Damayanti Is Recognised and Returns to Vidarbha

Verse 1 (3.66.1)

विदर्भराजो धर्मात्मा भीमो भीमपराक्रमः । सुतेयं तस्य कल्याणी दमयन्तीति विश्रुता ॥

vidarbharājo dharmātmā bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ | suteyaṃ tasya kalyāṇī damayantīti viśrutā

"The king of Vidarbha is the righteous Bhima, of fearsome valour. This blessed lady is his daughter, known far and wide as Damayanti.

Verse 2 (3.66.2)

राजा तु नैषधो नाम वीरसेनसुतो नलः । भार्येयं तस्य कल्याणी पुण्यश्लोकस्य धीमतः ॥

rājā tu naiṣadho nāma vīrasenasuto nalaḥ | bhāryeyaṃ tasya kalyāṇī puṇyaślokasya dhīmataḥ

The king of Nishadha is named Nala, the son of Virasena; this blessed lady is the wife of that wise man of holy fame.

Verse 3 (3.66.3)

स द्यूतेन जितो भ्रात्रा हृतराज्यो महामनाः । दमयन्त्या गतः सार्धं न प्रज्ञायत कस्यचित् ॥

sa dyūtena jito bhrātrā hṛtarājyo mahāmanāḥ | damayantyā gataḥ sārdhaṃ na prajñāyata kasyacit

Beaten at dice by his brother and robbed of his kingdom, that great-souled man went away with Damayanti, and no one has known where.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राज्ञायत → प्रज्ञायत (misprint in Wikisource; CE prajñāyata).

Verse 4 (3.66.4)

ते वयं दमयन्त्यर्थे चरामः पृथिवीमिमाम् । सेयमासादिता बाला तव देवि निवेशने ॥

te vayaṃ damayantyarthe carāmaḥ pṛthivīmimām | seyamāsāditā bālā tava devi niveśane

For Damayanti's sake we are roaming this earth, and here in your house, my lady, the young woman has been found.

Verse 5 (3.66.5)

अस्या रूपेण सदृशी मानुषी न हि विद्यते । अस्या ह्येष भ्रुवोर्मध्ये सहजः पिप्लुरुत्तमः ॥

asyā rūpeṇa sadṛśī mānuṣī na hi vidyate | asyā hyeṣa bhruvormadhye sahajaḥ pipluruttamaḥ

No human woman is her equal in beauty. Between her brows she has a fine mole, born with her,

Verse 6 (3.66.6)

श्यामायाः पद्मसंकाशो लक्षितोऽन्तर्हितो मया । मलेन संवृतो ह्यस्याश्छन्नोऽभ्रेणेव चन्द्रमाः ॥

śyāmāyāḥ padmasaṃkāśo lakṣito'ntarhito mayā | malena saṃvṛto hyasyāśchanno'bhreṇeva candramāḥ

a lotus-like mark on this dark beauty, which I made out although it is hidden; for it is covered with grime, like the moon veiled by a cloud.

Note on the text: Spacing normalised (संवृतोह्यस्याश् → संवृतो ह्यस्याश्).

Verse 7 (3.66.7)

चिह्नभूतो विभूत्यर्थमयं धात्रा विनिर्मितः । प्रतिपत्कलुषेवेन्दोर्लेखा नातिविराजते ॥

cihnabhūto vibhūtyarthamayaṃ dhātrā vinirmitaḥ | pratipatkaluṣevendorlekhā nātivirājate

The Creator made it as a sign of her good fortune. Now it does not shine brightly, like the moon's thin crescent clouded on the first day of the fortnight.

Verse 8 (3.66.8)

न चास्या नश्यते रूपं वपुर्मलसमाचितम् । असंस्कृतमपि व्यक्तं भाति काञ्चनसन्निभम् ॥

na cāsyā naśyate rūpaṃ vapurmalasamācitam | asaṃskṛtamapi vyaktaṃ bhāti kāñcanasannibham

Yet her beauty is not lost, though her body is coated with grime. Even uncared for, it shows plainly and shines like gold.

Verse 9 (3.66.9)

अनेन वपुषा बाला पिप्लुनाऽनेन सूचिता । लक्षितेयं मया देवी पिहितोऽग्निरिवोष्मणा ॥

anena vapuṣā bālā piplunā'nena sūcitā | lakṣiteyaṃ mayā devī pihito'gnirivoṣmaṇā

By this form and by this mole that marks her, I have known the young woman for the princess, as one knows a hidden fire by its heat."

Verse 10 (3.66.10)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य सुदेवस्य विशांपते । सुनन्दा शोधयामास पिप्लुप्रच्छादनं मलम् ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya sudevasya viśāṃpate | sunandā śodhayāmāsa piplupracchādanaṃ malam

Hearing these words of Sudeva, O lord of the people, Sunanda washed away the grime that hid the mole.

Verse 11 (3.66.11)

स मलेनापकृष्टेन पिप्लुस्तस्या व्यरोचत । दमयन्त्या यथा व्यभ्रे नभसीव निशाकरः ॥

sa malenāpakṛṣṭena piplustasyā vyarocata | damayantyā yathā vyabhre nabhasīva niśākaraḥ

With the grime removed, Damayanti's mole shone out like the moon in a cloudless sky.

Note on the text: Corrected अपकृष्टन → अपकृष्टेन (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; CE apakṛṣṭena).

Verse 12 (3.66.12)

पिप्लुं दृष्ट्वा सुनन्दा च राजमाता च भारत । रुदन्त्यौ तां परिष्वज्य मुहूर्तमिव तस्थतुः ॥

pipluṃ dṛṣṭvā sunandā ca rājamātā ca bhārata | rudantyau tāṃ pariṣvajya muhūrtamiva tasthatuḥ

Seeing the mole, O Bharata, Sunanda and the queen mother wept and embraced her, and stood so for a while.

Note on the text: Spacing normalised (परिष्वज्यमुहूर्तमिव → परिष्वज्य मुहूर्तमिव).

Verse 13 (3.66.13)

उत्सृज्य बाष्पं शनकै राजमातेदमब्रवीत् । भगिन्या दुहिता मेऽसि पिप्लुनानेन सूचिता ॥

utsṛjya bāṣpaṃ śanakai rājamātedamabravīt | bhaginyā duhitā me'si piplunānena sūcitā

Then, slowly letting her tears fall, the queen mother said: "You are my sister's daughter; this mole has made it known.

Verse 14 (3.66.14)

अहं च तव माता च राजन्यस्य महात्मनः । सुते दशार्णाधिपतेः सुदाम्नश्चारुदर्शने ॥

ahaṃ ca tava mātā ca rājanyasya mahātmanaḥ | sute daśārṇādhipateḥ sudāmnaścārudarśane

Your mother and I, lovely one, are daughters of Sudaman, the noble lord of the Dasharnas.

Verse 15 (3.66.15)

भीमस्य राज्ञः सा दत्ता वीरबाहोरहं पुनः । त्वं तु जाता मया दृष्टा दशार्णेषु पितुर्गृहे ॥

bhīmasya rājñaḥ sā dattā vīrabāhorahaṃ punaḥ | tvaṃ tu jātā mayā dṛṣṭā daśārṇeṣu piturgṛhe

She was given in marriage to King Bhima, and I to Virabahu. I saw you when you were born, in our father's house among the Dasharnas.

Verse 16 (3.66.16)

यथैव ते पितुर्गेहं तथेदमपि भामिनि । यथैव च ममैश्वर्यं दमयन्ति तथा तव ॥

yathaiva te piturgehaṃ tathedamapi bhāmini | yathaiva ca mamaiśvaryaṃ damayanti tathā tava

As your father's house is yours, lovely lady, so is this one; and as my wealth and rank are mine, Damayanti, so they are yours."

Note on the text: Corrected भामिति → भामिनि (misprint in Wikisource; vocative 'lovely lady'; CE bhāmini).

Verse 17 (3.66.17)

तां प्रहृष्टेन मनसा दमयन्ती विशांपते । प्रणम्य मातुर्भगिनीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

tāṃ prahṛṣṭena manasā damayantī viśāṃpate | praṇamya māturbhaginīmidaṃ vacanamabravīt

With a glad heart, O lord of the people, Damayanti bowed to her mother's sister and said:

Verse 18 (3.66.18)

अज्ञायमानाऽपि सती सुखमस्म्युषिता त्वयि । सर्वकामैः सुविहिता रक्ष्यमाणा सदा त्वया ॥

ajñāyamānā'pi satī sukhamasmyuṣitā tvayi | sarvakāmaiḥ suvihitā rakṣyamāṇā sadā tvayā

"Even while no one knew who I was, I have lived happily with you, provided with everything I could wish and always protected by you.

Note on the text: Spacing normalised (अज्ञायमानाऽपिसती → अज्ञायमानाऽपि सती).

Verse 19 (3.66.19)

सुखात्सुखतरो वासो भविष्यति न संशयः । चिरविप्रोषितां मातर्मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ॥

sukhātsukhataro vāso bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ | ciraviproṣitāṃ mātarmāmanujñātumarhasi

No doubt my stay would only grow happier still; but I have long been away from home, mother, and you should give me leave to go.

Verse 20 (3.66.20)

दारकौ च हि मे नीतौ वसतस्तत्र बालकौ । पित्रा विहीनौ शोकार्तौ मया चैव कथं नु तौ ॥

dārakau ca hi me nītau vasatastatra bālakau | pitrā vihīnau śokārtau mayā caiva kathaṃ nu tau

My two children were taken there and are living there, little ones without their father and grieving; and without me too, how can they be faring?

Verse 21 (3.66.21)

यदि चापि प्रियं किंचिन्मयि कर्तुमिहेच्छसि । विदर्भान्यातुमिच्छामि शीघ्रं मे यानमादिश ॥

yadi cāpi priyaṃ kiṃcinmayi kartumihecchasi | vidarbhānyātumicchāmi śīghraṃ me yānamādiśa

If you wish to do me any kindness at all, I want to go to Vidarbha; order a carriage for me quickly."

Verse 22 (3.66.22)

बाढमित्येव तामुक्त्वा हृष्टा मातृष्वसा नृप । गुप्तां बलेन महता पुत्रस्यानुमते ततः ॥

bāḍhamityeva tāmuktvā hṛṣṭā mātṛṣvasā nṛpa | guptāṃ balena mahatā putrasyānumate tataḥ

Saying "So be it," her mother's sister, delighted, O king, then with her son's consent had her guarded by a large force;

Note on the text: Corrected हृष्ट्वा → हृष्टा (misprint in Wikisource; the adjective 'delighted' agrees with मातृष्वसा; CE hṛṣṭā).

Verse 23 (3.66.23)

प्रास्थापयद्राजमाता श्रीमतीं नरवाहिना । यानेन भरतश्रेष्ठ स्वन्नपानपरिच्छदाम् ॥

prāsthāpayadrājamātā śrīmatīṃ naravāhinā | yānena bharataśreṣṭha svannapānaparicchadām

and the queen mother sent off the lovely lady, best of the Bharatas, in a litter borne by men, well supplied with food, drink and clothing.

Verse 24 (3.66.24)

ततः सा नचिरादेव विदर्भानगमच्छुभा । तां तु बन्धुजनः सर्वः प्रहृष्टः समपूजयत् ॥

tataḥ sā nacirādeva vidarbhānagamacchubhā | tāṃ tu bandhujanaḥ sarvaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ samapūjayat

Before long the fair lady reached Vidarbha, and all her kinsfolk welcomed and honoured her with joy.

Verse 25 (3.66.25)

सर्वान्कुशलिनो दृष्ट्वा बान्धवान्दारकौ च तौ । मातरं पितरं चोभौ सर्वं चैव सखीजनम् ॥

sarvānkuśalino dṛṣṭvā bāndhavāndārakau ca tau | mātaraṃ pitaraṃ cobhau sarvaṃ caiva sakhījanam

Finding all her kinsmen safe and well, and her two children, her mother and father both, and all her women friends,

Verse 26 (3.66.26)

देवताः पूजयामास ब्राह्मणांश्च यशस्विनी । परेण विधिना देवी दमयन्ती विशांपते ॥

devatāḥ pūjayāmāsa brāhmaṇāṃśca yaśasvinī | pareṇa vidhinā devī damayantī viśāṃpate

the illustrious Queen Damayanti worshipped the gods and the brahmins with the finest rites, O lord of the people.

Verse 27 (3.66.27)

अतर्पयत्सुदेवं च गोसहस्रेण पार्थिवः । प्रीतो दृष्ट्वैव तनयां ग्रामेण द्रविणेन च ॥

atarpayatsudevaṃ ca gosahasreṇa pārthivaḥ | prīto dṛṣṭvaiva tanayāṃ grāmeṇa draviṇena ca

The king, delighted at the very sight of his daughter, rewarded Sudeva with a thousand cows, a village and wealth.

Verse 28 (3.66.28)

सा व्युष्टा रजनीं तत्र पितुर्वेश्मनि भामिनी । विश्रान्ता मातरं राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

sā vyuṣṭā rajanīṃ tatra piturveśmani bhāminī | viśrāntā mātaraṃ rājannidaṃ vacanamabravīt

The lovely lady spent the night there in her father's house, and when she had rested, O king, she said this to her mother:

Note on the text: Spacing normalised (तत्रपितुर्वेश्मनि → तत्र पितुर्वेश्मनि).