Parnada's News and Damayanti's Plan

Verse 1 (3.68.1)

अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य पर्णादो नाम वै द्विजः । प्रत्येत्य नगरं भैमीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

atha dīrghasya kālasya parṇādo nāma vai dvijaḥ | pratyetya nagaraṃ bhaimīmidaṃ vacanamabravīt

After a long time, a brahmin named Parnada came back to the city and said to Bhima's daughter:

Verse 2 (3.68.2)

नैषधं मृगयाणेन दमयन्ति दिवानिशम् । अयोध्यां नगरीं गत्वा भाङ्गस्वरिरुपस्थितः ॥

naiṣadhaṃ mṛgayāṇena damayanti divāniśam | ayodhyāṃ nagarīṃ gatvā bhāṅgasvarirupasthitaḥ

"Searching day and night for the Naishadha, Damayanti, I went to the city of Ayodhya and presented myself before the son of Bhangasura.

Note on the text: Corrected भागस्वरिः → भाङ्गस्वरिः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped nasal in the patronymic of Rituparna; CE bhāṅgasvarir).

Verse 3 (3.68.3)

श्रावितश्च मया वाक्यं त्वदीयं स महाजने । ऋतुपर्णो महाभागो यथोक्तं वरवर्णिनि ॥

śrāvitaśca mayā vākyaṃ tvadīyaṃ sa mahājane | ṛtuparṇo mahābhāgo yathoktaṃ varavarṇini

In a great assembly I made the illustrious Rituparna hear your words, fair lady, exactly as you told them.

Verse 4 (3.68.4)

तच्छ्रुत्वा नाब्रवीत्किंचिदृतुपर्णो नराधिपः । न च पारिषदः कश्चिद्भाष्यमाणो मयाऽसकृत् ॥

tacchrutvā nābravītkiṃcidṛtuparṇo narādhipaḥ | na ca pāriṣadaḥ kaścidbhāṣyamāṇo mayā'sakṛt

Hearing them, Rituparna, the lord of men, said nothing, nor did anyone of his court, though I repeated them again and again.

Verse 5 (3.68.5)

अनुज्ञातं तु मां राज्ञा विजने कश्चिदब्रवीत् । ऋतुपर्णस्य पुरुषो बाहुको नाम नामतः ॥

anujñātaṃ tu māṃ rājñā vijane kaścidabravīt | ṛtuparṇasya puruṣo bāhuko nāma nāmataḥ

But when the king had given me leave to go, someone spoke to me in private, a man of Rituparna's named Bahuka,

Verse 6 (3.68.6)

सूतस्तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य विरूपो ह्रस्वबाहुकः । शीघ्रयानेषु कुशलो मृष्टकर्ता च भोजने ॥

sūtastasya narendrasya virūpo hrasvabāhukaḥ | śīghrayāneṣu kuśalo mṛṣṭakartā ca bhojane

that king's charioteer, misshapen and short-armed, skilled at fast driving and a fine cook as well.

Verse 7 (3.68.7)

स विनिःश्वस्य बहुशो रुदित्वा च पुनः पुनः । कुशलं चैव मां पृष्ट्वा पश्चादिदमभाषत ॥

sa viniḥśvasya bahuśo ruditvā ca punaḥ punaḥ | kuśalaṃ caiva māṃ pṛṣṭvā paścādidamabhāṣata

He sighed many times and wept again and again, and after asking how I was, he said this:

Note on the text: Corrected बंहुशो → बहुशो and षुनःपुनः → पुनः पुनः (misprints in Wikisource; CE bahuśo; ष for प).

Verse 8 (3.68.8)

वैषम्यमपि संप्राप्ता गोपायन्ति कुलस्त्रियः । आत्मानमात्मना सत्यो जितः स्वर्गो न संशयः ॥

vaiṣamyamapi saṃprāptā gopāyanti kulastriyaḥ | ātmānamātmanā satyo jitaḥ svargo na saṃśayaḥ

'Women of good family, even when they fall on hard times, guard themselves by their own strength. Such true women have won heaven, no doubt.

Verse 9 (3.68.9)

रहिता भर्तृभिश्चैव न कुप्यन्ति कदाचन । प्राणांश्चारित्रकवचान्धारयन्ति वरस्त्रियः ॥

rahitā bhartṛbhiścaiva na kupyanti kadācana | prāṇāṃścāritrakavacāndhārayanti varastriyaḥ

Even when deserted by their husbands, they are never angry; noble women keep themselves alive, with good conduct as their armour.

Note on the text: Corrected ्राणांश् → प्राणांश् (broken akshara in Wikisource; CE prāṇāṃś). The first line is CE 3.68.8e; the second line is not in the CE constituted text but appears in its apparatus as star passage 312 after 3.68.8.

Verse 10 (3.68.10)

विषमस्थेन मूढेन परिभ्रष्टसुखेन च । यत्सा तेन परित्यक्ता तत्र न क्रोद्धुमर्हति ॥

viṣamasthena mūḍhena paribhraṣṭasukhena ca | yatsā tena parityaktā tatra na kroddhumarhati

She should not be angry that she was abandoned by him, a man bewildered, in dire straits, who had lost all his happiness.

Verse 11 (3.68.11)

प्राणयात्रां परिप्रेप्सोः शकुनैर्हृतवाससः । आधिभिर्दह्यमानस्य श्यामा न क्रोद्धुमर्हति ॥

prāṇayātrāṃ pariprepsoḥ śakunairhṛtavāsasaḥ | ādhibhirdahyamānasya śyāmā na kroddhumarhati

The dark beauty should not be angry with a man tormented by sorrows, whose only garment the birds carried off while he was trying to find food to stay alive.

Verse 12 (3.68.12)

सत्कृताऽसत्कृता वाऽपि पतिं दृष्ट्वा तथागतम् । भ्रष्टराज्यं श्रिया हीनं श्यामा न क्रोद्धुमर्हति ॥

satkṛtā'satkṛtā vā'pi patiṃ dṛṣṭvā tathāgatam | bhraṣṭarājyaṃ śriyā hīnaṃ śyāmā na kroddhumarhati

Whether she was treated well or ill, when she sees her husband in such a state, stripped of his kingdom and his fortune, the dark beauty should not be angry.'

Note on the text: Corrected श्रित्या → श्रिया (misprint in Wikisource; CE śriyā).

Verse 13 (3.68.13)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा त्वरितोऽहमिहागतः । श्रुत्वा प्रमाणं भवती राज्ञश्चैव निवेदय ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā tvarito'hamihāgataḥ | śrutvā pramāṇaṃ bhavatī rājñaścaiva nivedaya

When I heard his words I hurried here. Now that you have heard them, you must judge; and tell the king as well."

Note on the text: Corrected निवेदयः → निवेदय (misprint in Wikisource; stray visarga on the imperative; CE nivedaya).

Verse 14 (3.68.14)

एतच्छ्रुत्वाऽश्रुपूर्णाक्षी पर्णादस्य विशांपते । दमयन्ती रहोऽभ्येत्य मातरं प्रत्यभाषत ॥

etacchrutvā'śrupūrṇākṣī parṇādasya viśāṃpate | damayantī raho'bhyetya mātaraṃ pratyabhāṣata

Hearing Parnada's words, O lord of the people, Damayanti, her eyes full of tears, went to her mother in private and said:

Note on the text: Corrected प्रत्यभापत → प्रत्यभाषत (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; CE pratyabhāṣata).

Verse 15 (3.68.15)

अयमर्थो न संवेद्यो भीमे मातः कदाचन । त्वत्सन्निधौ नियोक्ष्येऽहं सुदेवं द्विजसत्तमम् ॥

ayamartho na saṃvedyo bhīme mātaḥ kadācana | tvatsannidhau niyokṣye'haṃ sudevaṃ dvijasattamam

"Mother, this matter must never be made known to Bhima. In your presence I shall employ Sudeva, the best of brahmins.

Note on the text: Corrected अयमर्थौ → अयमर्थो (misprint in Wikisource; CE ayam artho). Spacing normalised (नियोक्ष्येऽहंसुदेवं → नियोक्ष्येऽहं सुदेवं).

Verse 16 (3.68.16)

यथा न नृपतिर्भीमः प्रतिपद्येत मे मतम् । तथा त्वया प्रकर्तव्यं मम चेत्प्रियमिच्छसि ॥

yathā na nṛpatirbhīmaḥ pratipadyeta me matam | tathā tvayā prakartavyaṃ mama cetpriyamicchasi

If you wish to please me, you must act so that King Bhima does not learn of my plan.

Note on the text: Corrected the second यथा → तथा (misprint in Wikisource; the correlative of the first line's यथा is required; CE tathā).

Verse 17 (3.68.17)

यथा चाहं समानीता सुदेवेनाशु बान्धवान् । तेनैव मङ्गलेनाद्य सुदेवो यातु मा चिरम् ॥

yathā cāhaṃ samānītā sudevenāśu bāndhavān | tenaiva maṅgalenādya sudevo yātu mā ciram

Just as Sudeva quickly brought me back to my kin, so with that same good omen let Sudeva set out today without delay

Verse 18 (3.68.18)

समानेतुं नलं मातरयोध्यां नगरीमितः । ऋतुपर्णस्य नगरे निवसन्तमरिन्दमम् ॥

samānetuṃ nalaṃ mātarayodhyāṃ nagarīmitaḥ | ṛtuparṇasya nagare nivasantamarindamam

from here to the city of Ayodhya, mother, to bring back Nala, that tamer of foes, who is living in Rituparna's city."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (a backtick and a quote) around the second line. The first line is CE 3.68.16e; the second line is not in the CE constituted text but appears in its apparatus as star passage 314 after 3.68.16 (reading 'bhavane' for नगरे).

Verse 19 (3.68.19)

विश्रान्तं तु ततः पश्चात्पर्णादं द्विजसत्तमम् । अर्चयामास वैदर्भी धनेनातीव भामिनी ॥

viśrāntaṃ tu tataḥ paścātparṇādaṃ dvijasattamam | arcayāmāsa vaidarbhī dhanenātīva bhāminī

Then, when Parnada, the best of brahmins, had rested, the lovely princess of Vidarbha honoured him with great wealth.

Verse 20 (3.68.20)

उवाच चैनं महता संपूज्य द्रविणेन वै । नले चेहागते विप्र भूयो दास्यामि ते वसु ॥

uvāca cainaṃ mahatā saṃpūjya draviṇena vai | nale cehāgate vipra bhūyo dāsyāmi te vasu

Having honoured him with much wealth, she said to him: "When Nala has come here, brahmin, I will give you more riches still.

Note on the text: Corrected लवाच → उवाच and दास्याभि → दास्यामि (misprints in Wikisource; CE dāsyāmi). Removed stray wiki marks (a backtick and a quote) around the first line. The first line is not in the CE constituted text but appears in its apparatus as star passage 315 after 3.68.17; the second line is CE 3.68.18a.

Verse 21 (3.68.21)

त्वया हि मे बहु कृतं यदन्यो न करिष्यति । यद्भर्त्राऽहं समेष्यामि शीघ्रमेव द्विजोत्तम ॥

tvayā hi me bahu kṛtaṃ yadanyo na kariṣyati | yadbhartrā'haṃ sameṣyāmi śīghrameva dvijottama

You have done me a great service, such as no one else would do, for through it I shall soon be reunited with my husband, best of brahmins."

Note on the text: Spacing normalised (बहुकृतंयदन्यो → बहु कृतं यदन्यो).

Verse 22 (3.68.22)

स एवमुक्तोऽथाश्वास्य आशीर्वादैः सुमङ्गलैः । गृहानुपययौ चापि कृतार्थः सुमहामनाः ॥

sa evamukto'thāśvāsya āśīrvādaiḥ sumaṅgalaiḥ | gṛhānupayayau cāpi kṛtārthaḥ sumahāmanāḥ

Thus addressed, he comforted her with auspicious blessings and went home, his purpose fulfilled, that great-hearted man.

Verse 23 (3.68.23)

ततः सुदेवमानाय्य दमयन्ती युधिष्ठिर । अब्रवीत्सन्निधौ मातुर्दुःखशोकसमन्विता ॥

tataḥ sudevamānāyya damayantī yudhiṣṭhira | abravītsannidhau māturduḥkhaśokasamanvitā

Then, O Yudhishthira, Damayanti sent for Sudeva and, full of grief and sorrow, spoke to him in her mother's presence:

Note on the text: Corrected सन्निदौ → सन्निधौ (misprint in Wikisource; CE saṃnidhau).

Verse 24 (3.68.24)

गत्वा सुदेव नगरीमयोध्यावासिनं नृपम् । ऋतुपर्णं वचो ब्रूहि पतिमन्यं चिकीर्षती ॥

gatvā sudeva nagarīmayodhyāvāsinaṃ nṛpam | ṛtuparṇaṃ vaco brūhi patimanyaṃ cikīrṣatī

"Go, Sudeva, to the city of Ayodhya and say this to King Rituparna who dwells there: 'Wishing to take another husband,

Verse 25 (3.68.25)

आस्थास्यति पुनर्भैमी दमयन्ती स्वयंवरम् । तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो राजपुत्राश्च सर्वशः ॥

āsthāsyati punarbhaimī damayantī svayaṃvaram | tatra gacchanti rājāno rājaputrāśca sarvaśaḥ

Damayanti, the daughter of Bhima, will hold a svayamvara again. Kings and princes from everywhere are going there.

Verse 26 (3.68.26)

तथा च गणितः कालः श्वोभूते स भविष्यति । यदि संभाविनीयं ते गच्छ शीघ्रमरिंदम ॥

tathā ca gaṇitaḥ kālaḥ śvobhūte sa bhaviṣyati | yadi saṃbhāvinīyaṃ te gaccha śīghramariṃdama

As the time has been reckoned, it will take place tomorrow. If you think it can be done, go quickly, tamer of foes.

Verse 27 (3.68.27)

सूर्योदये द्वितीयं सा भर्तारं वरयिष्यति । न हि स ज्ञायते वीरो नलो जीवन्मृतोपि वा ॥

sūryodaye dvitīyaṃ sā bhartāraṃ varayiṣyati | na hi sa jñāyate vīro nalo jīvanmṛtopi vā

At sunrise she will choose a second husband, for no one knows whether the hero Nala is alive or dead.'"

Note on the text: Corrected द्वतीयं → द्वितीयं (misprint in Wikisource; CE dvitīyaṃ).

Verse 28 (3.68.28)

एवं तथा यथोक्तो वै गत्वा राजानमब्रवीत् । ऋतुपर्णं महाराज सुदेवो ब्राह्मणस्तदा ॥

evaṃ tathā yathokto vai gatvā rājānamabravīt | ṛtuparṇaṃ mahārāja sudevo brāhmaṇastadā

Thus instructed by her, the brahmin Sudeva went, great king, and spoke to King Rituparna as she had told him.