sends Her Children to Vidarbha

Verse 1 (3.57.1)

दमयन्ती ततो दृष्ट्वा पुण्यश्लोकं नराधिपम् । उन्मत्तवदनुन्मत्ता देवने कृतचेतसम् ॥

damayantī tato dṛṣṭvā puṇyaślokaṃ narādhipam | unmattavadanunmattā devane kṛtacetasam

Then Damayanti, who kept her senses, saw Punyashloka, lord of men, acting like a man gone mad, his mind set wholly on the game.

Verse 2 (3.57.2)

भयशोकसमाविष्टा राजन्भीमसुता ततः । चिन्तयामास तत्कार्यं सुमहत्पार्थिवं प्रति ॥

bhayaśokasamāviṣṭā rājanbhīmasutā tataḥ | cintayāmāsa tatkāryaṃ sumahatpārthivaṃ prati

Seized by fear and grief, O king, the daughter of Bhima then pondered what great step she must take on the king's behalf.

Verse 3 (3.57.3)

सा शङ्कमाना तत्पापं चिकीर्षन्ती च तत्प्रियम् । नलं च हृतसर्वस्वमुपलभ्येदमब्रवीत् ॥

sā śaṅkamānā tatpāpaṃ cikīrṣantī ca tatpriyam | nalaṃ ca hṛtasarvasvamupalabhyedamabravīt

Dreading the evil that was coming and wishing to do him good, and finding that Nala had lost everything he owned, she spoke

Verse 4 (3.57.4)

बृहत्सेनामतियशां तां धात्रीं परिचारिकाम् । हितां सर्वार्थकुशलामनुरक्तां सुभाषिताम् ॥

bṛhatsenāmatiyaśāṃ tāṃ dhātrīṃ paricārikām | hitāṃ sarvārthakuśalāmanuraktāṃ subhāṣitām

to Brihatsena, her nurse and attendant, a woman of great repute, devoted to her welfare, skilled in every matter, loyal and gentle of speech:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus has it as 3.57.3d*0238.

Verse 5 (3.57.5)

बृहत्सेने व्रजामात्यानानाय्य नलशासनात् । आचक्ष्व यद्धृतं द्रव्यमवशिष्टं च यद्वसु ॥

bṛhatsene vrajāmātyānānāyya nalaśāsanāt | ācakṣva yaddhṛtaṃ dravyamavaśiṣṭaṃ ca yadvasu

"Brihatsena, go and summon the ministers by Nala's command, and tell them what wealth has been lost and what remains."

Verse 6 (3.57.6)

इत्येवं सा समादिष्टा बृहत्सेना नरेश्वर । उवाच देव्या वचनं मन्त्रिणां सा समीपतः ॥

ityevaṃ sā samādiṣṭā bṛhatsenā nareśvara | uvāca devyā vacanaṃ mantriṇāṃ sā samīpataḥ

So instructed, O lord of men, Brihatsena went to the ministers and gave them the queen's message.

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks around this verse and the doubled danda inside it (editorial marks in Wikisource). Corrected समीपत → समीपतः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped visarga; the apparatus has samīpataḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus has it as 3.57.4d*0239.

Verse 7 (3.57.7)

ततस्ते मन्त्रिणः सर्वे विज्ञाय नलशासनम् । अपि नो भागधेयं स्यादित्युक्त्वा पुनराव्रजन् ॥

tataste mantriṇaḥ sarve vijñāya nalaśāsanam | api no bhāgadheyaṃ syādityuktvā punarāvrajan

Then all the ministers, learning that it was Nala's command, came back, saying, "Perhaps this will be our good fortune."

Verse 8 (3.57.8)

तास्तु सर्वाः प्रकृतयो द्वितीयं समुपस्थिताः । न्यवेदयद्भीमसुता न च तत्प्रत्यनन्दत ॥

tāstu sarvāḥ prakṛtayo dvitīyaṃ samupasthitāḥ | nyavedayadbhīmasutā na ca tatpratyanandata

When all the subjects had gathered for the second time, Bhima's daughter told Nala of it, but he did not welcome it.

Verse 9 (3.57.9)

वाक्यमप्रतिनन्दन्तं भर्तारमभिवीक्ष्य सा । दमयन्ती पुनर्वेश्म व्रीडिता प्रविवेश ह ॥

vākyamapratinandantaṃ bhartāramabhivīkṣya sā | damayantī punarveśma vrīḍitā praviveśa ha

Seeing that her husband gave no welcome to her words, Damayanti went back into the palace, ashamed.

Verse 10 (3.57.10)

निशाम्य सततं चाक्षान्पुण्यश्लोकपराङ्मुखान् । नलं च हृतसर्वस्वं धात्रीं पुनरुवाच ह ॥

niśāmya satataṃ cākṣānpuṇyaślokaparāṅmukhān | nalaṃ ca hṛtasarvasvaṃ dhātrīṃ punaruvāca ha

Hearing that the dice were running steadily against Punyashloka, and that Nala had lost everything, she spoke again to her nurse:

Note on the text: Corrected पराङ्युखान् → पराङ्मुखान् (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition has parāṅmukhān).

Verse 11 (3.57.11)

बृहत्सेने पुनर्गच्छ वार्ष्णेयं नलशासनात् । सूतमानय कल्याणि महत्कार्यमुपस्थितम् ॥

bṛhatsene punargaccha vārṣṇeyaṃ nalaśāsanāt | sūtamānaya kalyāṇi mahatkāryamupasthitam

"Brihatsena, go once more and bring Varshneya the charioteer here by Nala's command, good woman; a great matter is at hand."

Verse 12 (3.57.12)

बृहत्सेना तु सा श्रुत्वा दमयन्त्याः प्रभाषितम् । वार्ष्णेयमानयामास पुरुषैराप्तकारिभिः ॥

bṛhatsenā tu sā śrutvā damayantyāḥ prabhāṣitam | vārṣṇeyamānayāmāsa puruṣairāptakāribhiḥ

Hearing what Damayanti said, Brihatsena had Varshneya brought by trusted men.

Verse 13 (3.57.13)

वार्ष्णेयं तु ततो भैमी सान्त्वयञ्छ्लक्ष्णया गिरा । उवाच देशकालज्ञा प्राप्तकालमनिन्दिता ॥

vārṣṇeyaṃ tu tato bhaimī sāntvayañchlakṣṇayā girā | uvāca deśakālajñā prāptakālamaninditā

Then the blameless daughter of Bhima, who knew what suited the place and the hour, soothed Varshneya with gentle words and spoke as the moment required:

Verse 14 (3.57.14)

जानीषे त्वं यथा राजा सम्यग्वृत्तः सदा त्वयि । तस्य त्वं विषमस्थस्य साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

jānīṣe tvaṃ yathā rājā samyagvṛttaḥ sadā tvayi | tasya tvaṃ viṣamasthasya sāhāyyaṃ kartumarhasi

"You know how well the king has always treated you. Now that he is in trouble, you should help him.

Note on the text: Corrected जानषे → जानीषे and विपमस्थस्य → विषमस्थस्य (misprints in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign and प for ष; the critical edition has jānīṣe and viṣamasthasya).

Verse 15 (3.57.15)

यथायथा हि नृपतिः पुष्करेणैव जीयते । तथातथाऽस्य वै द्यूते रागो भूयोऽभिवर्धते ॥

yathāyathā hi nṛpatiḥ puṣkareṇaiva jīyate | tathātathā'sya vai dyūte rāgo bhūyo'bhivardhate

The more the king is beaten by Pushkara, the more his passion for the dice grows.

Verse 16 (3.57.16)

यथा च पुष्करस्याक्षाः पतन्ति वशवर्तिनः । तथा विपर्ययश्चापि नलस्याक्षेषु दृश्यते ॥

yathā ca puṣkarasyākṣāḥ patanti vaśavartinaḥ | tathā viparyayaścāpi nalasyākṣeṣu dṛśyate

Pushkara's dice fall as he wishes, while with Nala's dice the very opposite is seen.

Verse 17 (3.57.17)

सुहृत्स्वजनवाक्यानि यथाऽयं न शृणोति च । ममापि च तथा वाक्यं नाभिनन्दति नैषध ॥

suhṛtsvajanavākyāni yathā'yaṃ na śṛṇoti ca | mamāpi ca tathā vākyaṃ nābhinandati naiṣadha

Just as he will not listen to the words of his friends and kin, so too, man of Nishadha, he gives no welcome to what I say.

Note on the text: The first line is CE 3.57.15a (Wikisource यथाऽयं for yathāvat); the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus has a version of it, ending mohitaḥ, as 3.57.15b*0240). नैषध is kept as printed and read as a vocative to the charioteer.

Verse 18 (3.57.18)

यथा राज्ञः प्रदीप्तानां भाग्यानामद्य सारथे । नूनं मन्ये न शेषोस्ति नैषधस्य महात्मनः ॥

yathā rājñaḥ pradīptānāṃ bhāgyānāmadya sārathe | nūnaṃ manye na śeṣosti naiṣadhasya mahātmanaḥ

Charioteer, I think that of the blazing good fortune of the great-souled king of the Nishadhas surely nothing is left today.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus has it as 3.57.15b*0241); the second line is CE 3.57.15c.

Verse 19 (3.57.19)

यत्तु मे वचनं राजा नाभिनन्दति मोहितः । शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नाऽस्मि सारथे कुरु मद्वचः । न हि मे शुध्यते भावो विनाशं प्रति सारथे ॥

yattu me vacanaṃ rājā nābhinandati mohitaḥ | śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ prapannā'smi sārathe kuru madvacaḥ | na hi me śudhyate bhāvo vināśaṃ prati sārathe

Since the king, bewildered, gives no welcome to my words, I come to you for refuge, charioteer: do as I ask. My mind has no peace, charioteer, for I foresee ruin.

Note on the text: Corrected शुध्ते → शुध्यते (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara; the critical edition has śudhyate). The rest of the third line (विनाशं प्रति सारथे, where the critical edition has kadā cid vinaśed iti) is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 20 (3.57.20)

नलस्य दयितानश्वान्योजयित्वा मनोजवान् । रथमारोप्य मिथुनं कुण्डिनं यातुमर्हसि ॥

nalasya dayitānaśvānyojayitvā manojavān | rathamāropya mithunaṃ kuṇḍinaṃ yātumarhasi

Yoke Nala's beloved horses, swift as thought, set the two children in the chariot, and go to Kundina.

Note on the text: Corrected यातुर्महसि → यातुमर्हसि (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition has yātum arhasi).

Verse 21 (3.57.21)

मम ज्ञातिषु निक्षिप्य दारकौ स्यन्दनं तथा । अश्वांश्चेमान्यथाकामं वस वाऽन्यत्र गच्छ वा ॥

mama jñātiṣu nikṣipya dārakau syandanaṃ tathā | aśvāṃścemānyathākāmaṃ vasa vā'nyatra gaccha vā

Leave the two children with my kinsmen, and the chariot too, and these horses; then stay there as you please, or go elsewhere."

Note on the text: Corrected गच्छवा → गच्छ वा (word-spacing slip in Wikisource; the critical edition has gaccha vā).

Verse 22 (3.57.22)

दमयन्त्यास्तु तद्वाक्यं वार्ष्णेयो नलसारथिः । न्यवेदयदशेषेण नलामात्येषु मुख्यशः ॥

damayantyāstu tadvākyaṃ vārṣṇeyo nalasārathiḥ | nyavedayadaśeṣeṇa nalāmātyeṣu mukhyaśaḥ

Varshneya, Nala's charioteer, reported Damayanti's words in full to Nala's chief ministers.

Note on the text: Corrected वार्ण्येयो → वार्ष्णेयो (misprint in Wikisource; the name is Varshneya throughout, and the critical edition has vārṣṇeyo).

Verse 23 (3.57.23)

तैः समेत्य विनिश्चित्य सोऽनुज्ञातो महीपते । ययौ मिथुनमारोप्य विदर्भांस्तेन वाहिना ॥

taiḥ sametya viniścitya so'nujñāto mahīpate | yayau mithunamāropya vidarbhāṃstena vāhinā

Having met with them and settled the matter, he took his leave, O lord of the earth, set the two children in the chariot and drove with it to Vidarbha.

Verse 24 (3.57.24)

हयांस्तत्र विनिक्षिप्य सूतो रथवरं च तम् । इन्द्रसेनां च तां कन्यामिन्द्रसेनं च बालकम् ॥

hayāṃstatra vinikṣipya sūto rathavaraṃ ca tam | indrasenāṃ ca tāṃ kanyāmindrasenaṃ ca bālakam

There the charioteer left the horses and that fine chariot, and the girl Indrasena and the boy Indrasena,

Verse 25 (3.57.25)

आमन्त्र्य भीमं राजानमार्तः शोचन्नलं नृपम् । क्व नु यास्यामि मनसा चिन्तयानो मुहुर्मुहुः । अटमानस्ततोऽयोध्यां जगाम नगरीं तदा ॥

āmantrya bhīmaṃ rājānamārtaḥ śocannalaṃ nṛpam | kva nu yāsyāmi manasā cintayāno muhurmuhuḥ | aṭamānastato'yodhyāṃ jagāma nagarīṃ tadā

and, taking leave of King Bhima, grieving for King Nala and asking himself again and again, "Where shall I go now?", he wandered on and came at last to the city of Ayodhya.

Note on the text: The first and third lines are CE 3.57.22a and 22c; the middle line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus has it as 3.57.22b*0242).

Verse 26 (3.57.26)

ऋतुपर्णं स राजानमुपतस्थे सुदुःखितः । भृतिं च स ददौ चास्य सारथ्येन नियोजितः ॥

ṛtuparṇaṃ sa rājānamupatasthe suduḥkhitaḥ | bhṛtiṃ ca sa dadau cāsya sārathyena niyojitaḥ

Deeply distressed, he presented himself to King Rituparna, who engaged him as a charioteer and gave him wages.