The Caravan Destroyed; Damayanti in the City of Chedi

Verse 1 (3.62.1)

सा तच्छ्रुत्वाऽनवद्याङ्गी सार्थवाहवचस्तदा । जगाम सह तेनैव सार्थेन पतिलालसा ॥

sā tacchrutvā'navadyāṅgī sārthavāhavacastadā | jagāma saha tenaiva sārthena patilālasā

Hearing the caravan leader's words, the flawless Damayanti went on with that same caravan, longing for her husband.

Note on the text: The speaker heading is printed बृहृदश्व in Wikisource (misprint); given as बृहदश्व.

Verse 2 (3.62.2)

अथ काले बहुतिथे वने महति दारुणे । तटाकं सर्वतोभद्रं पद्मसौगन्धिकायुतम् ॥

atha kāle bahutithe vane mahati dāruṇe | taṭākaṃ sarvatobhadraṃ padmasaugandhikāyutam

Then, after many days, in a vast and fearsome forest, the merchants came upon a lake, lovely on every side and full of lotuses and fragrant water-lilies,

Verse 3 (3.62.3)

ददृशुर्वणिजो रम्यं प्रभूतयवसेन्धनम् । बहुमूलफलोपेतं नानापक्षिनिषेवितम् ॥

dadṛśurvaṇijo ramyaṃ prabhūtayavasendhanam | bahumūlaphalopetaṃ nānāpakṣiniṣevitam

a delightful place with plenty of grass and firewood, rich in roots and fruits, and visited by birds of many kinds.

Verse 4 (3.62.4)

तं दृष्ट्वा मृष्टसलिलं मनोहारि सुशीतलम् । सुपरिश्रान्तवाहास्ते निवेशाय मनो दधुः ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā mṛṣṭasalilaṃ manohāri suśītalam | supariśrāntavāhāste niveśāya mano dadhuḥ

Seeing its clear, charming and cool water, the merchants, whose beasts of burden were utterly worn out, made up their minds to camp there.

Verse 5 (3.62.5)

संमते सार्थवाहस्य विविशुर्वनमुत्तमम् । उवास सार्थः सुमहान्निशामासाद्य पद्मिनीम् ॥

saṃmate sārthavāhasya viviśurvanamuttamam | uvāsa sārthaḥ sumahānniśāmāsādya padminīm

With the caravan leader's consent they entered that fine woodland, and the great caravan, reaching the lotus lake, settled there for the night.

Verse 6 (3.62.6)

अथार्धरात्रसमये निःशब्दे तिमिरे तदा । सुप्ते सार्थे परिश्रान्ते हस्तियूथमुपागमत् । पानीयार्थं गिरितटान्मदप्रस्रवणाविलम् ॥

athārdharātrasamaye niḥśabde timire tadā | supte sārthe pariśrānte hastiyūthamupāgamat | pānīyārthaṃ giritaṭānmadaprasravaṇāvilam

Then at midnight, when all was silent and dark and the weary caravan lay asleep, a herd of elephants, foul with streaming rut, came down from the mountainside to drink.

Verse 7 (3.62.7)

अथापश्यत सार्थं तं सार्थजान्सुबहून्गजान् ॥

athāpaśyata sārthaṃ taṃ sārthajānsubahūngajān

The herd saw the caravan and the many elephants that belonged to it.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (an opening square bracket; Wikisource brackets verses 7–9). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records verses 7–9 in its apparatus as 3.62.6f*0284, this verse being line 1.

Verse 8 (3.62.8)

ते तान्ग्राम्यगजान्दृष्ट्वा सर्वे वनगजास्तदा । समाद्रवन्त वेगेन जिघांसन्तो मदोत्कटाः ॥

te tāngrāmyagajāndṛṣṭvā sarve vanagajāstadā | samādravanta vegena jighāṃsanto madotkaṭāḥ

Seeing those tame elephants, all the wild elephants, frenzied with rut, rushed at them headlong, eager to kill.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); apparatus 3.62.6f*0284, lines 2–3.

Verse 9 (3.62.9)

तेषामापततां वेगः करिणां दुःसहोऽभवत् । नगाग्रादिव शीर्णानां शृङ्गाणां पततां क्षितौ । स्पन्दतामपि नागानां मार्गा नष्टा वनोद्भवाः ॥

teṣāmāpatatāṃ vegaḥ kariṇāṃ duḥsaho'bhavat | nagāgrādiva śīrṇānāṃ śṛṅgāṇāṃ patatāṃ kṣitau | spandatāmapi nāgānāṃ mārgā naṣṭā vanodbhavāḥ

The onrush of those charging elephants was unbearable, like peaks breaking off a mountaintop and crashing to the ground; as the elephants surged on, the forest paths were blotted out.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (an inner double danda and the closing square bracket). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); apparatus 3.62.6f*0284, lines 4–6.

Verse 10 (3.62.10)

मार्गं संरुध्य संसुप्तं पद्मिन्याः सार्थमुत्तमम् । ते तं ममर्दुः सहसा वेष्टमानं महीतले ॥

mārgaṃ saṃrudhya saṃsuptaṃ padminyāḥ sārthamuttamam | te taṃ mamarduḥ sahasā veṣṭamānaṃ mahītale

Blocking the way, they fell suddenly on the fine caravan asleep by the lotus lake and trampled it as it writhed on the ground.

Note on the text: Corrected संरुद्ध्य → संरुध्य (misprint in Wikisource; doubled consonant in the gerund; the critical edition reads saṃrudhya). वेष्टमानं for the critical edition's ceṣṭamānaṃ is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 11 (3.62.11)

महारवं प्रमुञ्चन्तो वध्यन्ते शरणार्थिनः । वनगुल्मांश्च धावन्तो निद्रया महतो भयात् ॥

mahāravaṃ pramuñcanto vadhyante śaraṇārthinaḥ | vanagulmāṃśca dhāvanto nidrayā mahato bhayāt

Crying out loudly, people seeking refuge were slaughtered; others, dazed with sleep and in great terror, ran for the thickets.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रमुञ्चतो → प्रमुञ्चन्तो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped nasal in the participle; the critical edition reads pramuñcantaḥ) and वद्ध्यन्ते → वध्यन्ते (misprint; doubled consonant). Corresponds to CE 3.62.8ab–cd.

Verse 12 (3.62.12)

केचिद्दन्तैः करैः केचित्केचित्पद्भ्यां हता गजैः ॥

keciddantaiḥ karaiḥ kecitkecitpadbhyāṃ hatā gajaiḥ

Some were killed by the elephants' tusks, some by their trunks, some under their feet.

Note on the text: This single line is CE 3.62.8ef, printed by Wikisource as a verse of its own; kept as such.

Verse 13 (3.62.13)

निहतोष्ट्राश्वबहुलाः पदातिजनसंकुलाः । भयादाधावमानाश्च परस्परहतास्तदा ॥

nihatoṣṭrāśvabahulāḥ padātijanasaṃkulāḥ | bhayādādhāvamānāśca parasparahatāstadā

With many camels and horses slain and the crowd of men on foot running in terror, they struck one another down in the confusion.

Note on the text: Corrected पदातिजसंकुलाः → पदातिजनसंकुलाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the line is a syllable short; the critical edition reads padātijanasaṃkulam) and भयादाधावमानाश् → भयादाधावमानाश्च (misprint; broken conjunct, dropped च).

Verse 14 (3.62.14)

घोरान्नादान्विमुञ्चन्तो निपेतुर्धरणीतले । वृक्षेष्वासज्यसंभग्नाः पतिता विषमेषु च ॥

ghorānnādānvimuñcanto nipeturdharaṇītale | vṛkṣeṣvāsajyasaṃbhagnāḥ patitā viṣameṣu ca

Raising terrible cries they fell to the ground; some, caught in the trees, were crushed, and others fell into rough and broken ground.

Verse 15 (3.62.15)

एवंप्रकारैर्बहुभिर्दैवेनाक्रम्य हस्तिभिः । राजन्विनिहतं सर्वं समृद्धं सार्थमण्डलम् ॥

evaṃprakārairbahubhirdaivenākramya hastibhiḥ | rājanvinihataṃ sarvaṃ samṛddhaṃ sārthamaṇḍalam

In these many ways, O king, the elephants, driven by fate, attacked and destroyed the whole prosperous company of the caravan.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 3.62.10d*0285); the second line corresponds to CE 3.62.10ef.

Verse 16 (3.62.16)

आरावः सुमहांश्चासीत्त्रैलोक्यभयकारकः । एषोऽग्निरुत्थितः कष्टस्त्रायध्वं धावताऽधुना ॥

ārāvaḥ sumahāṃścāsīttrailokyabhayakārakaḥ | eṣo'gnirutthitaḥ kaṣṭastrāyadhvaṃ dhāvatā'dhunā

A tremendous uproar arose, enough to terrify the three worlds: "Here is a fire breaking out — what a calamity! Save us! Run, now!"

Note on the text: Corrected चासीत्रैलोक्य → चासीत्त्रैलोक्य (misprint in Wikisource; a t dropped at the sandhi of āsīt + trailokya; the appendix reads cāsīt trailokya-). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 1–2.

Verse 17 (3.62.17)

रत्नराशिर्विशीर्णोऽयं गृह्णीध्वं किं प्रधावत । सामान्यमेतद्द्रविणं न मिथ्या वचनं मम ॥

ratnarāśirviśīrṇo'yaṃ gṛhṇīdhvaṃ kiṃ pradhāvata | sāmānyametaddraviṇaṃ na mithyā vacanaṃ mama

"This heap of jewels has spilled — take it! Why are you running? This wealth belongs to everyone; I am not lying!"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 3–4.

Verse 18 (3.62.18)

पुनरेवाभिधास्यामि चिन्तयध्वं सुकातराः । एवमेवाभिभाषन्तो विद्रवन्ति भयात्तदा ॥

punarevābhidhāsyāmi cintayadhvaṃ sukātarāḥ | evamevābhibhāṣanto vidravanti bhayāttadā

"I say it again — think, you cowards!" Shouting such things, they fled in terror.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 5–6. Wikisource has the two lines in the reverse order.

Verse 19 (3.62.19)

तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने दारुणे जनसंक्षये । दमयन्ती च बुबुधे भयसंत्रस्तमानसा । अपश्यद्वैशसं तत्र सर्वलोकभयंकरम् ॥

tasmiṃstathā vartamāne dāruṇe janasaṃkṣaye | damayantī ca bubudhe bhayasaṃtrastamānasā | apaśyadvaiśasaṃ tatra sarvalokabhayaṃkaram

While that dreadful slaughter of people was going on, Damayanti too awoke, her heart stricken with fear, and saw the carnage there, terrible to all the world.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 7–9.

Verse 20 (3.62.20)

अदृष्टपूर्वं तद्दृष्ट्वा बाला पद्मनिभेक्षणा । संसक्तवदनाश्वासा उत्तस्थौ भयविह्वला ॥

adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ taddṛṣṭvā bālā padmanibhekṣaṇā | saṃsaktavadanāśvāsā uttasthau bhayavihvalā

Seeing such a thing as she had never seen before, the young woman with lotus eyes rose up, overcome with fear, her breath catching in her throat.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 10–11.

Verse 21 (3.62.21)

ये तु तत्र विनिर्मुक्ताः सार्थात्केचिदविक्षताः । तेऽब्रुवन्सहिताः सर्वे कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् ॥

ye tu tatra vinirmuktāḥ sārthātkecidavikṣatāḥ | te'bruvansahitāḥ sarve kasyedaṃ karmaṇaḥ phalam

Those of the caravan who had escaped unhurt said together: "What deed of whose has borne this fruit?"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 12–13.

Verse 22 (3.62.22)

नूनं न पूजितोऽस्माभिर्मणिभद्रो महायशाः । तथा यक्षाधिपः श्रीमान्न वै वैश्रवणः प्रभुः ॥

nūnaṃ na pūjito'smābhirmaṇibhadro mahāyaśāḥ | tathā yakṣādhipaḥ śrīmānna vai vaiśravaṇaḥ prabhuḥ

"Surely we failed to worship the glorious Manibhadra, and the illustrious lord of the yakshas, the mighty Vaishravana."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 14–15. Speaker set to the caravan survivors: these whole verses are their speech (no printed heading).

Verse 23 (3.62.23)

न पूजा विघ्नकर्तॄणामथवा प्रथमं कृता ॥

na pūjā vighnakartṝṇāmathavā prathamaṃ kṛtā

"Or else we did not first worship the powers that cause obstacles."

Note on the text: Corrected विघ्रकर्तॄणाम् → विघ्नकर्तॄणाम् (misprint in Wikisource; ग्र for घ्न; the appendix reads vighnakartṝṇām). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here line 16.

Verse 24 (3.62.24)

शकुनानां फलं वाऽथ विपरीतमिदं ध्रुवम् । ग्रहा न विपरीतास्तु किमन्यदिदमागतम् ॥

śakunānāṃ phalaṃ vā'tha viparītamidaṃ dhruvam | grahā na viparītāstu kimanyadidamāgatam

"Or this is surely the omens turning against us. The planets are not adverse — so what else could have brought this upon us?"

Note on the text: Corrected विपरीतिमिदं → विपरीतमिदं (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; the appendix reads viparītam idaṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 17–18.

Verse 25 (3.62.25)

अपरे त्वब्रुवन्दीना ज्ञातिद्रव्यविनाकृताः । याऽसावद्य महासार्थे नारी ह्युन्मत्तदर्शना ॥

apare tvabruvandīnā jñātidravyavinākṛtāḥ | yā'sāvadya mahāsārthe nārī hyunmattadarśanā

Others, wretched and robbed of kin and wealth, said: "That woman who came into our great caravan today, looking like a madwoman —"

Note on the text: Corrected विनाकृता → विनाकृताः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, the word agrees with अपरे; the appendix reads -vinākṛtāḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 19–20.

Verse 26 (3.62.26)

प्रविष्टा विकृताकारा कृत्वा रूपममानुषम् । तयैवं विहिता पूर्वं माया परमदारुणा ॥

praviṣṭā vikṛtākārā kṛtvā rūpamamānuṣam | tayaivaṃ vihitā pūrvaṃ māyā paramadāruṇā

"she came in with a misshapen look, having taken on a form not human. It is she who worked this most dreadful sorcery beforehand."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 21–22.

Verse 27 (3.62.27)

राक्षसी वा ध्रुवं यक्षी पिशाची वा भयंकरी । तस्याः सर्वमिदं पापं नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥

rākṣasī vā dhruvaṃ yakṣī piśācī vā bhayaṃkarī | tasyāḥ sarvamidaṃ pāpaṃ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

"She is surely a rakshasi, a yakshi, or a fearsome pishachi. All this evil is her doing; there is nothing more to consider."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 23–24.

Verse 28 (3.62.28)

यदि पश्याम तां पापां सार्थघ्नीं नैकदुःखदाम् । लोष्टभिः पांसुभिश्चैव तृणैः काष्ठैश्च मुष्टिभिः । अवश्यमेव हन्यामः सार्थस्य किल कृत्यकाम् ॥

yadi paśyāma tāṃ pāpāṃ sārthaghnīṃ naikaduḥkhadām | loṣṭabhiḥ pāṃsubhiścaiva tṛṇaiḥ kāṣṭhaiśca muṣṭibhiḥ | avaśyameva hanyāmaḥ sārthasya kila kṛtyakām

"If we see that wicked woman, the destroyer of the caravan, the bringer of so many sorrows, we will surely kill her with clods, dust, grass, sticks and fists — she is the caravan's evil spirit!"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 25–27.

Verse 29 (3.62.29)

दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वाक्यं तेषां सुदारुणम् । ह्रीता भीता च संविग्ना प्राद्रवद्यत्र काननम् ॥

damayantī tu tacchrutvā vākyaṃ teṣāṃ sudāruṇam | hrītā bhītā ca saṃvignā prādravadyatra kānanam

Hearing their dreadful words, Damayanti, ashamed, frightened and shaken, fled towards the forest,

Note on the text: Corrected संविग्रा → संविग्ना (misprint in Wikisource; ग्र for ग्न; the appendix reads saṃvignā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 28–29.

Verse 30 (3.62.30)

आशङ्कमाना तत्पापमात्मानं पर्यदेवयत् ॥

āśaṅkamānā tatpāpamātmānaṃ paryadevayat

and, fearing that the sin was her own, she lamented over herself:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here line 30.

Verse 31 (3.62.31)

अहो ममोपरि विधेः संरम्भो दारुणो महान् । नानुबध्नाति कुशलं कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् ॥

aho mamopari vidheḥ saṃrambho dāruṇo mahān | nānubadhnāti kuśalaṃ kasyedaṃ karmaṇaḥ phalam

"Alas, how great and cruel is fate's fury against me! No good fortune stays with me. What deed of whose has borne this fruit?"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 31–32. Speaker set to Damayanti: her lament fills verses 31–34 (no printed heading).

Verse 32 (3.62.32)

न स्मराम्यशुभं किंचित्कृतं कस्यचिदण्वपि । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् ॥

na smarāmyaśubhaṃ kiṃcitkṛtaṃ kasyacidaṇvapi | karmaṇā manasā vācā kasyedaṃ karmaṇaḥ phalam

"I do not remember doing the slightest harm to anyone, in deed, thought or word. What deed of whose has borne this fruit?"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 33–34.

Verse 33 (3.62.33)

नूनं जन्मान्तरकृतं पापं माऽऽपतितं महत् । अपश्चिमामिमां कष्टामापदं प्राप्तवत्यहम् ॥

nūnaṃ janmāntarakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ mā''patitaṃ mahat | apaścimāmimāṃ kaṣṭāmāpadaṃ prāptavatyaham

"Surely some great sin committed in another birth has fallen upon me, that I have met with this utmost and bitter calamity:"

Note on the text: Corrected पापां → पापं (misprint in Wikisource; the word must be neuter with जन्मान्तरकृतं … महत्; the appendix reads pāpaṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 35–36.

Verse 34 (3.62.34)

भर्तृराज्यापहरणं स्वजनाच्च पराजयः । भर्त्रा सह वियोगश्च तनयाभ्यां च विच्युतिः । निर्नाथता वने वासो बहुव्यालनिषेविते ॥

bhartṛrājyāpaharaṇaṃ svajanācca parājayaḥ | bhartrā saha viyogaśca tanayābhyāṃ ca vicyutiḥ | nirnāthatā vane vāso bahuvyālaniṣevite

"my husband's kingdom taken from him, his defeat at the hands of his own kin, separation from my husband, parting from my two children, being left without a protector, and living in a forest full of beasts of prey."

Note on the text: Corrected रपराजयः → पराजयः (misprint in Wikisource; stray र; the appendix reads parājayaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives verses 16–34 only in its Appendix I No. 12 (after 3.62.10), here lines 37–39.

Verse 35 (3.62.35)

अथापरेद्युः संप्राप्ते हतशिष्टा जनास्तदा । वनगुल्माद्विनिष्क्रम्य शोचन्ते वैशसं कृतम् । भ्रातरं पितरं पुत्रं सखायं च नराधिप ॥

athāparedyuḥ saṃprāpte hataśiṣṭā janāstadā | vanagulmādviniṣkramya śocante vaiśasaṃ kṛtam | bhrātaraṃ pitaraṃ putraṃ sakhāyaṃ ca narādhipa

Then, when the next day came, the survivors came out of the thickets and mourned the slaughter that had been done — brother, father, son and friend, O lord of men.

Note on the text: शोचन्ते for the critical edition's śocanto is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 36 (3.62.36)

हन्यमाने तदा सार्थे दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता । ब्राह्मणैः सहिता तत्रवने तु न विनाशिता ॥

hanyamāne tadā sārthe damayantī śucismitā | brāhmaṇaiḥ sahitā tatravane tu na vināśitā

While the caravan was being destroyed, the bright-smiling Damayanti, who was with the brahmins there in the forest, was not killed.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ।।') that Wikisource uses to set off this verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.62.11f*0286.

Verse 37 (3.62.37)

अशोचत्तत्र वैदर्भी किंनु मे दुष्कृतं कृतम् । योऽपि मे निर्जनेऽरण्ये संप्राप्तोऽयं जनार्णवः ॥

aśocattatra vaidarbhī kiṃnu me duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam | yo'pi me nirjane'raṇye saṃprāpto'yaṃ janārṇavaḥ

The princess of Vidarbha grieved there: "What wrong have I done? Even this great throng of people that I came upon in the lonely forest"

Note on the text: Corrected दुष्कतं → दुष्कृतं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign ृ; the critical edition reads duṣkṛtaṃ) and योपि → योऽपि (missing avagraha). Corresponds to CE 3.62.12ab–cd.

Verse 38 (3.62.38)

स हतो हस्तियूथेन मन्दभाग्यान्ममैव तत् । प्राप्तव्यं सुचिरं दुःखं नूनमद्यापि वै मया ॥

sa hato hastiyūthena mandabhāgyānmamaiva tat | prāptavyaṃ suciraṃ duḥkhaṃ nūnamadyāpi vai mayā

"has been destroyed by a herd of elephants — and that through my own ill fortune. Surely I am fated to suffer sorrow for a long time yet."

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 3.62.12ef–13ab (the verse division differs). Speaker set to Damayanti: verses 38–42 continue her lament (no printed heading).

Verse 39 (3.62.39)

नाप्राप्तकालो म्रियते श्रुतं वृद्धानुशासनम् । या नाहमद्य मृदिता हस्तियूथेन दुःखिता ॥

nāprāptakālo mriyate śrutaṃ vṛddhānuśāsanam | yā nāhamadya mṛditā hastiyūthena duḥkhitā

"No one dies before his time has come — so I have heard the elders teach — since I, wretched as I am, was not crushed today by the herd of elephants."

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 3.62.13cd–14ab (the verse division differs).

Verse 40 (3.62.40)

न ह्यदैवकृतंकिंचिन्नराणामिह विद्यते । न च मे बालभावेऽपि किंचित्पापकृतं कृतम् ॥

na hyadaivakṛtaṃkiṃcinnarāṇāmiha vidyate | na ca me bālabhāve'pi kiṃcitpāpakṛtaṃ kṛtam

"Nothing befalls men in this world that is not the work of fate. Yet even as a child I did no sinful deed"

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 3.62.14cd–15ab (the verse division differs).

Verse 41 (3.62.41)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यदिदं दुःखमागतम् । मन्ये स्वयंवरकृते लोकपालाः समागताः ॥

karmaṇā manasā vācā yadidaṃ duḥkhamāgatam | manye svayaṃvarakṛte lokapālāḥ samāgatāḥ

"in act, thought or word, for which this sorrow should come upon me. I think it is the guardians of the worlds, who came for my svayamvara —"

Note on the text: Corrected लोकपाला → लोकपालाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga; the critical edition reads lokapālāḥ) and restored the word space after स्वयंवरकृते. Corresponds to CE 3.62.15cd–16ab (the verse division differs).

Verse 42 (3.62.42)

प्रत्याख्याता मया तत्र नलस्यार्थाय देवताः । नूनं तेषां प्रभावेन वियोगं प्राप्तवत्यहम् ॥

pratyākhyātā mayā tatra nalasyārthāya devatāḥ | nūnaṃ teṣāṃ prabhāvena viyogaṃ prāptavatyaham

"the gods whom I refused there for Nala's sake — it is surely by their power that I have suffered this separation."

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 3.62.16cd–ef.

Verse 43 (3.62.43)

एवमादीनि दुःखार्ता सा विलप्य वराङ्गना । प्रलापानि तदा तानि दमयन्ती पतिव्रता ॥

evamādīni duḥkhārtā sā vilapya varāṅganā | pralāpāni tadā tāni damayantī pativratā

Grieving in these and other ways, that lovely woman, Damayanti, devoted to her husband, poured out her laments, stricken with sorrow,

Note on the text: The first line is CE 3.62.17ab; the second line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 3.62.17b*0287).

Verse 44 (3.62.44)

हतशेषैः सह तदा ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । अगच्छद्राजशार्दूल दुःखशोकपरायणा ॥

hataśeṣaiḥ saha tadā brāhmaṇairvedapāragaiḥ | agacchadrājaśārdūla duḥkhaśokaparāyaṇā

and then, O tiger among kings, consumed by grief and sorrow, she went on with the surviving brahmins learned in the Vedas.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 3.62.17cd–ef; हतशेषैः for hataśiṣṭaiḥ is a recension variant.

Verse 45 (3.62.45)

गच्छन्ती सा चिराद्बाला पुरमासादयन्महत् । सायाह्नि चेदिराजस्य सुबाहोः सत्यवादिनः ॥

gacchantī sā cirādbālā puramāsādayanmahat | sāyāhni cedirājasya subāhoḥ satyavādinaḥ

Travelling on, after a long time the young woman reached, one evening, the great city of Subahu, the truthful king of Chedi.

Note on the text: Corrected चेदिराजस् → चेदिराजस्य (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; the critical edition reads cedirājasya).

Verse 46 (3.62.46)

सा तु तच्चारुसर्वाङ्गी सुबाहोस्तुङ्गगोपुरम् । वस्त्रार्धेन च संवीता प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम् ॥

sā tu taccārusarvāṅgī subāhostuṅgagopuram | vastrārdhena ca saṃvītā praviveśa purottamam

Clad in half a garment, that woman of lovely limbs entered Subahu's fine city by its lofty gateway.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') around the first line. That line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 3.62.18d*0289); the second line corresponds to CE 3.62.18ef.

Verse 47 (3.62.47)

तां विह्वलां कृशां दीनां मुक्तकेशीममार्जिताम् । उन्मत्तामिव गच्छन्तीं ददृशुः पुरवासिनः ॥

tāṃ vihvalāṃ kṛśāṃ dīnāṃ muktakeśīmamārjitām | unmattāmiva gacchantīṃ dadṛśuḥ puravāsinaḥ

The townspeople saw her walking along like a madwoman — distraught, thin and wretched, her hair loose and unwashed.

Verse 48 (3.62.48)

प्रविशन्तीं तु तां दृष्ट्वा चेदिराजपुरीं तदा । अनुजग्मुस्तत्र बाला ग्रामिपुत्राः कुतूहलात् ॥

praviśantīṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā cedirājapurīṃ tadā | anujagmustatra bālā grāmiputrāḥ kutūhalāt

Seeing her enter the city of the king of Chedi, the village boys followed her there out of curiosity.

Verse 49 (3.62.49)

सा तैः परिवृताऽगच्छत्समीपं राजवेश्मनः । तां प्रासादगताऽपश्यद्राजमाता जनैर्वृताम् ॥

sā taiḥ parivṛtā'gacchatsamīpaṃ rājaveśmanaḥ | tāṃ prāsādagatā'paśyadrājamātā janairvṛtām

Surrounded by them, she came near the royal palace. The queen mother, standing on the terrace, saw her hemmed in by the crowd.

Verse 50 (3.62.50)

धात्रीमुवाच गच्छैनामानयेह ममान्तिकम् । जनेन क्लिश्यते बाला दुःखिता शरणार्थिनी ॥

dhātrīmuvāca gacchaināmānayeha mamāntikam | janena kliśyate bālā duḥkhitā śaraṇārthinī

She said to her nurse: "Go and bring her here to me. The young woman is being harassed by the people; she is in distress and seeks refuge."

Note on the text: Corrected च्छैनाम् → गच्छैनाम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara ग, the line is a syllable short; the critical edition's apparatus reads gacchainām). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records verses 50–51 in its apparatus as 3.62.21d*0290, lines 1–2.

Verse 51 (3.62.51)

तादृग्रूपं च पश्यामि विद्योतयति मे गृहम् । उन्मत्तवेषा कल्याणी श्रीरिवायतलोचना ॥

tādṛgrūpaṃ ca paśyāmi vidyotayati me gṛham | unmattaveṣā kalyāṇī śrīrivāyatalocanā

"I see such beauty in her that she lights up my house. Though dressed like a madwoman, this lovely woman with long eyes is like Shri herself."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); apparatus 3.62.21d*0290, lines 3–4. Speaker set to the queen mother: the verse continues her words to the nurse (no printed heading).

Verse 52 (3.62.52)

सा जनं वारयित्वा तं प्रासादतलमुत्तमम् । आरोप्य विस्मिता राजन्दमयन्तीमपृच्छत ॥

sā janaṃ vārayitvā taṃ prāsādatalamuttamam | āropya vismitā rājandamayantīmapṛcchata

Keeping the crowd back, she had her brought up to the fine palace terrace and, filled with wonder, O king, questioned Damayanti:

Verse 53 (3.62.53)

एवमप्यसुखाविष्टा बिभर्षि परमं वपुः । भासि विद्युदिवाभ्रेषु शंस मे काऽसिकस्य वा ॥

evamapyasukhāviṣṭā bibharṣi paramaṃ vapuḥ | bhāsi vidyudivābhreṣu śaṃsa me kā'sikasya vā

"Even overwhelmed by misfortune as you are, you have a surpassing beauty; you shine like lightning among the clouds. Tell me, who are you, and whose?"

Note on the text: Speaker set to the queen mother: verses 53–54 are her question (no printed heading).

Verse 54 (3.62.54)

न हि ते मानुषं रूपं भूषणैरपि वर्जितम् । असहाया नरेभ्यश्च नोद्विजस्यमरप्रभे ॥

na hi te mānuṣaṃ rūpaṃ bhūṣaṇairapi varjitam | asahāyā narebhyaśca nodvijasyamaraprabhe

"Your form, though without ornaments, is not that of a mortal. Alone and unprotected though you are, you show no fear of men, you who shine like an immortal."

Verse 55 (3.62.55)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या भैमी वचनमब्रवीत् । मानुषीं मां विजानीहि भर्तारं समनुव्रताम् ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasyā bhaimī vacanamabravīt | mānuṣīṃ māṃ vijānīhi bhartāraṃ samanuvratām

Hearing her words, Bhaimi replied: "Know me to be a mortal woman, devoted to her husband,"

Verse 56 (3.62.56)

सैरन्ध्रीं जातिसंपन्नां भुजिष्यां कामवासिनीम् । फलमूलाशनामेकां यत्रसायंप्रतिश्रयाम् ॥

sairandhrīṃ jātisaṃpannāṃ bhujiṣyāṃ kāmavāsinīm | phalamūlāśanāmekāṃ yatrasāyaṃpratiśrayām

"a sairandhri of good birth, a serving-woman who lives wherever she likes, alone, eating fruits and roots, sheltering wherever evening finds her."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Damayanti: verses 56–63 continue her reply (no printed heading).

Verse 57 (3.62.57)

असङ्ख्येयगुणो भर्ता मां च नित्यमनुव्रतः । भक्ताऽहमपि तं वीरं छायेवानुगता पथि ॥

asaṅkhyeyaguṇo bhartā māṃ ca nityamanuvrataḥ | bhaktā'hamapi taṃ vīraṃ chāyevānugatā pathi

"My husband has countless virtues and was always devoted to me; and I, devoted to him in turn, followed that hero on his way like his shadow."

Note on the text: The second line (भक्ताऽहमपि तं वीरं छायेवानुगता पथि) differs from the critical edition's bhartāram api taṃ vīraṃ chāyevānapagā sadā; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 58 (3.62.58)

तस्य दैवात्प्रसङ्गोऽभूदतिमात्रं सुदेवने । द्यूते स निर्जितश्चैव वनमेक उपेयिवान् ॥

tasya daivātprasaṅgo'bhūdatimātraṃ sudevane | dyūte sa nirjitaścaiva vanameka upeyivān

"By fate he became excessively attached to gambling; beaten at dice, he went away alone into the forest."

Verse 59 (3.62.59)

तमेकवसनच्छन्नमुन्मत्तमिव विह्वलम् । आश्वासयन्ती भर्तारमहमप्यगमं वनम् ॥

tamekavasanacchannamunmattamiva vihvalam | āśvāsayantī bhartāramahamapyagamaṃ vanam

"He was covered by a single garment, distraught, as if out of his mind; consoling my husband, I too went with him into the forest."

Note on the text: Corrected उन्म्तमिव → उन्मत्तमिव (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the critical edition reads unmattam iva).

Verse 60 (3.62.60)

स कदाचिद्वने वीरः कस्मिंश्चित्कारणान्तरे । क्षुत्परीतस्तु विमना वासश्चैकं व्यसर्जयत् ॥

sa kadācidvane vīraḥ kasmiṃścitkāraṇāntare | kṣutparītastu vimanā vāsaścaikaṃ vyasarjayat

"Once in the forest, for some reason, that hero, tormented by hunger and in despair, cast away his one garment."

Verse 61 (3.62.61)

तमेकवसना नग्नमुन्मत्तवदचेतसम् । अनुव्रजन्ती बहुला न स्वपामि निशाः सदा ॥

tamekavasanā nagnamunmattavadacetasam | anuvrajantī bahulā na svapāmi niśāḥ sadā

"With only a single garment myself, I followed him, naked and out of his senses like a madman, and for many nights I never slept."

Verse 62 (3.62.62)

ततो बहुतिथे काले सुप्तामुत्सृज्य मां क्वचित् । वाससोऽर्धं परिच्छिद्य त्यक्तवान्मामनागसम् ॥

tato bahutithe kāle suptāmutsṛjya māṃ kvacit | vāsaso'rdhaṃ paricchidya tyaktavānmāmanāgasam

"Then, after a long time, while I lay asleep somewhere, he cut away half my garment and abandoned me, though I had done no wrong."

Verse 63 (3.62.63)

तं मार्गमाणा भर्तारं दह्यमाना दिवानिशम् । न विन्दाम्यमरप्रख्यं प्रियं प्राणेश्वरं प्रभुम् ॥

taṃ mārgamāṇā bhartāraṃ dahyamānā divāniśam | na vindāmyamaraprakhyaṃ priyaṃ prāṇeśvaraṃ prabhum

"Searching for my husband, burning with grief day and night, I cannot find him — my beloved, like an immortal, the lord of my life, my master."

Verse 64 (3.62.64)

इत्युक्त्वा साऽनवद्याङ्गी राजमातरमप्युत । स्थिताऽश्रुपरिपूर्णाक्षी वेपमाना सुदुःखिता ॥

ityuktvā sā'navadyāṅgī rājamātaramapyuta | sthitā'śruparipūrṇākṣī vepamānā suduḥkhitā

Having said this to the queen mother, the flawless Damayanti stood there, her eyes brimming with tears, trembling and deeply distressed.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') that Wikisource uses to set off this verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.62.33d*0293.

Verse 65 (3.62.65)

तामश्रुपरिपूर्णाक्षीं विलपन्तीं तथा बहु । राजमाताऽब्रवीदार्ता भैमीमार्तस्वरां स्वयम् ॥

tāmaśruparipūrṇākṣīṃ vilapantīṃ tathā bahu | rājamātā'bravīdārtā bhaimīmārtasvarāṃ svayam

To Bhaimi, her eyes full of tears, weeping at length in a voice of anguish, the queen mother, herself in distress, said:

Verse 66 (3.62.66)

वस त्वमिह कल्याणि प्रीतिर्मे परमा त्वयि । मृगयिष्यन्ति ते भद्रे भर्तारं पुरुषा मम ॥

vasa tvamiha kalyāṇi prītirme paramā tvayi | mṛgayiṣyanti te bhadre bhartāraṃ puruṣā mama

"Stay here, gracious one; I feel the deepest affection for you. My men will search for your husband, good lady."

Note on the text: Speaker set to the queen mother: verses 66–67 are her words (no printed heading).

Verse 67 (3.62.67)

अपि वा स्वयमागच्छेत्परिधावन्नितस्ततः । इहैव वसती भद्रे भर्तारमुपलप्स्यसे ॥

api vā svayamāgacchetparidhāvannitastataḥ | ihaiva vasatī bhadre bhartāramupalapsyase

"Or he may come here of his own accord in his wanderings to and fro. Living right here, good lady, you will find your husband again."

Verse 68 (3.62.68)

राजमातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा दमयन्ती वचोऽब्रवीत् । समयेनोत्सहे वस्तुं त्वयि वीरप्रजायिनि ॥

rājamāturvacaḥ śrutvā damayantī vaco'bravīt | samayenotsahe vastuṃ tvayi vīraprajāyini

Hearing the queen mother's words, Damayanti said: "I can live with you, mother of heroes, on certain conditions."

Note on the text: Corrected त्वि → त्वयि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; the critical edition reads tvayi).

Verse 69 (3.62.69)

उच्छिष्टं नैव भुञ्जीयां न कुर्यां पादधावनम् । न चाहं पुरुषानन्यान्प्रभाषेयं कथंचन ॥

ucchiṣṭaṃ naiva bhuñjīyāṃ na kuryāṃ pādadhāvanam | na cāhaṃ puruṣānanyānprabhāṣeyaṃ kathaṃcana

"I will not eat anyone's leftovers, nor wash anyone's feet, nor speak with other men in any way."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Damayanti: verses 69–71 are her conditions (no printed heading).

Verse 70 (3.62.70)

प्रार्थयेद्यदि मां कश्चिद्दण्ड्यस्ते स पुमान्भवेत् । वध्यश्च तेऽसकृन्मन्द इतिमे व्रतमाहितम् ॥

prārthayedyadi māṃ kaściddaṇḍyaste sa pumānbhavet | vadhyaśca te'sakṛnmanda itime vratamāhitam

"If any man should court me, he must be punished by you, and if he does it again and again, the fool must be put to death by you: this is the vow I have taken."

Note on the text: Corrected ते सकृन्मन्द → तेऽसकृन्मन्द (misprint in Wikisource; a missing avagraha turns असकृत् "repeatedly" into सकृत् "once"; the critical edition's apparatus reads te 'sakṛn). The first line is CE 3.62.39ab; the second line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 3.62.39b*0294).

Verse 71 (3.62.71)

भर्तुरन्वेषणार्थं तु पश्येयं ब्राह्मणानहम् । यद्येवमिह वत्स्यामि त्वत्सकाशे न संशयः । अतोऽन्यथा न मे वासो वर्तते हृदये क्वचित् ॥

bharturanveṣaṇārthaṃ tu paśyeyaṃ brāhmaṇānaham | yadyevamiha vatsyāmi tvatsakāśe na saṃśayaḥ | ato'nyathā na me vāso vartate hṛdaye kvacit

"And I must be allowed to meet brahmins so as to search for my husband. If it is to be like this, I will certainly live here with you; otherwise my heart is set on staying nowhere."

Note on the text: The first line is CE 3.62.39cd; the other two lines correspond to CE 3.62.40 (the second line in a recension variant).

Verse 72 (3.62.72)

इत्युक्ता दमयन्त्या तु राजमातेदमब्रवीत् । सर्वमेतत्करिष्यामि दिष्ट्या ते व्रतमीदृशम् ॥

ityuktā damayantyā tu rājamātedamabravīt | sarvametatkariṣyāmi diṣṭyā te vratamīdṛśam

Addressed thus by Damayanti, the queen mother said: "I will do all of this. How fortunate that your vow is such!"

Verse 73 (3.62.73)

एवमुक्त्वा ततो भैमीं राजमाता विशांपते । उवाचेदं दुहितरं सुनन्दां नाम भारत ॥

evamuktvā tato bhaimīṃ rājamātā viśāṃpate | uvācedaṃ duhitaraṃ sunandāṃ nāma bhārata

Having spoken so to Bhaimi, O lord of the people, the queen mother said this to her daughter named Sunanda, O Bharata:

Verse 74 (3.62.74)

सैरन्ध्रीमभिजानीष्व सुनन्दे देवरूपिणीम् । वयसा तुल्यतां प्राप्ता सखी तव भवत्वियम् । एतया सह मोदस्व निरुद्विग्नमनाः सदा ॥

sairandhrīmabhijānīṣva sunande devarūpiṇīm | vayasā tulyatāṃ prāptā sakhī tava bhavatviyam | etayā saha modasva nirudvignamanāḥ sadā

"Sunanda, take this sairandhri, divine in beauty, as your own. She is of your own age; let her be your friend. Enjoy yourself in her company, always free from care."

Note on the text: Corrected निरुद्विग्रमना → निरुद्विग्नमनाः (misprint in Wikisource; ग्र for ग्न and a dropped visarga; the critical edition reads nirudvignamanāḥ). The middle line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 3.62.43b*0295). Speaker set to the queen mother (her words to Sunanda; no printed heading).

Verse 75 (3.62.75)

ततः परमसंहृष्टा सुनन्दा गृहमागमत् । दमयन्तीमुपादाय सखीभिः परिवारिता ॥

tataḥ paramasaṃhṛṣṭā sunandā gṛhamāgamat | damayantīmupādāya sakhībhiḥ parivāritā

Then Sunanda, overjoyed, went home, taking Damayanti with her, surrounded by her friends.

Note on the text: Corrected गृहणागमत् → गृहमागमत् (misprint in Wikisource; ण for म; the critical edition's apparatus reads gṛham āgamat). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.62.43d*0296, lines 1–2.

Verse 76 (3.62.76)

सहसा न्यवसद्राजन्राजपुत्र्या सुनन्दया । चिन्तयन्ती नलं वीरमनिशं वामलोचना ॥

sahasā nyavasadrājanrājaputryā sunandayā | cintayantī nalaṃ vīramaniśaṃ vāmalocanā

And there, O king, the fair-eyed Damayanti lived together with the princess Sunanda, thinking ceaselessly of the heroic Nala.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.62.43d*0298 (which reads saha sā; Wikisource prints the same letters joined as सहसा).