Damayanti's Message Is Carried Abroad

Verse 1 (3.67.1)

मां चेदिच्छसि जीवन्तीं मातः सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते । नलस्य नरवीरस्य यतस्वानयने पुनः ॥

māṃ cedicchasi jīvantīṃ mātaḥ satyaṃ bravīmi te | nalasya naravīrasya yatasvānayane punaḥ

"Mother, I tell you truly: if you want me to live, strive to bring back Nala, that hero among men."

Note on the text: Dropped the speaker heading 'दमयन्त्यवाच ।' (a misprint for दमयन्त्युवाच) that had slipped into the verse text; the speaker is now recorded as दमयन्ती. Spacing normalised (ब्रवीमिते → ब्रवीमि ते).

Verse 2 (3.67.2)

दमयन्त्या तथोक्ता तु सा देवी भृशदुःखिता । बाष्पेणापिहिता राज्ञी नोत्तरं किंचिदब्रवीत् ॥

damayantyā tathoktā tu sā devī bhṛśaduḥkhitā | bāṣpeṇāpihitā rājñī nottaraṃ kiṃcidabravīt

Spoken to in this way by Damayanti, the queen, deeply distressed and choked with tears, could make no answer.

Verse 3 (3.67.3)

तदवस्थां तु तां दृष्ट्वा सर्वमन्तःपुरं तदा । हाहाभूतमतीवासीद्भृशं च प्ररुरोद ह ॥

tadavasthāṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā sarvamantaḥpuraṃ tadā | hāhābhūtamatīvāsīdbhṛśaṃ ca praruroda ha

Seeing her in that state, the whole of the women's quarters broke into cries of "Alas, alas!" and wept bitterly.

Verse 4 (3.67.4)

ततो भीमं महाराजं भार्या वचनमब्रवीत् । दमयन्ती नृप भृशं भर्तारमनुशोचति ॥

tato bhīmaṃ mahārājaṃ bhāryā vacanamabravīt | damayantī nṛpa bhṛśaṃ bhartāramanuśocati

Then his wife spoke to Bhima, the great king: "Damayanti grieves bitterly for her husband, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected वचनामब्रवीत् → वचनमब्रवीत् (misprint in Wikisource; CE vacanam abravīt).

Verse 5 (3.67.5)

अपकृष्य च लज्जां सा स्वयमुक्तवती विभो । प्रयतन्तु तव प्रेष्याः पुण्यश्लोकस्य दर्शने ॥

apakṛṣya ca lajjāṃ sā svayamuktavatī vibho | prayatantu tava preṣyāḥ puṇyaślokasya darśane

Putting aside her modesty, my lord, she has told me herself: 'Let your servants strive to find the man of holy fame.'"

Note on the text: Spacing normalised (तवप्रेष्याः → तव प्रेष्याः).

Verse 6 (3.67.6)

तया प्रचोदितो राजा ब्राह्मणान्वशवर्तिनः । प्रास्थापयद्दिशः सर्वा यतध्वं नलदर्शने ॥

tayā pracodito rājā brāhmaṇānvaśavartinaḥ | prāsthāpayaddiśaḥ sarvā yatadhvaṃ naladarśane

Urged by her, the king sent the brahmins who obeyed him out in every direction, saying: "Strive to find Nala."

Note on the text: Corrected प्रयोदितो → प्रचोदितो and प्राश्थापयद् → प्रास्थापयद् (misprints in Wikisource; CE pracodito, prāsthāpayad). Spacing normalised (तयाप्रयोदितो → तया प्रचोदितो).

Verse 7 (3.67.7)

ततो विदर्भाधिपतेर्नियोगाद्ब्राह्मणास्तदा । दमयन्तीमथापृच्छ्य प्रस्थितास्ते तथाऽब्रुवन् ॥

tato vidarbhādhipaterniyogādbrāhmaṇāstadā | damayantīmathāpṛcchya prasthitāste tathā'bruvan

Then, at the command of the lord of Vidarbha, the brahmins took leave of Damayanti and told her they were setting out.

Note on the text: Corrected तथाऽव्रुवन् → तथाऽब्रुवन् (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब; CE abruvan).

Verse 8 (3.67.8)

अथ तानब्रवीद्भैमी सर्वराष्ट्रेष्विदं वचः । ब्रूत वै जनसंसत्सु तत्रतत्र पुनः पुनः ॥

atha tānabravīdbhaimī sarvarāṣṭreṣvidaṃ vacaḥ | brūta vai janasaṃsatsu tatratatra punaḥ punaḥ

Then Bhima's daughter said to them: "In all the kingdoms, in every gathering of people, say these words again and again:

Verse 9 (3.67.9)

क्व नु त्वं कितव च्छित्त्वा वस्त्रार्धं प्रस्थितो मम । उत्सृज्य विपिने सुप्तामनुरक्तां प्रियां प्रिय ॥

kva nu tvaṃ kitava cchittvā vastrārdhaṃ prasthito mama | utsṛjya vipine suptāmanuraktāṃ priyāṃ priya

'Where have you gone, gambler, after cutting off half my garment and leaving your loving wife asleep in the forest, my beloved?

Note on the text: Corrected वपिने → विपिने (misprint in Wikisource; CE vipine). Spacing normalised (क्वनु → क्व नु).

Verse 10 (3.67.10)

सा वै यथा त्वया दृष्टा तथाऽऽस्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी । दह्यमाना भृशं बाला वस्त्रार्धेनाभिसंवृता ॥

sā vai yathā tvayā dṛṣṭā tathā''ste tvatpratīkṣiṇī | dahyamānā bhṛśaṃ bālā vastrārdhenābhisaṃvṛtā

She waits for you just as you saw her last, the young woman, burning with grief and covered with half a garment.

Verse 11 (3.67.11)

तस्या रुदन्त्याः सततं तेन शोकेन पार्थिव । प्रसादं कुरु वै देव प्रतिवाक्यं वदस्व च ॥

tasyā rudantyāḥ satataṃ tena śokena pārthiva | prasādaṃ kuru vai deva prativākyaṃ vadasva ca

She weeps without ceasing in that grief, O king. Be gracious to her, my lord, and give her an answer.'

Verse 12 (3.67.12)

एवमन्यच्च वक्तव्यं कृपां कुर्याद्यथा मयि । वायुना धूयमानो हि वनं दहति पावकः ॥

evamanyacca vaktavyaṃ kṛpāṃ kuryādyathā mayi | vāyunā dhūyamāno hi vanaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ

Say this and more, so that he will take pity on me: 'Fanned by the wind, fire burns up a whole forest.

Verse 13 (3.67.13)

भर्तव्या रक्षणीया च पत्नी पत्या हि नित्यदा । तन्नष्टमुभयं कस्माद्धर्मज्ञस्य सतस्तव ॥

bhartavyā rakṣaṇīyā ca patnī patyā hi nityadā | tannaṣṭamubhayaṃ kasmāddharmajñasya satastava

A wife should always be supported and protected by her husband. Why have both these failed in you, who know what is right?

Note on the text: Corrected त्व → च (misprint in Wikisource; 'त्व' is not a word here; CE ca).

Verse 14 (3.67.14)

ख्यातः प्राज्ञः कुलीनश्च सानुक्रोशो भवान्सदा । संवृत्तो निरनुक्रोशः शङ्के मद्भाग्यसंक्षयात् ॥

khyātaḥ prājñaḥ kulīnaśca sānukrośo bhavānsadā | saṃvṛtto niranukrośaḥ śaṅke madbhāgyasaṃkṣayāt

You were always known as wise, high-born and compassionate; now you have become pitiless, because my good fortune has run out, I fear.

Note on the text: Corrected कुलीनश् → कुलीनश्च (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara leaves the line a syllable short; CE kulīnaś ca).

Verse 15 (3.67.15)

तत्कुरुष्व नरव्याघ्र दयां मयि नरर्षभ । आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मस्त्वत्त एव हि मे श्रुतः ॥

tatkuruṣva naravyāghra dayāṃ mayi nararṣabha | ānṛśaṃsyaṃ paro dharmastvatta eva hi me śrutaḥ

So, tiger among men, bull among men, have pity on me. It was from you yourself that I heard that kindness is the highest dharma.'

Note on the text: Corrected नरर्पभ → नरर्षभ (misprint in Wikisource; CE nararṣabha).

Verse 16 (3.67.16)

एवं ब्रुवाणान्यदि वः प्रतिब्रूयाद्धि कश्चन । स नरः सर्वथा ज्ञेयः कश्चासौ क्व नु वर्तते ॥

evaṃ bruvāṇānyadi vaḥ pratibrūyāddhi kaścana | sa naraḥ sarvathā jñeyaḥ kaścāsau kva nu vartate

If, as you speak in this way, anyone answers you, find out by every means who that man is and where he lives.

Note on the text: Spacing normalised (एवंब्रुवाणान् → एवं ब्रुवाणान्, क्वनु → क्व नु).

Verse 17 (3.67.17)

यश्चैवं वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रूयात्प्रतिवचो नरः । तदादाय वचस्तस्य ममावेद्यं द्विजोत्तमाः ॥

yaścaivaṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā brūyātprativaco naraḥ | tadādāya vacastasya mamāvedyaṃ dvijottamāḥ

And whatever man gives a reply on hearing these words, bring back his reply and report it to me, best of brahmins.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रुत्य्वा → श्रुत्वा and बूयात् → ब्रूयात् (misprints in Wikisource; CE śrutvā, brūyāt).

Verse 18 (3.67.18)

यथा च वो न जानीयाच्चरतो भीमशासनात् । पुनरागमनं चेह तथा कार्यमतन्द्रितैः ॥

yathā ca vo na jānīyāccarato bhīmaśāsanāt | punarāgamanaṃ ceha tathā kāryamatandritaiḥ

Act watchfully, so that he does not learn that you go about at Bhima's command, nor that you mean to come back here.

Verse 19 (3.67.19)

यदि वाऽसौ समृद्धः स्याद्यदि वाऽप्यधनो भवेत् । यदि वाऽप्यसमर्थः स्याज्ज्ञेयमस्य चिकीर्षितम् ॥

yadi vā'sau samṛddhaḥ syādyadi vā'pyadhano bhavet | yadi vā'pyasamarthaḥ syājjñeyamasya cikīrṣitam

Whether he is prosperous or penniless, or even powerless, find out what he means to do."

Note on the text: Corrected यदिऽवाप्यसमर्थः → यदि वाऽप्यसमर्थः (misprint in Wikisource; misplaced avagraha and missing space).

Verse 20 (3.67.20)

एवमुक्तास्त्वगच्छंस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतो दिशम् । नलं मृगयितुं राजंस्तदा व्यसनिनं तथा ॥

evamuktāstvagacchaṃste brāhmaṇāḥ sarvato diśam | nalaṃ mṛgayituṃ rājaṃstadā vyasaninaṃ tathā

So instructed, the brahmins went out in every direction, O king, to seek Nala in his misfortune.

Verse 21 (3.67.21)

ते पुराणि सराष्ट्राणि ग्रामान्घोषांस्तथाऽऽश्रमान् । अन्वेषन्तो नलं राजन्नाधिजग्मुर्द्विजातयः ॥

te purāṇi sarāṣṭrāṇi grāmānghoṣāṃstathā''śramān | anveṣanto nalaṃ rājannādhijagmurdvijātayaḥ

The brahmins searched for Nala through cities and kingdoms, villages, herdsmen's camps and hermitages, O king, but did not find him.

Note on the text: Corrected ग्रामान्धोपांस् → ग्रामान्घोषांस् and दविजातयः → द्विजातयः (misprints in Wikisource; CE ghoṣāṃs, dvijātayaḥ).

Verse 22 (3.67.22)

तच्च वाक्यं तथा सर्वे तत्र तत्र विशांपते । श्रावयांचक्रिरे विप्रा दमयन्त्या यथेरितम् ॥

tacca vākyaṃ tathā sarve tatra tatra viśāṃpate | śrāvayāṃcakrire viprā damayantyā yatheritam

And everywhere they went, O lord of the people, the brahmins all made those words heard, just as Damayanti had spoken them.

Note on the text: Spacing normalised (सर्वेतत्रतत्र → सर्वे तत्र तत्र).