Damayanti Searches the Forest

Verse 1 (3.61.1)

सा निहत्य मृगव्याधं प्रतस्थे कमलेक्षणा । वनं प्रतिभयं शून्यं झिल्लिकागणनादितम् ॥

sā nihatya mṛgavyādhaṃ pratasthe kamalekṣaṇā | vanaṃ pratibhayaṃ śūnyaṃ jhillikāgaṇanāditam

Having slain the hunter, the lotus-eyed woman went on into a fearful, desolate forest that rang with the shrilling of crickets.

Verse 2 (3.61.2)

सिंहद्वीपिरुरुव्याघ्रवराहर्क्षगणैर्युतम् । नानापक्षिगणाकीर्णं म्लेच्छतस्करसेवितम् ॥

siṃhadvīpiruruvyāghravarāharkṣagaṇairyutam | nānāpakṣigaṇākīrṇaṃ mlecchataskarasevitam

It was full of lions, leopards, ruru deer, tigers, boars and herds of bears, thronged with birds of many kinds, and haunted by barbarians and robbers.

Note on the text: Corrected नानापक्षिगणाकीर्णां → नानापक्षिगणाकीर्णं (misprint in Wikisource; the adjective qualifies the neuter वनम्, and the critical edition reads nānāpakṣigaṇākīrṇaṃ). The alignment missed this verse; it is CE 3.61.2 with the animals listed in a different order.

Verse 3 (3.61.3)

सालवेणुधवाश्वत्थतिन्दुकेङ्गुदिकिंशुकैः । अर्जुनारिष्टसंछन्नं स्यन्दनैश्च सशाल्मलैः ॥

sālaveṇudhavāśvatthatindukeṅgudikiṃśukaiḥ | arjunāriṣṭasaṃchannaṃ syandanaiśca saśālmalaiḥ

It was thick with sala, bamboo, dhava, ashvattha, tinduka, ingudi and kimshuka trees, with arjuna and arishta, and with syandana and shalmali.

Verse 4 (3.61.4)

जम्ब्वाम्रलोध्रखदिरशाकवेत्रसमाकुलम् । पद्मकामलकप्लक्षकदम्बोदुम्बरावृतम् ॥

jambvāmralodhrakhadiraśākavetrasamākulam | padmakāmalakaplakṣakadambodumbarāvṛtam

It was crowded with jambu, mango, lodhra, khadira, shaka and cane, and covered with padmaka, amalaka, plaksha, kadamba and udumbara.

Verse 5 (3.61.5)

बदरीबिल्वसंछन्नं न्यग्रोधैश्च समाकुलम् । प्रियालतालखर्जूरहरीतकिबिभीतकैः ॥

badarībilvasaṃchannaṃ nyagrodhaiśca samākulam | priyālatālakharjūraharītakibibhītakaiḥ

It was thick with jujube and bilva, crowded with banyans, and filled with priyala, palmyra, date-palm, haritaki and bibhitaka.

Verse 6 (3.61.6)

नानाधातुशतैर्नद्धान्विविधानपि चाचलान् । निकुञ्जान्पक्षिसंघुष्टान्दरीश्चाद्भुतदर्शनाः ॥

nānādhātuśatairnaddhānvividhānapi cācalān | nikuñjānpakṣisaṃghuṣṭāndarīścādbhutadarśanāḥ

She saw mountains of many kinds, veined with hundreds of ores, thickets ringing with birds, and caves wondrous to behold;

Note on the text: Wikisource 6–8 divide CE 3.61.6–7 differently; this verse is CE 3.61.6ab–cd.

Verse 7 (3.61.7)

नदीः सरांसि वापीश्च विविधांश्चरतो द्विजान् । सा बहून्भीमरूपांश्च पिशाचोरगराक्षसान् ॥

nadīḥ sarāṃsi vāpīśca vividhāṃścarato dvijān | sā bahūnbhīmarūpāṃśca piśācoragarākṣasān

rivers, lakes and wells, and birds of many kinds roaming about; and many beings of dreadful form, pishachas, serpents and rakshasas;

Note on the text: Corrected नदी → नदीः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, the accusative plural is the object of ददर्श in the next verse; the critical edition reads nadīḥ). Line 1 is CE 3.61.6ef (CE vividhāṃś ca mṛgadvijān for विविधांश्चरतो द्विजान्); line 2 is CE 3.61.7ab.

Verse 8 (3.61.8)

पल्वलानि तटाकानि गिरिकूटानि सर्वशः । सरित्सरांसि च तदा ददर्शाद्भुतदर्शनान् ॥

palvalāni taṭākāni girikūṭāni sarvaśaḥ | saritsarāṃsi ca tadā dadarśādbhutadarśanān

ponds, tanks and mountain peaks on every side, streams and lakes: all these, wondrous to behold, she saw then.

Note on the text: Corrected ददर्शाद्भुतदर्शनाम् → ददर्शाद्भुतदर्शनान् (misprint in Wikisource; the feminine singular agrees with nothing in the sentence; the critical edition reads dadarśādbhutadarśanān). The verse is CE 3.61.7cd–ef (CE saritaḥ sāgarāṃś caiva for सरित्सरांसि च तदा).

Verse 9 (3.61.9)

यूथशो ददृशे चात्र विदर्भाधिपनन्दिनी । महिषान्वराहान्गोमायूनृक्षवानरपन्नगान् ॥

yūthaśo dadṛśe cātra vidarbhādhipanandinī | mahiṣānvarāhāngomāyūnṛkṣavānarapannagān

There the daughter of the lord of Vidarbha saw, herd upon herd, buffaloes, boars, jackals, bears, monkeys and snakes.

Verse 10 (3.61.10)

तेजसा यशसा लक्ष्म्या स्थित्या च परया युता । वैदर्भी विचचारैका नलमन्वेषती तदा ॥

tejasā yaśasā lakṣmyā sthityā ca parayā yutā | vaidarbhī vicacāraikā nalamanveṣatī tadā

Endowed with radiance, fame, beauty and the highest steadfastness, the princess of Vidarbha wandered on alone, searching for Nala.

Note on the text: Corrected वैर्दभी → वैदर्भी (misprint in Wikisource; transposed letters; the critical edition reads vaidarbhī).

Verse 11 (3.61.11)

नाबिभ्यत्सा नृपसुता भैमी तत्राथ कस्यचित् । दारुणामटवीं प्राप्य भर्तृव्यसनकर्शिता ॥

nābibhyatsā nṛpasutā bhaimī tatrātha kasyacit | dāruṇāmaṭavīṃ prāpya bhartṛvyasanakarśitā

Though she had come into that dreadful wilderness, the king's daughter, Bhima's child, worn down by her husband's misfortune, feared nothing there.

Verse 12 (3.61.12)

विदर्भतनया राजन्विललाप सुदुःखिता । भर्तृशोकपरीताङ्गी शिलातलमथाश्रिता ॥

vidarbhatanayā rājanvilalāpa suduḥkhitā | bhartṛśokaparītāṅgī śilātalamathāśritā

Then, O king, the daughter of Vidarbha, deeply distressed, her whole body seized by grief for her husband, sat down on a slab of rock and lamented.

Verse 13 (3.61.13)

सिंहोरस्क महाबाहो निषधानां जनाधिप । क्व नु राजन्गतोऽसि त्वं त्यक्त्वा मां विजने वने ॥

siṃhoraska mahābāho niṣadhānāṃ janādhipa | kva nu rājangato'si tvaṃ tyaktvā māṃ vijane vane

Lion-chested, mighty-armed lord of the Nishadhas, where have you gone, O king, leaving me in this lonely forest?

Note on the text: Corrected सिह्योरस्क → सिंहोरस्क (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads siṃhoraska) and गतोसि → गतोऽसि (missing avagraha); restored a missing word space (क्वनु → क्व नु).

Verse 14 (3.61.14)

अश्वमेधादिभिर्वीर क्रतुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः । कथमिष्ट्वा नरव्याघ्र मयि मिथ्या प्रवर्तसे ॥

aśvamedhādibhirvīra kratubhiścāptadakṣiṇaiḥ | kathamiṣṭvā naravyāghra mayi mithyā pravartase

Hero, tiger among men, you have offered the horse sacrifice and other rites with ample gifts to the priests; how can you act falsely toward me?

Verse 15 (3.61.15)

यत्त्वयोक्तं नरश्रेष्ठ मत्समक्षं महाद्युते । कर्तुमर्हसि कल्याण तदृतं पार्थिवर्षभ ॥

yattvayoktaṃ naraśreṣṭha matsamakṣaṃ mahādyute | kartumarhasi kalyāṇa tadṛtaṃ pārthivarṣabha

Best of men, glorious one, noble one, bull among kings, you ought to make true what you said in my presence.

Verse 16 (3.61.16)

यच्चोक्तं विहगैर्हंसैः समीपे तव भूमिप । मत्सकाशे च तैरुक्तं तदवेक्षितुमर्हसि ॥

yaccoktaṃ vihagairhaṃsaiḥ samīpe tava bhūmipa | matsakāśe ca tairuktaṃ tadavekṣitumarhasi

Lord of the earth, remember too what the swans, those birds, said near you, and what they said in my presence.

Verse 17 (3.61.17)

चत्वार एकतो वेदाः साङ्गोपाङ्गाः सविस्तराः । स्वधीता मनुजव्याघ्र सत्यमेकं किलैकतः ॥

catvāra ekato vedāḥ sāṅgopāṅgāḥ savistarāḥ | svadhītā manujavyāghra satyamekaṃ kilaikataḥ

The four Vedas with their limbs and auxiliaries, thoroughly studied in full, stand on one side, tiger among men, and truth alone, they say, on the other.

Verse 18 (3.61.18)

तस्मादर्हसि शत्रुघ्न सत्यं कर्तुं नरेश्वर । उक्तवानसि यद्वीर मत्सकाशे पुरा वचः ॥

tasmādarhasi śatrughna satyaṃ kartuṃ nareśvara | uktavānasi yadvīra matsakāśe purā vacaḥ

Therefore, slayer of foes, lord of men, hero, you ought to make true the words you once spoke to me.

Verse 19 (3.61.19)

हा वीर ननु नामाहमिष्टा किल तवानघ । अस्यामटव्यां घोरायां किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे ॥

hā vīra nanu nāmāhamiṣṭā kila tavānagha | asyāmaṭavyāṃ ghorāyāṃ kiṃ māṃ na pratibhāṣase

Alas, hero, sinless one, surely I was your beloved, as you used to say! Why do you not answer me in this terrible forest?

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (ननुनामाहमिष्टा → ननु नामाहमिष्टा).

Verse 20 (3.61.20)

भर्त्सयत्येष मां रौद्रो व्यात्तास्यो दारुणाकृतिः । अरण्यराट् क्षुधाविष्टः किं मां न त्रातुमर्हसि ॥

bhartsayatyeṣa māṃ raudro vyāttāsyo dāruṇākṛtiḥ | araṇyarāṭ kṣudhāviṣṭaḥ kiṃ māṃ na trātumarhasi

This fierce king of the forest, jaws agape, dreadful in form and gripped by hunger, is threatening me. Will you not save me?

Verse 21 (3.61.21)

न मे त्वदन्या काचिद्धि प्रियाऽस्तीत्यब्रवीस्तदा । तामृतां कुरु कल्याण पुरोक्तां भारतीं नृप ॥

na me tvadanyā kāciddhi priyā'stītyabravīstadā | tāmṛtāṃ kuru kalyāṇa puroktāṃ bhāratīṃ nṛpa

You said then, "No other woman is dear to me but you." Make those words you spoke before come true, noble king.

Verse 22 (3.61.22)

उन्मत्तां विलपन्तीं मां भार्यामिष्टां नराधिप । ईप्सितामीप्सितोऽसि त्वं किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे ॥

unmattāṃ vilapantīṃ māṃ bhāryāmiṣṭāṃ narādhipa | īpsitāmīpsito'si tvaṃ kiṃ māṃ na pratibhāṣase

Lord of men, I am your beloved wife, wailing as if out of my mind. You cherished me and I cherish you; why do you not answer me?

Note on the text: Corrected ईप्सितोसि → ईप्सितोऽसि (missing avagraha).

Verse 23 (3.61.23)

कृशां दीनां विवर्णां च मलिनां वसुधाधिप । वस्त्रार्धप्रावृतामेकां विलपन्तीमनाथवत् ॥

kṛśāṃ dīnāṃ vivarṇāṃ ca malināṃ vasudhādhipa | vastrārdhaprāvṛtāmekāṃ vilapantīmanāthavat

Lord of the earth, I am wasted, wretched, pale and grimy, covered by half a garment, alone, weeping like one who has no protector;

Verse 24 (3.61.24)

यूथभ्रष्टामिवैकां मां हरिणीं पृथुलोचन । न मानयसि मामार्य रुदन्तीमरिकर्शन ॥

yūthabhraṣṭāmivaikāṃ māṃ hariṇīṃ pṛthulocana | na mānayasi māmārya rudantīmarikarśana

I am like a lone doe strayed from the herd, wide-eyed one; yet as I weep, noble one, tormentor of foes, you pay me no regard.

Verse 25 (3.61.25)

महाराज महारण्ये मामिहैकाकिनीं सतीम् । आभाषमाणां स्वां पत्नीं किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे ॥

mahārāja mahāraṇye māmihaikākinīṃ satīm | ābhāṣamāṇāṃ svāṃ patnīṃ kiṃ māṃ na pratibhāṣase

Great king, here in this great forest I am alone, your own wife, calling to you; why do you not answer me?

Verse 26 (3.61.26)

कुलशीलोपसंपन्नां चारुसर्वाङ्गशोभनाम् । अनुव्रतां महाराज किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे ॥

kulaśīlopasaṃpannāṃ cārusarvāṅgaśobhanām | anuvratāṃ mahārāja kiṃ māṃ na pratibhāṣase

I am of good family and good character, lovely in every limb, and devoted to you, great king; why do you not answer me?

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ।।') around line 2. Line 1 is CE 3.61.25ab (feminine, describing Damayanti herself, where the CE has the masculine describing Nala); line 2 is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it in its apparatus as 3.61.25b*0260.

Verse 27 (3.61.27)

नाद्य त्वां प्रतिपश्यामि गिरावस्मिन्नरोत्तम । वने चास्मिन्महाघोरे सिंहव्याघ्रनिषेविते ॥

nādya tvāṃ pratipaśyāmi girāvasminnarottama | vane cāsminmahāghore siṃhavyāghraniṣevite

Today I cannot see you, best of men, on this mountain, nor in this most dreadful forest haunted by lions and tigers,

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (नाद्यत्वां → नाद्य त्वां) and corrected महाधोरे → महाघोरे (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ; the critical edition reads mahāghore). The verse is CE 3.61.25cd–ef.

Verse 28 (3.61.28)

शयानमुपविष्टं वा स्थितं वा निषधाधिप । प्रस्थितं वा नरश्रेष्ठ मम शोकनिबर्हण ॥

śayānamupaviṣṭaṃ vā sthitaṃ vā niṣadhādhipa | prasthitaṃ vā naraśreṣṭha mama śokanibarhaṇa

neither lying down nor seated, neither standing nor setting out, lord of the Nishadhas, best of men, you who end my grief.

Verse 29 (3.61.29)

कं नु पृच्छामि दुःखार्ता त्वदर्थे शोककर्शिता । कच्चिद्दृष्टस्त्वयाऽरण्ये संगत्येति नलो नृपः ॥

kaṃ nu pṛcchāmi duḥkhārtā tvadarthe śokakarśitā | kacciddṛṣṭastvayā'raṇye saṃgatyeti nalo nṛpaḥ

Whom shall I ask, stricken with sorrow and worn by grief on your account: "Have you met King Nala here in the forest and seen him?"

Verse 30 (3.61.30)

को नु मे कथयेदद्य वनेऽस्मिन्विष्ठितं नृपम् । अभिरूपं महात्मानं परव्यूहविनाशनम् ॥

ko nu me kathayedadya vane'sminviṣṭhitaṃ nṛpam | abhirūpaṃ mahātmānaṃ paravyūhavināśanam

Who will tell me today of the king who is staying in this forest, handsome and great-souled, destroyer of enemy ranks?

Verse 31 (3.61.31)

यमन्वेषसि राजानं नलं पद्मनिभेक्षणम् । अयं स इति कस्याद्य श्रोष्यामि मधुरां गिरम् ॥

yamanveṣasi rājānaṃ nalaṃ padmanibhekṣaṇam | ayaṃ sa iti kasyādya śroṣyāmi madhurāṃ giram

From whose lips shall I hear today the sweet words, "The king you seek, lotus-eyed Nala, here he is"?

Note on the text: Corrected यमन्वेपसि → यमन्वेषसि (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads anveṣasi) and restored a missing word space (अयंस इति → अयं स इति).

Verse 32 (3.61.32)

अरण्यराडयं श्रीमांश्चतुर्दंष्ट्रो महाहनुः । शार्दूलोऽभिमुखोऽभ्येति पृच्छाम्येनमशङ्किता ॥

araṇyarāḍayaṃ śrīmāṃścaturdaṃṣṭro mahāhanuḥ | śārdūlo'bhimukho'bhyeti pṛcchāmyenamaśaṅkitā

Here the glorious king of the forest, a tiger with four fangs and huge jaws, comes straight toward me. I will ask him without fear.

Verse 33 (3.61.33)

भवान्मृगाणामधिपस्त्वमस्मिन्कानने प्रभुः । विदर्भराजतनयां दमयन्तीति विद्धि माम् ॥

bhavānmṛgāṇāmadhipastvamasminkānane prabhuḥ | vidarbharājatanayāṃ damayantīti viddhi mām

You are lord of the beasts, master of this forest. Know me as Damayanti, daughter of the king of Vidarbha,

Verse 34 (3.61.34)

निषधाधिपतेर्भार्यां नलस्यामित्रघातिनः । पतिमन्वेषतीमेकां कृपणां शोककर्शिताम् ॥

niṣadhādhipaterbhāryāṃ nalasyāmitraghātinaḥ | patimanveṣatīmekāṃ kṛpaṇāṃ śokakarśitām

wife of Nala, lord of the Nishadhas, slayer of his enemies, searching alone for my husband, pitiable and worn by grief.

Note on the text: The alignment missed this verse; with the first line of the next verse it is CE 3.61.32 (a three-line verse): this verse is 3.61.32ab–cd.

Verse 35 (3.61.35)

आश्वासय मृगेन्द्रेह यदि दृष्टस्त्वया नलः । सिंहस्कन्धो महाबाहुः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः ॥

āśvāsaya mṛgendreha yadi dṛṣṭastvayā nalaḥ | siṃhaskandho mahābāhuḥ padmapatranibhekṣaṇaḥ

Comfort me, king of beasts, if you have seen Nala here, lion-shouldered and mighty-armed, with eyes like lotus petals.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ।।') around line 2. Line 1 is CE 3.61.32ef; line 2 is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it in its apparatus as 3.61.32f*0262.

Verse 36 (3.61.36)

अथवाऽरण्यनृपते नलं यदि न शंससि । मां खादय मृगश्रेष्ठ दुःखादस्माद्विमोचय ॥

athavā'raṇyanṛpate nalaṃ yadi na śaṃsasi | māṃ khādaya mṛgaśreṣṭha duḥkhādasmādvimocaya

Or else, king of the forest, if you will not tell me of Nala, then devour me, best of beasts, and free me from this sorrow.

Note on the text: The alignment missed this verse; it is CE 3.61.33 with a different second line (CE mām adasva mṛgaśreṣṭha viśokāṃ kuru duḥkhitām).

Verse 37 (3.61.37)

श्रुत्वाऽरण्ये विलपितं ममैष मृगराट् स्वयम् । यात्येष मृष्टसलिलामापगां सागरोपमाम् ॥

śrutvā'raṇye vilapitaṃ mamaiṣa mṛgarāṭ svayam | yātyeṣa mṛṣṭasalilāmāpagāṃ sāgaropamām

Having heard my lament in the forest, this king of beasts goes off of his own accord toward the sweet-watered river that is like the sea.

Verse 38 (3.61.38)

इमं शिलोच्चयं पृच्छे शृङ्गैर्बहुभिरुच्छ्रितैः । विराजितं दिवस्पृग्भिर्नैकवर्णैर्मनोरमैः ॥

imaṃ śiloccayaṃ pṛcche śṛṅgairbahubhirucchritaiḥ | virājitaṃ divaspṛgbhirnaikavarṇairmanoramaiḥ

I will ask this mountain, crowned with many lofty peaks that touch the sky, many-coloured and lovely,

Note on the text: Corrected उच्छितैः → उच्छ्रितैः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र; the critical edition reads ucchritaiḥ).

Verse 39 (3.61.39)

नानाधातुसमाकीर्णं विविधोपलभूषितम् । अस्यारण्यस्य महतः केतुभूतमिवोच्छ्रितम् ॥

nānādhātusamākīrṇaṃ vividhopalabhūṣitam | asyāraṇyasya mahataḥ ketubhūtamivocchritam

strewn with many ores, adorned with stones of every kind, rising high like the banner of this great forest,

Note on the text: Corrected आस्यारण्यस्य → अस्यारण्यस्य and उच्छितम् → उच्छ्रितम् (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads asyāraṇyasya … ucchritam).

Verse 40 (3.61.40)

सिंहशार्दूलमातङ्गवराहर्क्षमृगायुतम् । पतत्रिभिर्बहुविधैः समन्तादनुनादितम् ॥

siṃhaśārdūlamātaṅgavarāharkṣamṛgāyutam | patatribhirbahuvidhaiḥ samantādanunāditam

thronged with lions, tigers, elephants, boars, bears and deer, and echoing on every side with birds of many kinds,

Verse 41 (3.61.41)

किंशुकाशोकबकुलपुन्नागैरुपशोभितम् । कर्णिकारधवप्लक्षैः सुपुष्पैरुपशोभितम् ॥

kiṃśukāśokabakulapunnāgairupaśobhitam | karṇikāradhavaplakṣaiḥ supuṣpairupaśobhitam

graced with kimshuka, ashoka, bakula and punnaga trees, and graced with karnikara, dhava and plaksha in full flower,

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets and stray ।। around line 2. Line 1 is CE 3.61.38ab; line 2 is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it in its apparatus as 3.61.38b*0263.

Verse 42 (3.61.42)

सरिद्भिः सविहङ्गाभिः शिखरैश्च समाकुलम् । पृथिव्या रुचिराकारं चूडामणिमिव स्थितम् । गिरिराजमिमं तावत्पृच्छामि नृपतिं प्रति ॥

saridbhiḥ savihaṅgābhiḥ śikharaiśca samākulam | pṛthivyā rucirākāraṃ cūḍāmaṇimiva sthitam | girirājamimaṃ tāvatpṛcchāmi nṛpatiṃ prati

crowded with streams full of birds and with summits, standing like a lovely crest-jewel of the earth: this king of mountains I will ask about the king.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') around line 2 and corrected निरिराजम् → गिरिराजम् (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads girirājam). Lines 1 and 3 are CE 3.61.38cd–ef (CE copaśobhitam for समाकुलम्); line 2 is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it in its apparatus as 3.61.38d*0264.

Verse 43 (3.61.43)

भगवन्नचलश्रेष्ठ दिव्यदर्शन विश्रुत । शरण्य बहुकल्याण नमस्तेऽस्तु महीधर ॥

bhagavannacalaśreṣṭha divyadarśana viśruta | śaraṇya bahukalyāṇa namaste'stu mahīdhara

Blessed one, best of mountains, divine to behold, renowned, refuge of all, rich in blessings: homage to you, upholder of the earth.

Note on the text: Corrected दिव्यद्रशन → दिव्यदर्शन (misprint in Wikisource; transposed letters; the critical edition reads divyadarśana).

Verse 44 (3.61.44)

प्रणमे त्वाऽभिगम्याहं राजपुत्रीं निबोध माम् । राजस्नुषां राजभार्यां दमयन्तीति विश्रुताम् ॥

praṇame tvā'bhigamyāhaṃ rājaputrīṃ nibodha mām | rājasnuṣāṃ rājabhāryāṃ damayantīti viśrutām

I have come to you and bow before you. Know me as a king's daughter, a king's daughter-in-law and a king's wife, known as Damayanti.

Verse 45 (3.61.45)

राजा विदर्भाधिपतिः पिता मम महारथः । भीमो नाम क्षितिपतिश्चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षिता ॥

rājā vidarbhādhipatiḥ pitā mama mahārathaḥ | bhīmo nāma kṣitipatiścāturvarṇyasya rakṣitā

My father is the king, lord of Vidarbha, a great chariot-warrior, the ruler named Bhima, protector of the four varnas.

Verse 46 (3.61.46)

राजसूयाश्वमेधानां क्रतूनां दक्षिणावताम् । आहर्ता पार्थिवश्रेष्ठः पृथुचार्वञ्चितेक्षणः ॥

rājasūyāśvamedhānāṃ kratūnāṃ dakṣiṇāvatām | āhartā pārthivaśreṣṭhaḥ pṛthucārvañcitekṣaṇaḥ

That best of kings has performed the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices with rich gifts to the priests; his eyes are large, lovely and gracefully curved.

Verse 47 (3.61.47)

ब्रह्मण्यः साधुवृत्तश्च सत्यवागनसूयकः । शीलवान्वीर्यसंपन्नः पृथुश्रीर्धर्मविच्छुचिः ॥

brahmaṇyaḥ sādhuvṛttaśca satyavāganasūyakaḥ | śīlavānvīryasaṃpannaḥ pṛthuśrīrdharmavicchuciḥ

He is devoted to the Brahmins, of good conduct, truthful and free of envy, virtuous and full of valour, of great fortune, knowing dharma, and pure.

Verse 48 (3.61.48)

सम्यग्गोप्ता विदर्भाणां निर्जितारिगणः प्रभुः । तस्य मां विद्धि तनयां भगवंस्त्वामुपस्थिताम् ॥

samyaggoptā vidarbhāṇāṃ nirjitārigaṇaḥ prabhuḥ | tasya māṃ viddhi tanayāṃ bhagavaṃstvāmupasthitām

He guards the Vidarbhas well, a lord who has conquered the hosts of his enemies. Know me, blessed one, as his daughter, standing before you.

Verse 49 (3.61.49)

निषधेषु महाराजः श्वशुरो मे नरोत्तमः । गृहीतनामा विख्यातो वीरसेन इति स्म ह ॥

niṣadheṣu mahārājaḥ śvaśuro me narottamaḥ | gṛhītanāmā vikhyāto vīrasena iti sma ha

Among the Nishadhas, my father-in-law was a great king, best of men, of honoured name and renowned, called Virasena.

Verse 50 (3.61.50)

तस्य राज्ञः सुतो वीरः श्रीमान्सत्यपराक्रमः । क्रमप्राप्तं पितुः स्वं यो राज्यं समनुशास्ति ह ॥

tasya rājñaḥ suto vīraḥ śrīmānsatyaparākramaḥ | kramaprāptaṃ pituḥ svaṃ yo rājyaṃ samanuśāsti ha

That king's son, heroic, glorious and truly valiant, rules the kingdom that came to him in due succession from his father.

Verse 51 (3.61.51)

नलो नामारिहा श्यामः पुण्यश्लोक इति श्रुतः । ब्रह्मण्यो वेदविद्वाग्मी पुण्यकृत्सोमपोऽग्निचित् ॥

nalo nāmārihā śyāmaḥ puṇyaśloka iti śrutaḥ | brahmaṇyo vedavidvāgmī puṇyakṛtsomapo'gnicit

He is named Nala, slayer of foes, dark of complexion, known as Punyashloka; devoted to the Brahmins, learned in the Veda, eloquent, doer of holy deeds, a drinker of soma who has built the sacred fire-altar.

Note on the text: Corrected पुण्यल्को → पुण्यश्लोक (misprint in Wikisource; broken word; the critical edition reads puṇyaśloka iti).

Verse 52 (3.61.52)

यष्टा दाता च योद्धा च सम्यक्चैव प्रशासिता । तस्य मामचलश्रेष्ठ विद्धि भार्यामिहागताम् ॥

yaṣṭā dātā ca yoddhā ca samyakcaiva praśāsitā | tasya māmacalaśreṣṭha viddhi bhāryāmihāgatām

He sacrifices, he gives, he fights, and he governs rightly. Know me, best of mountains, as his wife, who has come here,

Verse 53 (3.61.53)

त्यक्तश्रियं भर्तृहीनामनाथां व्यसनान्विताम् । अन्वेषमाणां भर्तारं नलं नरवरोत्तमम् ॥

tyaktaśriyaṃ bhartṛhīnāmanāthāṃ vyasanānvitām | anveṣamāṇāṃ bhartāraṃ nalaṃ naravarottamam

stripped of fortune, without my husband, unprotected and sunk in misfortune, searching for my husband Nala, the best of men.

Verse 54 (3.61.54)

खमुल्लिखद्भिरेतैर्हि त्वया शृङ्गशतैर्नृपः । कच्चिद्दृष्टोऽचलश्रेष्ठ वनेऽस्मिन्दारुणे नलः ॥

khamullikhadbhiretairhi tvayā śṛṅgaśatairnṛpaḥ | kacciddṛṣṭo'calaśreṣṭha vane'smindāruṇe nalaḥ

With these hundreds of peaks of yours that scrape the sky, best of mountains, have you perhaps seen King Nala in this dreadful forest?

Verse 55 (3.61.55)

विक्रान्तः सत्त्ववान्वीरो भर्ता मम महायशाः । निषधानामधिपतिः कच्चिद्दृष्टस्त्वया नलः ॥

vikrāntaḥ sattvavānvīro bhartā mama mahāyaśāḥ | niṣadhānāmadhipatiḥ kacciddṛṣṭastvayā nalaḥ

Valiant, steadfast and heroic is my husband, of great fame, lord of the Nishadhas: have you seen Nala?

Note on the text: The alignment missed this verse; its lines are CE 3.61.51cd–ef (CE vikrāntaḥ satyavāg dhīro for विक्रान्तः सत्त्ववान्वीरो). The CE's first line (gajendravikramo dhīmān dīrghabāhur amarṣaṇaḥ) has no counterpart in Wikisource.

Verse 56 (3.61.56)

किं मां विलपतीमेकां पर्वतश्रेष्ठ विह्वलाम् । गिरा नाश्वासयस्यद्य स्वां सुतामिव दुःखिताम् ॥

kiṃ māṃ vilapatīmekāṃ parvataśreṣṭha vihvalām | girā nāśvāsayasyadya svāṃ sutāmiva duḥkhitām

Why, best of mountains, do you not comfort me today with a word, as I lament alone and distraught, as you would your own grieving daughter?

Note on the text: Corrected कं मीं → किं मां and दुखितां → दुःखिताम् (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads kiṃ māṃ … duḥkhitām) and restored a missing word space (नाश्वासयस्यद्यस्वां → नाश्वासयस्यद्य स्वां).

Verse 57 (3.61.57)

वीर विक्रान्त धर्मज्ञ सत्यसंध महीपते । यद्यस्यस्मिन्वने राजन्दर्शयात्मानमात्मना ॥

vīra vikrānta dharmajña satyasaṃdha mahīpate | yadyasyasminvane rājandarśayātmānamātmanā

Hero, valiant one, knower of dharma, true to your word, lord of the earth: if you are in this forest, O king, show yourself to me.

Verse 58 (3.61.58)

कदा सुस्निग्धगम्भीरां जीमूतस्वनसन्निभाम् । श्रोष्यामि नैषधस्याहं वाचं ताममृतोपमाम् ॥

kadā susnigdhagambhīrāṃ jīmūtasvanasannibhām | śroṣyāmi naiṣadhasyāhaṃ vācaṃ tāmamṛtopamām

When shall I hear the voice of the Nishadha king, tender and deep like the rumble of a raincloud, sweet as nectar,

Note on the text: Corrected सुस्निग्गम्भीरां → सुस्निग्धगम्भीरां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ध; the critical edition reads snigdhagambhīrāṃ).

Verse 59 (3.61.59)

वैदर्भ्येहीति विस्पष्टां शुभां राज्ञो महात्मनः । आत्माभिधायिनीमृद्धां मम शोकविनाशिनीम् ॥

vaidarbhyehīti vispaṣṭāṃ śubhāṃ rājño mahātmanaḥ | ātmābhidhāyinīmṛddhāṃ mama śokavināśinīm

the clear and gracious voice of that great-souled king saying, "Come, princess of Vidarbha", calling me his own, full and rich, the voice that would end my grief?

Note on the text: Corrected the verse-final anusvara विनाशिनीं → विनाशिनीम्. The alignment missed this verse; it is a variant of CE 3.61.55 (CE vaidarbhīty eva kathitāṃ … āmnāyasāriṇīm ṛddhāṃ mama śokanibarhiṇīm).

Verse 60 (3.61.60)

इति सा तं गिरिश्रेष्ठमुक्त्वा पार्थिवनन्दिनी । दमयन्ती ततो भूयो जगाम दिशमुत्तराम् ॥

iti sā taṃ giriśreṣṭhamuktvā pārthivanandinī | damayantī tato bhūyo jagāma diśamuttarām

Having spoken thus to that best of mountains, Damayanti, the king's daughter, went on again toward the north.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (इतिसा → इति सा). Narration returns to Brihadashva after Damayanti's lament.

Verse 61 (3.61.61)

सा गत्वा त्रीनहोरात्रान्ददर्श परमाङ्गना । तापसारण्यमतुलं दिव्यकाननशोभितम् ॥

sā gatvā trīnahorātrāndadarśa paramāṅganā | tāpasāraṇyamatulaṃ divyakānanaśobhitam

After travelling three days and nights, that excellent woman saw an incomparable forest of ascetics, beautiful with heavenly groves,

Verse 62 (3.61.62)

वसिष्ठभृग्वत्रिसमैस्तापसैरुपशोभितम् । नियतैः संयताहारैर्दमशौचसमन्वितैः ॥

vasiṣṭhabhṛgvatrisamaistāpasairupaśobhitam | niyataiḥ saṃyatāhārairdamaśaucasamanvitaiḥ

graced by ascetics like Vasishtha, Bhrigu and Atri, men of strict vows and sparing diet, given to self-control and purity,

Verse 63 (3.61.63)

अब्भक्षैर्वायुभक्षैश्च पत्राहारैस्तथैव च । जितेन्द्रियैर्महाभागैः स्वर्गमार्गदिदृक्षुभिः ॥

abbhakṣairvāyubhakṣaiśca patrāhāraistathaiva ca | jitendriyairmahābhāgaiḥ svargamārgadidṛkṣubhiḥ

some living on water, some on air, some on leaves, masters of their senses, greatly blessed, longing to behold the path to heaven.

Verse 64 (3.61.64)

वल्कलाजिनसंवीतैर्मुनिभिः संयतेन्द्रियैः । तापसाध्युषितं रम्यं ददर्शाश्रममण्डलम् ॥

valkalājinasaṃvītairmunibhiḥ saṃyatendriyaiḥ | tāpasādhyuṣitaṃ ramyaṃ dadarśāśramamaṇḍalam

She saw a lovely ring of hermitages where ascetics dwelt, sages clad in bark and deerskin, with their senses under control.

Verse 65 (3.61.65)

नानामृगगणैर्जुष्टं शाखामृगगणायुतम् । तापसैः समुपेतं च सा दृष्ट्वैव समाश्वसत् ॥

nānāmṛgagaṇairjuṣṭaṃ śākhāmṛgagaṇāyutam | tāpasaiḥ samupetaṃ ca sā dṛṣṭvaiva samāśvasat

Frequented by many herds of deer, full of troops of monkeys and peopled with ascetics: the moment she saw it she took heart.

Note on the text: The alignment missed this verse; it stands where CE 3.61.61 stands, but its wording matches the critical edition's apparatus passage 3.61.61d*0269 (vulgate) rather than the constituted text.

Verse 66 (3.61.66)

सुभ्रूः सुकेशी सुश्रोणी सुकुचा सुद्विजानना । वर्चस्विनी सुप्रतिष्ठा स्वसितायतलोचना ॥

subhrūḥ sukeśī suśroṇī sukucā sudvijānanā | varcasvinī supratiṣṭhā svasitāyatalocanā

Fair-browed, with lovely hair, shapely hips and fine breasts, with beautiful teeth in a lovely face, radiant, well-formed, with long dark eyes,

Verse 67 (3.61.67)

सा विवेशाश्रमपदं वीरसेनसुतप्रिया । योषिद्रत्नं महाभागा दमयन्ती तपस्विनी ॥

sā viveśāśramapadaṃ vīrasenasutapriyā | yoṣidratnaṃ mahābhāgā damayantī tapasvinī

she entered the hermitage, the beloved of Virasena's son, a jewel among women, the greatly blessed, suffering Damayanti.

Verse 68 (3.61.68)

साऽभिवाद्य तपोवृद्धान्विनयावनता स्थिता । स्वागतं त इति प्रोक्ता तैः सर्वैस्तापसोत्तमैः ॥

sā'bhivādya tapovṛddhānvinayāvanatā sthitā | svāgataṃ ta iti proktā taiḥ sarvaistāpasottamaiḥ

She saluted the elders rich in austerity and stood bowed in humility, and all those excellent ascetics said to her, "Welcome to you."

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (इतिप्रोक्ता → इति प्रोक्ता).

Verse 69 (3.61.69)

पूजां चास्या यथान्यायं कृत्वा तत्र तपोधनाः । आस्यतामित्यथोचुस्ते ब्रूहि किं करवामहे ॥

pūjāṃ cāsyā yathānyāyaṃ kṛtvā tatra tapodhanāḥ | āsyatāmityathocuste brūhi kiṃ karavāmahe

The ascetics there honoured her as was fitting and then said, "Be seated. Tell us, what may we do for you?"

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (तत्रतपोधनाः → तत्र तपोधनाः).

Verse 70 (3.61.70)

तानुवाच वरारोहा कच्चिद्भगवतामिह । तपःस्वग्निषु धर्मेषु मृगपक्षिषु चानघाः ॥

tānuvāca varārohā kaccidbhagavatāmiha | tapaḥsvagniṣu dharmeṣu mṛgapakṣiṣu cānaghāḥ

The fair-hipped woman said to them, "Holy ones, sinless ones, is all well with you here, in your austerities, your sacred fires, your rites, and among your deer and birds,

Note on the text: Wikisource 70–73 divide CE 3.61.66–69 differently; this verse is CE 3.61.66ab–cd.

Verse 71 (3.61.71)

कुशलं वो महाभागाः स्वधर्माचरणेषु च । तैरुक्ता कुशलं भद्रे सर्वत्रेति यशस्विनी ॥

kuśalaṃ vo mahābhāgāḥ svadharmācaraṇeṣu ca | tairuktā kuśalaṃ bhadre sarvatreti yaśasvinī

and in the practice of your own duties, greatly blessed ones?" They answered the glorious woman, "Good lady, all is well in every way."

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 3.61.66ef; line 2 is CE 3.61.67ab.

Verse 72 (3.61.72)

ब्रूहि सर्वानवद्याङ्गि का त्वं किंच चिकीर्षसि । दृष्ट्वैव ते परंरूपं द्युतिं च परमामिह ॥

brūhi sarvānavadyāṅgi kā tvaṃ kiṃca cikīrṣasi | dṛṣṭvaiva te paraṃrūpaṃ dyutiṃ ca paramāmiha

Tell us, lady flawless in every limb, who you are and what you mean to do. Seeing your surpassing beauty and your supreme radiance here,

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 3.61.67cd; line 2 is CE 3.61.68ab. No speaker heading is printed; the verse is the ascetics' question, so it is given to them.

Verse 73 (3.61.73)

विस्मयो नः समुत्पन्नः समाश्वसिहि मा शुचः । अस्यारण्यस्य देवी त्वमुताहोऽस्य महीभृतः । अस्याश्च नद्याः कल्याणि वद सत्यमनिन्दिते ॥

vismayo naḥ samutpannaḥ samāśvasihi mā śucaḥ | asyāraṇyasya devī tvamutāho'sya mahībhṛtaḥ | asyāśca nadyāḥ kalyāṇi vada satyamanindite

we are filled with wonder. Take heart; do not grieve. Are you the goddess of this forest, or of this mountain, or of this river, lovely one? Tell us the truth, blameless lady.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 3.61.68cd; lines 2–3 are a variant of CE 3.61.69 (CE asyāraṇyasya mahatī devatā vā mahībhṛtaḥ / asyā nu nadyāḥ). Spoken by the ascetics.

Verse 74 (3.61.74)

साऽब्रवीत्तानृषीन्नाहमरण्यस्यास्य देवता । न चाप्यस्य गिरेर्विप्रा नैव नद्याश्च देवता ॥

sā'bravīttānṛṣīnnāhamaraṇyasyāsya devatā | na cāpyasya girerviprā naiva nadyāśca devatā

She said to those seers, "I am not the goddess of this forest, Brahmins, nor of this mountain, nor am I the goddess of the river."

Note on the text: Corrected तानृपीन् → तानृषीन् and गिरर्विप्रा → गिरेर्विप्रा (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads tān ṛṣīn … girer viprā).

Verse 75 (3.61.75)

मानुषीं मां विजानीत यूयं सर्वे तपोधनाः । विस्तरेणाभिधास्यामि तन्मे शृणुत सर्वशः ॥

mānuṣīṃ māṃ vijānīta yūyaṃ sarve tapodhanāḥ | vistareṇābhidhāsyāmi tanme śṛṇuta sarvaśaḥ

Know me to be a human woman, all you who are rich in austerity. I will tell you everything at length; listen to the whole of it.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (सर्वेतपोधनाः → सर्वे तपोधनाः). No speaker heading is printed; verses 75–89 are Damayanti's own words.

Verse 76 (3.61.76)

विदर्भेषु महीपालो भीमो नाम महीपतिः । तस्य मां तनयां सर्वे जानीत द्विजसत्तमाः ॥

vidarbheṣu mahīpālo bhīmo nāma mahīpatiḥ | tasya māṃ tanayāṃ sarve jānīta dvijasattamāḥ

In Vidarbha there is a ruler of the earth, a king named Bhima. Know me, all you best of the twice-born, as his daughter.

Note on the text: Corrected विदर्भेपु → विदर्भेषु (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष).

Verse 77 (3.61.77)

निषधाधिपतिर्धीमान्नलो नाम महायशाः । वीरः संग्रामजिद्विद्वान्मम भर्ता विशांपतिः ॥

niṣadhādhipatirdhīmānnalo nāma mahāyaśāḥ | vīraḥ saṃgrāmajidvidvānmama bhartā viśāṃpatiḥ

The wise lord of the Nishadhas, named Nala, of great fame, a hero, victorious in battle, learned, a ruler of men, is my husband.

Note on the text: Corrected निपधाधिपतिः → निषधाधिपतिः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष).

Verse 78 (3.61.78)

देवताभ्यर्चनपरो द्विजातिजनवत्सलः । गोप्ता निषधवंशस्य महातेजा महाबलः ॥

devatābhyarcanaparo dvijātijanavatsalaḥ | goptā niṣadhavaṃśasya mahātejā mahābalaḥ

He is devoted to the worship of the gods and loving toward the twice-born, the protector of the Nishadha line, of great splendour and great strength;

Note on the text: Corrected निपधवंशस्य → निषधवंशस्य (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष).

Verse 79 (3.61.79)

सत्यवान्धर्मवित्प्राज्ञः सत्यसंधोऽरिमर्दनः । ब्रह्मण्यो दैवतपरः श्रीमान्परपुरंजयः ॥

satyavāndharmavitprājñaḥ satyasaṃdho'rimardanaḥ | brahmaṇyo daivataparaḥ śrīmānparapuraṃjayaḥ

truthful, knowing dharma, wise, true to his promises, crusher of enemies, devoted to the Brahmins and to the gods, glorious, conqueror of enemy cities.

Verse 80 (3.61.80)

नलो नाम नृपश्रेष्ठो देवराजसमद्युतिः । मम भर्ता विशालाक्षः पूर्णेन्दुवदनोऽरिहा ॥

nalo nāma nṛpaśreṣṭho devarājasamadyutiḥ | mama bhartā viśālākṣaḥ pūrṇenduvadano'rihā

Nala by name, best of kings, equal in splendour to the king of the gods, is my husband: large-eyed, with a face like the full moon, a slayer of foes;

Verse 81 (3.61.81)

आहर्ता क्रतुमुख्यानां वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः । सपत्नानां मृधे हन्ता रविसोमसमप्रभः ॥

āhartā kratumukhyānāṃ vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ | sapatnānāṃ mṛdhe hantā ravisomasamaprabhaḥ

performer of the foremost sacrifices, master of the Vedas and Vedangas, slayer of rivals in battle, bright as the sun and the moon.

Verse 82 (3.61.82)

स कैश्चिन्निकृतिप्रज्ञैरनार्यैरकृतात्मभिः । आहूय पृथिवीपालः सत्यधर्मपरायणः । देवने कुशलैर्जिह्मैर्जितो राज्यं वसूनि च ॥

sa kaiścinnikṛtiprajñairanāryairakṛtātmabhiḥ | āhūya pṛthivīpālaḥ satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ | devane kuśalairjihmairjito rājyaṃ vasūni ca

That protector of the earth, devoted to truth and dharma, was challenged by certain base men of unformed soul, schooled in deceit, crooked and skilled at dice, and they won from him his kingdom and his wealth.

Note on the text: Corrected आहृय → आहूय (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads āhūya) and restored a missing word space (देवनेकुशलैः → देवने कुशलैः).

Verse 83 (3.61.83)

तस्य मामवगच्छध्वं भार्यां राजर्षभस्य वै । दमयन्तीति विख्यातां भर्तुर्दर्शनलालसाम् ॥

tasya māmavagacchadhvaṃ bhāryāṃ rājarṣabhasya vai | damayantīti vikhyātāṃ bharturdarśanalālasām

Know me to be the wife of that bull among kings, known as Damayanti, longing to see my husband.

Note on the text: Corrected राजर्पभस्य → राजर्षभस्य (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष).

Verse 84 (3.61.84)

सा वनानि गिरींश्चैव सरांसि सरितस्तथा । पल्वलानि च सर्वाणि तथाऽरण्यानि सर्वशः ॥

sā vanāni girīṃścaiva sarāṃsi saritastathā | palvalāni ca sarvāṇi tathā'raṇyāni sarvaśaḥ

Through forests and mountains, lakes and rivers, all the ponds and every wilderness,

Verse 85 (3.61.85)

अन्वेषमाणा भर्तारं नलं रणविशारदम् । महात्मानं कृतास्त्रं च विचरामीह दुःखिता ॥

anveṣamāṇā bhartāraṃ nalaṃ raṇaviśāradam | mahātmānaṃ kṛtāstraṃ ca vicarāmīha duḥkhitā

searching for my husband Nala, skilled in war, great-souled and master of weapons, I wander here in sorrow.

Note on the text: Corrected अन्वेपमाणआ → अन्वेषमाणा (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष and a stray vowel letter; the critical edition reads anveṣamāṇā).

Verse 86 (3.61.86)

कच्चिद्भगवतां रम्यं तपोवनमिदं नृपः । भवेत्प्राप्तो नलो नाम निषधानां जनाधिपः ॥

kaccidbhagavatāṃ ramyaṃ tapovanamidaṃ nṛpaḥ | bhavetprāpto nalo nāma niṣadhānāṃ janādhipaḥ

Has King Nala, lord of the Nishadhas, perhaps come to this lovely grove of austerity of yours, holy ones?

Note on the text: Corrected निपधानां → निषधानां (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष).

Verse 87 (3.61.87)

यत्कृतेऽहमिदं दुःखं प्रपन्ना भृशदारुणम् । वनं प्रतिभयं घोरं शार्दूलमृगसेवितम् ॥

yatkṛte'hamidaṃ duḥkhaṃ prapannā bhṛśadāruṇam | vanaṃ pratibhayaṃ ghoraṃ śārdūlamṛgasevitam

It is for his sake that I have fallen into this most grievous sorrow and come to this fearful, dreadful forest haunted by tigers and wild beasts.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रतियं धोरं → प्रतिभयं घोरं (misprints in Wikisource; dropped भ and ध for घ; the critical edition reads pratibhayaṃ ghoraṃ).

Verse 88 (3.61.88)

यदि कैश्चिदहोरात्रैर्न द्रक्ष्यामि नलं नृपम् । आत्मानं श्रेयसा योक्ष्ये देहस्यास्य विमोक्षणात् ॥

yadi kaiścidahorātrairna drakṣyāmi nalaṃ nṛpam | ātmānaṃ śreyasā yokṣye dehasyāsya vimokṣaṇāt

If within some days and nights I do not see King Nala, I will unite myself with the highest good by casting off this body.

Verse 89 (3.61.89)

को नु मे जीवितेनार्थस्तमृते पुरुषर्षभम् । कथं भविष्याम्यद्याहं भर्तृशोकाभिपीडिता ॥

ko nu me jīvitenārthastamṛte puruṣarṣabham | kathaṃ bhaviṣyāmyadyāhaṃ bhartṛśokābhipīḍitā

What use is life to me without that bull among men? How shall I go on now, tormented by grief for my husband?

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (कोनु → को नु).

Verse 90 (3.61.90)

तथा विलपतीमेकामरण्ये भीमनन्दिनीम् । दमयन्तीमथोचुस्ते तापसाः सत्यवादिनः ॥

tathā vilapatīmekāmaraṇye bhīmanandinīm | damayantīmathocuste tāpasāḥ satyavādinaḥ

As Bhima's daughter Damayanti lamented thus, alone in the forest, the truthful ascetics said to her:

Verse 91 (3.61.91)

उदर्कस्तव कल्याणि कल्याणो भविता शुभे । वयं पश्याम तपसा क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि नैषधम् ॥

udarkastava kalyāṇi kalyāṇo bhavitā śubhe | vayaṃ paśyāma tapasā kṣipraṃ drakṣyasi naiṣadham

Your future, lovely one, will be happy, good lady. We see by our austerity that you will soon see the king of Nishadha.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; verses 91–94 are the ascetics' words.

Verse 92 (3.61.92)

निषधानामधिपतिं नलं रिपुनिपातिनम् । भैमि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठं द्रक्ष्यसे विगतज्वरम् ॥

niṣadhānāmadhipatiṃ nalaṃ ripunipātinam | bhaimi dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ drakṣyase vigatajvaram

Daughter of Bhima, you will see Nala, lord of the Nishadhas, feller of his foes, best of upholders of dharma, freed from his torment,

Note on the text: Corrected निपधानाम् → निषधानाम् (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष).

Verse 93 (3.61.93)

विमुक्तं सर्वपापेभ्यः सर्वरत्नसमन्वितम् । तदेव नगरं श्रेष्ठं प्रशासतमरिन्दमम् ॥

vimuktaṃ sarvapāpebhyaḥ sarvaratnasamanvitam | tadeva nagaraṃ śreṣṭhaṃ praśāsatamarindamam

released from all his sins, possessed of every treasure, the tamer of foes ruling that same splendid city.

Verse 94 (3.61.94)

द्विषतां भयकर्तारं सुहृदां शोकनाशनम् । पतिमेष्यसि कल्याणि कल्याणाभिजनं नृपम् ॥

dviṣatāṃ bhayakartāraṃ suhṛdāṃ śokanāśanam | patimeṣyasi kalyāṇi kalyāṇābhijanaṃ nṛpam

Lovely one, you will be reunited with your husband, the king of noble lineage, who strikes fear into his enemies and dispels the sorrow of his friends.

Note on the text: Corrected द्विपतां → द्विषतां (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads dviṣatāṃ).

Verse 95 (3.61.95)

एवमुक्त्वा नलस्येष्टां महिषीं पार्थिवात्मजाम् । अन्तर्हितास्तापसास्ते साग्निहोत्राश्रमास्तथा ॥

evamuktvā nalasyeṣṭāṃ mahiṣīṃ pārthivātmajām | antarhitāstāpasāste sāgnihotrāśramāstathā

Having said this to Nala's beloved queen, the king's daughter, the ascetics vanished, together with their sacred fires and their hermitages.

Verse 96 (3.61.96)

सा दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं विस्मिता ह्यभवत्तदा । दमयन्त्यनवद्याङ्गी वीरसेननृपस्नुषा ॥

sā dṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṃ vismitā hyabhavattadā | damayantyanavadyāṅgī vīrasenanṛpasnuṣā

Seeing this great marvel, Damayanti, flawless of limb, daughter-in-law of King Virasena, was struck with wonder.

Verse 97 (3.61.97)

चिन्तयामास वैदर्भी किमेतद्दृष्टवत्यहम् ॥

cintayāmāsa vaidarbhī kimetaddṛṣṭavatyaham

The princess of Vidarbha wondered, "What is this that I have seen?"

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). A single line. Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it in its apparatus as 3.61.92d*0276.

Verse 98 (3.61.98)

किं नु स्वप्नो मया दृष्टः कोऽयं विधिरिहाभवत् । क्व नु ते तापसाः सर्वे क्व तदाश्रममण्डलम् ॥

kiṃ nu svapno mayā dṛṣṭaḥ ko'yaṃ vidhirihābhavat | kva nu te tāpasāḥ sarve kva tadāśramamaṇḍalam

Was it a dream I saw? What was this that happened here? Where are all those ascetics, and where is that ring of hermitages?

Note on the text: Restored missing word spaces (किंनु → किं नु, कोऽयंविधिः → कोऽयं विधिः, क्वनु → क्व नु). Damayanti's own words (98–99), though no heading is printed.

Verse 99 (3.61.99)

क्व सा पुण्यजला रम्या नदी द्विजनिषेविता । क्व नु ते ह नगा हृद्याः फलपुष्पोपशोभिताः ॥

kva sā puṇyajalā ramyā nadī dvijaniṣevitā | kva nu te ha nagā hṛdyāḥ phalapuṣpopaśobhitāḥ

Where is that lovely river of holy waters, frequented by birds? Where are those charming trees, graced with fruits and flowers?

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (क्वनु → क्व नु).

Verse 100 (3.61.100)

इत्येवं नरशार्दूल विस्मिता कमलेक्षणा । ध्यात्वा चिरं भीमसुता दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता । भर्तृशोकपरा दीना विवर्णवदनाऽभवत् ॥

ityevaṃ naraśārdūla vismitā kamalekṣaṇā | dhyātvā ciraṃ bhīmasutā damayantī śucismitā | bhartṛśokaparā dīnā vivarṇavadanā'bhavat

Thus amazed, tiger among men, the lotus-eyed one, Bhima's daughter Damayanti of the bright smile, brooded a long while; then, wholly given over to grief for her husband, she grew wretched, the colour gone from her face.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') around line 1 and restored a missing word space (दीनाविवर्णवदना → दीना विवर्णवदना). Line 1 is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it in its apparatus as 3.61.94d*0277; lines 2–3 are CE 3.61.95, which the alignment missed.

Verse 101 (3.61.101)

सा गत्वाऽथापरां भूमिं बाष्पसंदिग्धया गिरा । विललापाश्रुपूर्णाक्षी दृष्ट्वाऽशोकतरुं ततः ॥

sā gatvā'thāparāṃ bhūmiṃ bāṣpasaṃdigdhayā girā | vilalāpāśrupūrṇākṣī dṛṣṭvā'śokataruṃ tataḥ

Going on then to another place, her eyes full of tears, she saw an ashoka tree and lamented in a voice choked with weeping.

Verse 102 (3.61.102)

उपगम्य तरुश्रेष्ठमशोकं पुष्पितं वने । पल्लवापीडितं हृद्यं विहङ्गैरनुनादितम् ॥

upagamya taruśreṣṭhamaśokaṃ puṣpitaṃ vane | pallavāpīḍitaṃ hṛdyaṃ vihaṅgairanunāditam

She went up to that best of trees, the ashoka, in flower in the forest, crowned with fresh shoots, charming and echoing with birds.

Verse 103 (3.61.103)

अहो बतायमगमः श्रीमानस्मिन्वनान्तरे । आपीडैर्बहुभिर्भाति श्रीमान्पर्वतराडिव ॥

aho batāyamagamaḥ śrīmānasminvanāntare | āpīḍairbahubhirbhāti śrīmānparvatarāḍiva

Ah, how splendid this tree is in the depths of the forest! With its many crowns of blossom it shines like a glorious king of mountains.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; verses 103–107 are Damayanti's words to the ashoka tree.

Verse 104 (3.61.104)

विशोकां कुरु मां क्षिप्रमशोक प्रियदर्शन । वीतशोकभयाबाधं कच्चित्त्वं दृष्टवान्नृपम् ॥

viśokāṃ kuru māṃ kṣipramaśoka priyadarśana | vītaśokabhayābādhaṃ kaccittvaṃ dṛṣṭavānnṛpam

Ashoka, lovely to behold, quickly make me free of sorrow! Have you seen the king, free of sorrow, fear and harm?

Verse 105 (3.61.105)

नलं नामारिदमनं दमयन्त्याः प्रियं पतिम् । निषधानामधिपतिं दृष्टवानसि मे प्रियम् ॥

nalaṃ nāmāridamanaṃ damayantyāḥ priyaṃ patim | niṣadhānāmadhipatiṃ dṛṣṭavānasi me priyam

Have you seen Nala, tamer of foes, the beloved husband of Damayanti, lord of the Nishadhas, my beloved?

Note on the text: Corrected नमयन्त्याः → दमयन्त्याः and निमधानाम् → निषधानाम् (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads damayantyāḥ … niṣadhānām).

Verse 106 (3.61.106)

एकवस्त्रार्धसंवीतं सुकुमारतनुत्वचम् । व्यसनेनार्दितं वीरमरण्यमिदमागतम् ॥

ekavastrārdhasaṃvītaṃ sukumāratanutvacam | vyasanenārditaṃ vīramaraṇyamidamāgatam

The hero wrapped in half of a single garment, tender of body and skin, stricken by misfortune, who came into this forest?

Verse 107 (3.61.107)

यथा विशोका गच्छेयमशोकनग तत्कुरु । सत्यनामा भवाशोक मम शोकविनाशनात् ॥

yathā viśokā gaccheyamaśokanaga tatkuru | satyanāmā bhavāśoka mama śokavināśanāt

Act so, ashoka tree, that I may go from here without sorrow. Be true to your name, Ashoka, "Sorrowless", by destroying my sorrow.

Verse 108 (3.61.108)

एवं साऽशोकवृक्षं तमार्ता वै परिगम्य ह । जगाम दारुणतरं देशं भैमी वराङ्गना ॥

evaṃ sā'śokavṛkṣaṃ tamārtā vai parigamya ha | jagāma dāruṇataraṃ deśaṃ bhaimī varāṅganā

So the anguished, lovely daughter of Bhima walked around that ashoka tree and went on into a still more dreadful region.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (एवंसा → एवं सा) and corrected अशोकवृत्तं → अशोकवृक्षं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads aśokavṛkṣaṃ).

Verse 109 (3.61.109)

सा ददर्श नगान्नैकान्नैकाश्च सरितस्तथा । नैकांश्च पर्वतान्रम्यान्नैकांश्च मृगपक्षिणः ॥

sā dadarśa nagānnaikānnaikāśca saritastathā | naikāṃśca parvatānramyānnaikāṃśca mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ

She saw many trees and many rivers, many lovely mountains and many beasts and birds,

Verse 110 (3.61.110)

कन्दरांश्च नितम्बांश्च नदीश्चाद्भुतदर्शनाः । ददर्श तान्भीमसुता पतिमन्वेषती तदा ॥

kandarāṃśca nitambāṃśca nadīścādbhutadarśanāḥ | dadarśa tānbhīmasutā patimanveṣatī tadā

caves, mountain slopes and rivers wondrous to behold; all these Bhima's daughter saw as she searched for her husband.

Verse 111 (3.61.111)

गत्वा प्रकृष्टमध्वानं दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता । ददर्शाथ महासार्थं हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुलम् ॥

gatvā prakṛṣṭamadhvānaṃ damayantī śucismitā | dadarśātha mahāsārthaṃ hastyaśvarathasaṃkulam

After travelling a long way, Damayanti of the bright smile then saw a great caravan, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots,

Verse 112 (3.61.112)

उत्तरन्तं नदीं रम्यां प्रसन्नसलिलां शुभाम् । सुशीततोयां विस्तीर्णां ह्रदिनीं वेतसैर्वृताम् ॥

uttarantaṃ nadīṃ ramyāṃ prasannasalilāṃ śubhām | suśītatoyāṃ vistīrṇāṃ hradinīṃ vetasairvṛtām

crossing a lovely river, clear-watered and fair, broad and very cool, full of deep pools and fringed with reeds,

Verse 113 (3.61.113)

प्रोद्घुष्टां क्रौञ्चकुररैश्चक्रवाकोपकूजिताम् । कूर्मग्राहझषाकीर्णां विपुलद्वीपशोभिताम् ॥

prodghuṣṭāṃ krauñcakuraraiścakravākopakūjitām | kūrmagrāhajhaṣākīrṇāṃ vipuladvīpaśobhitām

loud with the cries of curlews and ospreys, echoing with ruddy geese, teeming with turtles, crocodiles and fish, and graced with broad islands.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रोद्धुष्टां → प्रोद्घुष्टां, चक्रबाक → चक्रवाक and झवाकीर्णां → झषाकीर्णां (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads prodghuṣṭāṃ … cakravāka … jhaṣākīrṇāṃ).

Verse 114 (3.61.114)

सा दृष्ट्वैव महासार्थं नलपत्नी यशस्विनी । उपसर्प्य वरारोहा जनमध्यं विवेश ह ॥

sā dṛṣṭvaiva mahāsārthaṃ nalapatnī yaśasvinī | upasarpya varārohā janamadhyaṃ viveśa ha

As soon as she saw the great caravan, Nala's glorious, lovely wife approached it and entered among the people.

Verse 115 (3.61.115)

उन्मत्तरूपा शोकार्ता तथा वस्त्रार्धसंवृता । कृशा विवर्णा मलिना पांसुध्वस्तशिरोरुहा ॥

unmattarūpā śokārtā tathā vastrārdhasaṃvṛtā | kṛśā vivarṇā malinā pāṃsudhvastaśiroruhā

She looked like a madwoman, stricken with grief, covered with half a garment, thin, pale and grimy, her hair loose and covered in dust.

Verse 116 (3.61.116)

तां दृष्ट्वा तत्र मनुजाः केचिद्भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः । केचिच्चिन्तापरास्तस्थुः केचित्तत्र विचुक्रुशुः ॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra manujāḥ kecidbhītāḥ pradudruvuḥ | keciccintāparāstasthuḥ kecittatra vicukruśuḥ

Seeing her, some of the people there fled in fear; some stood lost in thought; some cried out.

Note on the text: Restored missing word spaces (तत्रमनुजाः → तत्र मनुजाः, तत्रविचुक्रुशुः → तत्र विचुक्रुशुः).

Verse 117 (3.61.117)

प्रहसन्ति स्म तां केचिदभ्यसूयन्ति चापरे । कुर्वन्त्यस्यां दयां केचित्पप्रच्छुश्चापि भारत ॥

prahasanti sma tāṃ kecidabhyasūyanti cāpare | kurvantyasyāṃ dayāṃ kecitpapracchuścāpi bhārata

Some laughed at her, others reviled her; some took pity on her and questioned her, O Bharata:

Note on the text: Restored missing word spaces (कुर्वन्त्यस्यांदयांकेचित् → कुर्वन्त्यस्यां दयां केचित्).

Verse 118 (3.61.118)

काऽसि कस्यासि कल्याणि किं वा मृगयसे वने । त्वां दृष्ट्वा व्यथिताः स्मेह कच्चित्त्वमसि मानुषी ॥

kā'si kasyāsi kalyāṇi kiṃ vā mṛgayase vane | tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā vyathitāḥ smeha kaccittvamasi mānuṣī

Who are you, lovely one, and whose? What are you looking for in the forest? The sight of you has alarmed us. Are you a human woman?

Note on the text: Corrected त्वमसिं → त्वमसि (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara). No speaker heading is printed; verses 118–121 are the words of the people of the caravan.

Verse 119 (3.61.119)

वद सत्यं वनस्यास्य पर्वतस्याथवा दिशः । देवता त्वं हि कल्याणि त्वां वयं शरणं गताः ॥

vada satyaṃ vanasyāsya parvatasyāthavā diśaḥ | devatā tvaṃ hi kalyāṇi tvāṃ vayaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ

Tell us the truth: are you the goddess of this forest, or of the mountain, or of the quarters? We have come to you for refuge, lovely one.

Verse 120 (3.61.120)

यक्षी वा राक्षसी वा त्वमुताहोऽसि सुराङ्गना । सर्वथा कुरु नः स्वस्ति रक्ष चास्माननिन्दिते ॥

yakṣī vā rākṣasī vā tvamutāho'si surāṅganā | sarvathā kuru naḥ svasti rakṣa cāsmānanindite

Are you a yakshi or a rakshasi, or else a celestial woman? Whatever you are, bless us and protect us, blameless lady.

Note on the text: Corrected उताहोसि → उताहोऽसि (missing avagraha) and restored a missing word space (सर्वथाकुरु → सर्वथा कुरु).

Verse 121 (3.61.121)

यथाऽयं सर्वथा सार्थः क्षेमी शीघ्रमितो व्रजेत् । तथा विधत्स्व कल्याणि यथा श्रेयो हि नो भवेत् ॥

yathā'yaṃ sarvathā sārthaḥ kṣemī śīghramito vrajet | tathā vidhatsva kalyāṇi yathā śreyo hi no bhavet

Arrange things, lovely one, so that this caravan may go on from here quickly and safely in every way, and so that good may come to us.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (यथाऽयंसर्वथा → यथाऽयं सर्वथा).

Verse 122 (3.61.122)

तथोक्ता तेन सार्थेन दमयन्ती नृपात्मजा । प्रत्युवाच ततः साध्वी भर्तृव्यसनपीडिता ॥

tathoktā tena sārthena damayantī nṛpātmajā | pratyuvāca tataḥ sādhvī bhartṛvyasanapīḍitā

Addressed thus by the caravan, the virtuous princess Damayanti, tormented by her husband's misfortune, replied:

Note on the text: Wikisource 122–124 divide CE 3.61.117–118 differently; this verse is CE 3.61.117ab–cd (CE bhartṛvyasanaduḥkhitā).

Verse 123 (3.61.123)

सार्थवाहं च सार्थं च जना ये चात्र केचन । युवस्थविरबालाश्च सार्थस्य च पुरोगमाः ॥

sārthavāhaṃ ca sārthaṃ ca janā ye cātra kecana | yuvasthavirabālāśca sārthasya ca purogamāḥ

Leader of the caravan, and you of the caravan, all you people who are here, young men, elders and children, and you who go at the caravan's head:

Note on the text: Corrected सार्तवाहं → सार्थवाहं and युवस्थविरबालाश् → युवस्थविरबालाश्च (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads sārthavāhaṃ … sthavirabālāś ca). Line 1 is CE 3.61.117ef; line 2 is CE 3.61.118ab. No speaker heading is printed; verses 123–126 are Damayanti's reply.

Verse 124 (3.61.124)

मानुषीं मां विजानीत मनुजाधिपतेः सुताम् । नृपस्नुषां राजभार्यां भर्तृदर्शनलालसाम् ॥

mānuṣīṃ māṃ vijānīta manujādhipateḥ sutām | nṛpasnuṣāṃ rājabhāryāṃ bhartṛdarśanalālasām

know me to be a human woman, the daughter of a lord of men, a king's daughter-in-law and a king's wife, longing to see my husband.

Note on the text: The verse is CE 3.61.118cd–ef.

Verse 125 (3.61.125)

विदर्भराण्मम पिता भर्ता राजा च नैषधः । नलो नाम महाभागस्तं मार्गाम्यपराजितम् ॥

vidarbharāṇmama pitā bhartā rājā ca naiṣadhaḥ | nalo nāma mahābhāgastaṃ mārgāmyaparājitam

The king of Vidarbha is my father, and my husband is the king of Nishadha, the greatly blessed Nala by name. I am searching for him, the unconquered.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (नलोनाम → नलो नाम).

Verse 126 (3.61.126)

यदि जानीत नृपतिं क्षिप्रं शंसत मे प्रियम् । नलं पुरुषशार्दूलममित्रगणसूदनम् ॥

yadi jānīta nṛpatiṃ kṣipraṃ śaṃsata me priyam | nalaṃ puruṣaśārdūlamamitragaṇasūdanam

If you know of the king, tell me quickly of my beloved: Nala, tiger among men, destroyer of hosts of enemies.

Verse 127 (3.61.127)

तामुवाचानवद्याङ्गीं सार्थस्य महतः प्रभुः । सार्थवाहः शुचिर्नाम शृणु कल्याणि मद्वचः ॥

tāmuvācānavadyāṅgīṃ sārthasya mahataḥ prabhuḥ | sārthavāhaḥ śucirnāma śṛṇu kalyāṇi madvacaḥ

The master of that great caravan, the caravan leader named Shuchi, said to the flawless woman, "Listen to my words, lovely one."

Verse 128 (3.61.128)

अहं सार्थस्य नेता वै सार्थवाहः शुचिस्मिते । मनुष्यं नलनामानं न पश्यामि यशस्विनि ॥

ahaṃ sārthasya netā vai sārthavāhaḥ śucismite | manuṣyaṃ nalanāmānaṃ na paśyāmi yaśasvini

I am the leader of this caravan, its master, lady of the bright smile. I have seen no man named Nala, glorious one.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; verses 128–130 are the words of Shuchi, the caravan leader.

Verse 129 (3.61.129)

कुञ्जरद्वीपिमहिषशार्दूलर्क्षमृगानपि । पश्याम्यस्मिन्वने कृत्स्ने ह्यमनुष्यनिषेविते ॥

kuñjaradvīpimahiṣaśārdūlarkṣamṛgānapi | paśyāmyasminvane kṛtsne hyamanuṣyaniṣevite

Elephants, leopards, buffaloes, tigers, bears and deer I do see throughout this forest, where no humans live;

Note on the text: The alignment missed this verse; with the second line of the next verse it is CE 3.61.123 (CE kaṣṭe for कृत्स्ने).

Verse 130 (3.61.130)

ऋते त्वां मानुषीं मर्त्यं न पश्यामि महावने । तथा नो यक्षराडद्य मणिभद्रः प्रसीदतु ॥

ṛte tvāṃ mānuṣīṃ martyaṃ na paśyāmi mahāvane | tathā no yakṣarāḍadya maṇibhadraḥ prasīdatu

but apart from you, a human woman, I see no mortal in this great forest. So may Manibhadra, king of the yakshas, be gracious to us today.

Note on the text: Line 1 is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the CE records it in its apparatus as 3.61.123d*0282; line 2 is CE 3.61.123ef.

Verse 131 (3.61.131)

साऽब्रवीद्वणिजः सर्वान्सार्थवाहं च तं ततः । क्व नु यास्यति सार्थोऽयमेतदाख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

sā'bravīdvaṇijaḥ sarvānsārthavāhaṃ ca taṃ tataḥ | kva nu yāsyati sārtho'yametadākhyātumarhasi

Then she said to all the merchants and to the caravan leader, "Where will this caravan go? Please tell me that."

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (क्वनु → क्व नु).

Verse 132 (3.61.132)

सार्थोऽयं चेदिराजस्य सुबाहोः सत्यदर्शिनः । क्षिप्रं जनपदं गन्ता लाभाय मनुजात्मजे ॥

sārtho'yaṃ cedirājasya subāhoḥ satyadarśinaḥ | kṣipraṃ janapadaṃ gantā lābhāya manujātmaje

This caravan is soon bound for the country of Subahu, the truthful king of the Chedis, to trade, daughter of man.

Note on the text: The printed speaker heading reads सार्तवाह उवाच; corrected to सार्थवाह (misprint; the critical edition's heading is sārthavāha uvāca).