Nala and Damayanti Reunited

Verse 1 (3.74.1)

सर्वं विकारं दृष्ट्वा तु पुण्यश्लोकस्य धीमतः । आगत्य केशिनी क्षिप्रं दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत् ॥

sarvaṃ vikāraṃ dṛṣṭvā tu puṇyaślokasya dhīmataḥ | āgatya keśinī kṣipraṃ damayantyai nyavedayat

When she had seen every change that came over the wise Nala of holy fame, Keshini came back quickly and told Damayanti.

Verse 2 (3.74.2)

दमयन्ती ततो भूयः प्रेषयामास केशिनीम् । मातुः सकाशं दुःखार्ता नलशङ्कासमुत्सुका ॥

damayantī tato bhūyaḥ preṣayāmāsa keśinīm | mātuḥ sakāśaṃ duḥkhārtā nalaśaṅkāsamutsukā

Then Damayanti, stricken with grief and anxious to know whether he was Nala, sent Keshini again, this time to her mother:

Verse 3 (3.74.3)

परीक्षितो मे बहुशो बाहुको नलशङ्कया । रूपे मे संशयस्त्वेकः स्वयमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

parīkṣito me bahuśo bāhuko nalaśaṅkayā | rūpe me saṃśayastvekaḥ svayamicchāmi veditum

"I have tested Bahuka many times, suspecting that he is Nala. One doubt remains, about his appearance, and I wish to settle it myself."

Note on the text: Corrected इच्छमि → इच्छामि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, critical edition icchāmi). Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 4 (3.74.4)

स वा प्रवेश्यतां मातर्मां वाऽनुज्ञातुमर्हसि । विदितं वाऽथवाऽज्ञातं पितुर्मे संविधीयताम् ॥

sa vā praveśyatāṃ mātarmāṃ vā'nujñātumarhasi | viditaṃ vā'thavā'jñātaṃ piturme saṃvidhīyatām

"Either let him be brought in, mother, or allow me to go to him. Let it be arranged with my father's knowledge or without it."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 5 (3.74.5)

एवमुक्ता तु वैदर्भ्या सा देवी भीममब्रवीत् । दुहितुस्तमभिप्रायमन्वजानात्स पार्थिवः ॥

evamuktā tu vaidarbhyā sā devī bhīmamabravīt | duhitustamabhiprāyamanvajānātsa pārthivaḥ

So addressed by the princess of Vidarbha, the queen spoke to Bhima, and the king consented to what his daughter wished.

Verse 6 (3.74.6)

सा वै पित्राऽभ्यनुज्ञाता मात्रा च भरतर्षभ । तयोर्नियोगात्कौरव्य केशिनीमिदमब्रवीत् ॥

sā vai pitrā'bhyanujñātā mātrā ca bharatarṣabha | tayorniyogātkauravya keśinīmidamabravīt

Permitted by her father and her mother, O bull of the Bharatas, she spoke to Keshini at their bidding, O Kauravya:

Note on the text: Corrected चै → वै (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition sā vai). Only the first line is in the critical edition (3.74.6ab); the second line, which Wikisource marks off with a backtick and a quote mark, is not (found in the vulgate recension). Removed those stray marks.

Verse 7 (3.74.7)

गच्छ केशिनि शीघ्रं त्वं बाहुकं पितृशासनात् । आनयस्व यथा माता त्वं तथा कुरु मे प्रियम् ॥

gaccha keśini śīghraṃ tvaṃ bāhukaṃ pitṛśāsanāt | ānayasva yathā mātā tvaṃ tathā kuru me priyam

"Go quickly, Keshini, and bring Bahuka here at my father's command. Do me this kindness, as a mother would."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse). Separated the run-together त्वं बाहुकं.

Verse 8 (3.74.8)

गत्वा तु केशिनी शीघ्रं बाहुकं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । भीमस्य शासनात्सूतागताहं विद्धि बाहुक ॥

gatvā tu keśinī śīghraṃ bāhukaṃ vākyamabravīt | bhīmasya śāsanātsūtāgatāhaṃ viddhi bāhuka

Keshini went quickly and said to Bahuka: "Know, charioteer, that I have come at Bhima's command, Bahuka.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Corrected शिघ्रं → शीघ्रं (misprint in Wikisource; short for long vowel).

Verse 9 (3.74.9)

प्रविश्यतां राजवेश्म इत्युक्तो भरतर्षभ । बाहुकस्तु चिरं ध्यात्वा केशिन्या सह भारत । प्रविवेश महाबाहुर्दमयन्तीनिवेशनम् ॥

praviśyatāṃ rājaveśma ityukto bharatarṣabha | bāhukastu ciraṃ dhyātvā keśinyā saha bhārata | praviveśa mahābāhurdamayantīniveśanam

Please enter the royal palace." So addressed, O bull of the Bharatas, Bahuka thought for a long while, and then, O Bharata, the mighty-armed man went with Keshini into Damayanti's apartments.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Removed a stray quote mark at the end of the verse.

Verse 10 (3.74.10)

नलं प्रवेशयामास यत्र तस्याः प्रतिश्रयः ॥

nalaṃ praveśayāmāsa yatra tasyāḥ pratiśrayaḥ

She had Nala brought in to where her own quarters were.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints this single line as a verse of its own; it is the critical edition's 3.74.6cd, whose first half stands in verse 6. Separated the run-together यत्र तस्याः.

Verse 11 (3.74.11)

तां स्म दृष्ट्वैव सहसा दमयन्तीं नलो नृपः । आविष्टः शोकदुःखाभ्यां बभूवाश्रुपरिप्लुतः ॥

tāṃ sma dṛṣṭvaiva sahasā damayantīṃ nalo nṛpaḥ | āviṣṭaḥ śokaduḥkhābhyāṃ babhūvāśrupariplutaḥ

The moment King Nala saw Damayanti he was overcome with sorrow and pain, and was bathed in tears.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it appears in the apparatus as star passage 342, after 3.74.6; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 12 (3.74.12)

तं तु दृष्ट्वा तथायुक्तं दमयन्ती नलं तदा । तीव्रशोकसमाविष्टा बभूव वरवर्णिनी ॥

taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā tathāyuktaṃ damayantī nalaṃ tadā | tīvraśokasamāviṣṭā babhūva varavarṇinī

Seeing Nala in that state, the lovely Damayanti too was overwhelmed with bitter grief.

Note on the text: Separated the run-together दृष्ट्वा तथायुक्तं.

Verse 13 (3.74.13)

ततः काषायवसना जटिला मलपङ्किनी । दमयन्ती महाराज बाहुकं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

tataḥ kāṣāyavasanā jaṭilā malapaṅkinī | damayantī mahārāja bāhukaṃ vākyamabravīt

Then Damayanti, dressed in ochre cloth, her hair matted, her body stained with dirt, spoke to Bahuka, great king:

Verse 14 (3.74.14)

पूर्वं दृष्टस्त्वया कश्चिद्धर्मज्ञो नाम बाहुक । सुप्तामुत्सृज्य विपिने गतो यः पुरुषः स्त्रियम् ॥

pūrvaṃ dṛṣṭastvayā kaściddharmajño nāma bāhuka | suptāmutsṛjya vipine gato yaḥ puruṣaḥ striyam

"Bahuka, have you ever seen a man who knew dharma and yet went away, abandoning his sleeping wife in the forest?"

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse). Separated the run-together उत्सृज्य विपिने.

Verse 15 (3.74.15)

अनागसं प्रियां भार्यां विजने श्रममोहिताम् । अपहाय तु को गच्छेत्पुण्यश्लोकमृते नलम् ॥

anāgasaṃ priyāṃ bhāryāṃ vijane śramamohitām | apahāya tu ko gacchetpuṇyaślokamṛte nalam

"Who but Nala of holy fame would go away and leave his blameless, beloved wife in a lonely place, worn out and bewildered by weariness?"

Note on the text: Corrected गच्चेत् → गच्छेत् (misprint in Wikisource; च for छ, critical edition gacchet). Separated the run-together ऋते नलम्. Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 16 (3.74.16)

किमु तस्य मया बाल्यादपराद्धं महीपतेः । यो मामुत्सृज्य विपिने गतवान्निद्रयाऽर्दिताम् ॥

kimu tasya mayā bālyādaparāddhaṃ mahīpateḥ | yo māmutsṛjya vipine gatavānnidrayā'rditām

"What wrong had I ever done that king, out of any childishness of mine, that he went away and left me in the forest, overcome by sleep?"

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 17 (3.74.17)

साक्षाद्देवानपाहाय वृतो यः स पुरा मया । अनुव्रतामभिमतां पुत्रिणीं त्यक्तवान्कथम् ॥

sākṣāddevānapāhāya vṛto yaḥ sa purā mayā | anuvratāmabhimatāṃ putriṇīṃ tyaktavānkatham

"He whom I once chose, passing over the gods themselves, how could he forsake his faithful, loving wife, the mother of his children?"

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 18 (3.74.18)

अग्नौ पाणिगृहीतां च हंसानां वचने स्थिताम् । भरिष्यामीति सत्यं तु प्रतिश्रुत्य क्व तद्गतम् ॥

agnau pāṇigṛhītāṃ ca haṃsānāṃ vacane sthitām | bhariṣyāmīti satyaṃ tu pratiśrutya kva tadgatam

"He took my hand before the sacred fire, I who had held to the words of the swans, and he truly promised, 'I will cherish you.' Where has that promise gone?"

Note on the text: Corrected पाणिगृहीता → पाणिगृहीतां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara, the word agrees with स्थिताम्; critical edition pāṇigṛhītām). Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 19 (3.74.19)

दमयन्त्या ब्रुवन्त्यास्तु सर्वमेतदरिंदम । शोकजं वारिनेत्राभ्यामसुखं प्रास्रवद्बहु ॥

damayantyā bruvantyāstu sarvametadariṃdama | śokajaṃ vārinetrābhyāmasukhaṃ prāsravadbahu

As Damayanti said all this, O tamer of foes, tears of grief streamed in plenty from her eyes.

Note on the text: Corrected अरिदम → अरिंदम (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara, critical edition ariṃdama).

Verse 20 (3.74.20)

अतीव कृष्णताराभ्यां रक्तान्ताभ्यां जलं तु तत् । परिस्रवन्नलो राजा शोकार्त इदमब्रवीत् ॥

atīva kṛṣṇatārābhyāṃ raktāntābhyāṃ jalaṃ tu tat | parisravannalo rājā śokārta idamabravīt

Seeing those tears flowing from her eyes, so dark with reddened corners, King Nala, his own tears streaming and stricken with sorrow, said:

Note on the text: Separated the run-together जलं तु and शोकार्त इदमब्रवीत्.

Verse 21 (3.74.21)

नलोऽहं विपुलश्रोणि त्वामुत्सृज्य यतो गतः । आविष्टः कलिना भद्रे तेन मोहवशं गतः ॥

nalo'haṃ vipulaśroṇi tvāmutsṛjya yato gataḥ | āviṣṭaḥ kalinā bhadre tena mohavaśaṃ gataḥ

"I am Nala, broad-hipped lady. If I left you and went away, it was because Kali had possessed me, good lady, and through him I fell into delusion."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Removed the backtick, the quote mark and the doubled verse-end dandas with which Wikisource marks off this verse. Speaker set to नल (Nala, now revealing himself, speaks verses 21–29).

Verse 22 (3.74.22)

मम राज्यं प्रनष्टं यन्नाहं तत्कृतवान्स्वयम् । कलिना तत्कृतं भीरु यच्च त्वामहमत्यजम् ॥

mama rājyaṃ pranaṣṭaṃ yannāhaṃ tatkṛtavānsvayam | kalinā tatkṛtaṃ bhīru yacca tvāmahamatyajam

"That my kingdom was lost was not my own doing. Kali did it, timid one, and it was Kali who made me abandon you."

Note on the text: Speaker set to नल (Nala, now revealing himself, speaks verses 21–29).

Verse 23 (3.74.23)

यत्त्वया धर्मकृच्छ्रे तु शापेनाभिहतः पुरा । वनस्थया दुःखितया शोचन्त्या मां दिवानिशम् ॥

yattvayā dharmakṛcchre tu śāpenābhihataḥ purā | vanasthayā duḥkhitayā śocantyā māṃ divāniśam

"In that hard trial of dharma, long ago, he was struck by your curse, when you were in the forest, distressed and grieving for me day and night."

Note on the text: Speaker set to नल (Nala, now revealing himself, speaks verses 21–29). Separated the run-together मां दिवानिशम्.

Verse 24 (3.74.24)

स मच्छरीरे त्वच्छापाद्दह्यमानोऽवसत्कलिः । त्वच्छापदग्धः सततं सोऽग्नावग्निरिवाहितः ॥

sa maccharīre tvacchāpāddahyamāno'vasatkaliḥ | tvacchāpadagdhaḥ satataṃ so'gnāvagnirivāhitaḥ

"Burning from your curse, Kali lived on in my body; scorched without end by your curse, he was like a fire laid inside a fire."

Note on the text: Speaker set to नल (Nala, now revealing himself, speaks verses 21–29).

Verse 25 (3.74.25)

मम च व्यवसायेन तपसा चैव निर्जितः । दुःखस्यान्तेन चानेन भवितव्यं हि नौ शुभे ॥

mama ca vyavasāyena tapasā caiva nirjitaḥ | duḥkhasyāntena cānena bhavitavyaṃ hi nau śubhe

"He has been overcome by my resolve and my austerity. Now our sorrow must come to an end, fair one."

Note on the text: Speaker set to नल (Nala, now revealing himself, speaks verses 21–29).

Verse 26 (3.74.26)

विमुच्य मां गतः पापस्ततोऽहमिह चागतः । त्वदर्थं विपुलश्रोणि न हि मेऽन्यत्प्रयोजनम् ॥

vimucya māṃ gataḥ pāpastato'hamiha cāgataḥ | tvadarthaṃ vipulaśroṇi na hi me'nyatprayojanam

"The evil one has let me go and departed, and so I have come here for your sake, broad-hipped lady; I have no other purpose."

Note on the text: Speaker set to नल (Nala, now revealing himself, speaks verses 21–29).

Verse 27 (3.74.27)

कथं नु नारी भर्तारमनुरक्तमनुव्रतम् । उत्सृज्य वरयेदन्यं यथा त्वं भीरु कर्हिचित् ॥

kathaṃ nu nārī bhartāramanuraktamanuvratam | utsṛjya varayedanyaṃ yathā tvaṃ bhīru karhicit

"But how could any woman abandon a husband who loves her and is devoted to her, and choose another, as you, timid one, were about to do?"

Note on the text: Speaker set to नल (Nala, now revealing himself, speaks verses 21–29).

Verse 28 (3.74.28)

दूताश्चरन्ति पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां नृपतिशासनात् । भैमी किल स्म भर्तारं द्वितीयं वरयिष्यति ॥

dūtāścaranti pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ nṛpatiśāsanāt | bhaimī kila sma bhartāraṃ dvitīyaṃ varayiṣyati

"Messengers are travelling over the whole earth at the king's command, saying that Bhima's daughter will choose a second husband,"

Note on the text: Speaker set to नल (Nala, now revealing himself, speaks verses 21–29).

Verse 29 (3.74.29)

स्वैरवृत्ता यथाकाममनुरूपमिवात्मनः । श्रुत्वैव चैवं त्वरितो भाङ्गस्वरिरुपस्थितः ॥

svairavṛttā yathākāmamanurūpamivātmanaḥ | śrutvaiva caivaṃ tvarito bhāṅgasvarirupasthitaḥ

"freely, as she pleases, someone suited to herself. As soon as he heard this, Bhangasvari came here in haste."

Note on the text: Corrected भागस्वरिः → भाङ्गस्वरिः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped nasal in Rituparna's patronymic, critical edition bhāṅgasvariḥ). Speaker set to नल (Nala, now revealing himself, speaks verses 21–29).

Verse 30 (3.74.30)

दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा नलस्य परिदेवितम् । प्राञ्जलिर्वेपमाना च भीता वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

damayantī tu tacchrutvā nalasya paridevitam | prāñjalirvepamānā ca bhītā vacanamabravīt

When Damayanti heard Nala's lament, she joined her palms and, trembling and afraid, said:

Verse 31 (3.74.31)

न मामर्हसि कल्याण पापेन परिशङ्कितुम् । मया हि देवानुत्सृज्य वृतस्त्वं निषधाधिप ॥

na māmarhasi kalyāṇa pāpena pariśaṅkitum | mayā hi devānutsṛjya vṛtastvaṃ niṣadhādhipa

"You should not suspect me of any wrong, noble one. It was I who passed over the gods and chose you, lord of the Nishadhas."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 32 (3.74.32)

तवाभिगमनार्थं तु सर्वतो ब्राह्मणा गताः । वाक्यानि मम गाथाभिर्गायमाना दिशो दश ॥

tavābhigamanārthaṃ tu sarvato brāhmaṇā gatāḥ | vākyāni mama gāthābhirgāyamānā diśo daśa

"To find you, brahmins went out everywhere, into all ten directions, singing my words in verses."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 33 (3.74.33)

ततस्त्वां ब्राह्मणो विद्वान्पर्णादो नाम पार्थिव । अभ्यगच्छत्कोसलायामृतुपर्णनिवेशने ॥

tatastvāṃ brāhmaṇo vidvānparṇādo nāma pārthiva | abhyagacchatkosalāyāmṛtuparṇaniveśane

"Then a learned brahmin named Parnada, O king, came upon you in Kosala, in Rituparna's palace."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 34 (3.74.34)

तेन वाक्ये कृते सम्यक्प्रतिवाक्ये तथा हृते । उपायोऽयं मया दृष्टो नैषधानयने तव ॥

tena vākye kṛte samyakprativākye tathā hṛte | upāyo'yaṃ mayā dṛṣṭo naiṣadhānayane tava

"When he had delivered my words well and brought back your reply, I hit upon this way of bringing you here, king of Nishadha."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse). Separated the run-together कृते सम्यक् and उपायोऽयं मया.

Verse 35 (3.74.35)

त्वामृते नहि लोकेऽन्य एकाह्ना पृथिवीपते । समर्थो योजनशतं गन्तुमश्वैर्नराधिप ॥

tvāmṛte nahi loke'nya ekāhnā pṛthivīpate | samartho yojanaśataṃ gantumaśvairnarādhipa

"For there is no one else in the world, lord of the earth, who can travel a hundred yojanas with horses in a single day, ruler of men."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 36 (3.74.36)

तथापि मां महीपाल भजेतां चरणौ तव । स्पृशेयं तेन सत्येन पादावेतौ महीपते । यथा नासत्कृतं किंचिन्मनसाऽपि चराम्यहम् ॥

tathāpi māṃ mahīpāla bhajetāṃ caraṇau tava | spṛśeyaṃ tena satyena pādāvetau mahīpate | yathā nāsatkṛtaṃ kiṃcinmanasā'pi carāmyaham

"Even so, protector of the earth, let your feet receive me. By this truth I would touch these feet of yours, my lord: that I have never done anything wrong, not even in thought."

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote mark with which Wikisource marks off the first line. The first line is a variant of the critical edition's 3.75.6ab and the third line is 3.75.6cd; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 37 (3.74.37)

अयं चरति लोकेऽस्मिन्भूतसाक्षी सदागतिः । एष मे मुञ्चतु प्राणान्यदि पापं चराम्यहम् ॥

ayaṃ carati loke'sminbhūtasākṣī sadāgatiḥ | eṣa me muñcatu prāṇānyadi pāpaṃ carāmyaham

"This Wind, the ever-moving witness of all beings, goes through this world; let him take my life if I have done wrong."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 38 (3.74.38)

यथा चरति तिग्मांशुः परितो भुवनं सदा । स मुञ्चतु मम प्राणान्यदि पापं चराम्यहम् ॥

yathā carati tigmāṃśuḥ parito bhuvanaṃ sadā | sa muñcatu mama prāṇānyadi pāpaṃ carāmyaham

"As the sun of fierce rays forever moves around the world, let him take my life if I have done wrong."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 39 (3.74.39)

चन्द्रमाः सर्वभूतानामन्तश्चरति साक्षिवत् । स मुञ्चतु मम प्राणान्यदि पापं चराम्यहम् ॥

candramāḥ sarvabhūtānāmantaścarati sākṣivat | sa muñcatu mama prāṇānyadi pāpaṃ carāmyaham

"The moon moves within all beings like a witness; let him take my life if I have done wrong."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 40 (3.74.40)

एते देवास्त्रयः कृत्स्नं त्रैलोक्यं धारयन्ति वै । विब्रुवन्तु यथा सत्यमेतद्देवास्त्यजन्तु माम् ॥

ete devāstrayaḥ kṛtsnaṃ trailokyaṃ dhārayanti vai | vibruvantu yathā satyametaddevāstyajantu mām

"These three gods uphold the whole of the three worlds. Let them declare the truth of this, or let the gods forsake me."

Note on the text: Speaker set to दमयन्ती (her direct speech fills the verse).

Verse 41 (3.74.41)

एवमुक्ते ततो वायुरन्तरिक्षादभाषत । नैषा कृतवती पापं नल सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ॥

evamukte tato vāyurantarikṣādabhāṣata | naiṣā kṛtavatī pāpaṃ nala satyaṃ bravīmi te

When she had spoken thus, the Wind spoke from the sky: "She has done no wrong, Nala. I tell you the truth.

Verse 42 (3.74.42)

राजञ्शीलनिधिः स्फीतो दमयन्त्या सुरक्षितः । साक्षिणो रक्षिणश्चास्या वयं त्रीन्परिवत्सरान् ॥

rājañśīlanidhiḥ sphīto damayantyā surakṣitaḥ | sākṣiṇo rakṣiṇaścāsyā vayaṃ trīnparivatsarān

"King, Damayanti has kept the rich treasure of her virtue well guarded. We have been her witnesses and her protectors for these three years.

Note on the text: Speaker set to वायु: the Wind speaks verses 42–44 from the sky (introduced in verse 41).

Verse 43 (3.74.43)

उपायो विहितश्चायं त्वदर्थमतुलोऽनया । न ह्येकाह्ना शतं गन्ता त्वामृतेऽन्यः पुमानिह ॥

upāyo vihitaścāyaṃ tvadarthamatulo'nayā | na hyekāhnā śataṃ gantā tvāmṛte'nyaḥ pumāniha

"And she devised this matchless plan for your sake; for no man here but you could cover a hundred yojanas in a single day.

Note on the text: Speaker set to वायु: the Wind speaks verses 42–44 from the sky (introduced in verse 41).

Verse 44 (3.74.44)

उपपन्ना त्वया भैमी त्वं च भैम्या महीपते । नात्र शङ्का त्वया कार्या संगच्छ सह भार्यया ॥

upapannā tvayā bhaimī tvaṃ ca bhaimyā mahīpate | nātra śaṅkā tvayā kāryā saṃgaccha saha bhāryayā

"Bhima's daughter is worthy of you, and you of her, lord of the earth. Have no doubt about this; be united with your wife."

Note on the text: Speaker set to वायु: the Wind speaks verses 42–44 from the sky (introduced in verse 41).

Verse 45 (3.74.45)

तथा ब्रुवति वायौ तु पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात ह । देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्ववौ च पवनः शिवः ॥

tathā bruvati vāyau tu puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ papāta ha | devadundubhayo nedurvavau ca pavanaḥ śivaḥ

As the Wind spoke, a rain of flowers fell, the drums of the gods sounded, and a gentle, auspicious breeze blew.

Verse 46 (3.74.46)

तदद्भुतमयं दृष्ट्वा नलो राजाऽथ भारत । दमयन्त्यां विशङ्कां तामुपाकर्षदरिंदमः ॥

tadadbhutamayaṃ dṛṣṭvā nalo rājā'tha bhārata | damayantyāṃ viśaṅkāṃ tāmupākarṣadariṃdamaḥ

Seeing that marvel, O Bharata, King Nala, tamer of foes, put away his doubt about Damayanti.

Verse 47 (3.74.47)

ततस्तद्वस्त्रमरजः प्रावृणोद्वसुधाधिपः । संस्मृत्य नागराजं तं ततो लेभे स्वकं वपुः ॥

tatastadvastramarajaḥ prāvṛṇodvasudhādhipaḥ | saṃsmṛtya nāgarājaṃ taṃ tato lebhe svakaṃ vapuḥ

Then the lord of the earth put on that spotless garment, and calling to mind the king of the serpents, he regained his own form.

Verse 48 (3.74.48)

स्वरूपिणं तु भर्तारं दृष्ट्वा भीमसुता तदा । प्राक्रोशदुच्चैरालिङ्ग्य पुण्यश्लोकमनिन्दिता ॥

svarūpiṇaṃ tu bhartāraṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasutā tadā | prākrośaduccairāliṅgya puṇyaślokamaninditā

Seeing her husband in his own form, the blameless daughter of Bhima embraced Nala of holy fame and cried aloud.

Verse 49 (3.74.49)

भैमीमपि नलो राजा भ्राजमानो यथा पुरा । सस्वजे स्वसुतौ चापि यथावत्प्रत्यनन्दत ॥

bhaimīmapi nalo rājā bhrājamāno yathā purā | sasvaje svasutau cāpi yathāvatpratyanandata

King Nala, shining as he had before, embraced Bhima's daughter too, and greeted his children with fitting joy.

Verse 50 (3.74.50)

ततः स्वोरसि विन्यस्य वक्त्रं तस्य शुभानना । परीता तेन दुःखेन निशश्वासायतेक्षणा ॥

tataḥ svorasi vinyasya vaktraṃ tasya śubhānanā | parītā tena duḥkhena niśaśvāsāyatekṣaṇā

Then she of the lovely face laid his face upon her breast and, overcome by that sorrow, the long-eyed lady sighed.

Note on the text: Corrected वक्रं → वक्त्रं (misprint in Wikisource; वक्र "crooked" for वक्त्र "face", critical edition vaktram).

Verse 51 (3.74.51)

तथैव मलदिग्धाङ्गीं परिष्वज्य शुचिस्मिताम् । सुचिरं पुरुषव्याघ्रस्तस्थौ शोकपरिप्लुतः ॥

tathaiva maladigdhāṅgīṃ pariṣvajya śucismitām | suciraṃ puruṣavyāghrastasthau śokapariplutaḥ

In the same way the tiger among men held in his arms the sweetly smiling lady, her limbs smeared with dirt, and stood a long while, bathed in sorrow.

Verse 52 (3.74.52)

ततः सर्वं यथावृत्तं दमयन्त्या नलस्य च । भीमायाकथयत्प्रीत्या वैदर्भ्या जननी नृप ॥

tataḥ sarvaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ damayantyā nalasya ca | bhīmāyākathayatprītyā vaidarbhyā jananī nṛpa

Then the mother of the princess of Vidarbha joyfully told Bhima all that had passed between Damayanti and Nala, O king.

Verse 53 (3.74.53)

ततोऽब्रवीन्महाराजः कृतशौचमहं नलम् । दमयन्त्या सहोपेतं कल्ये द्रष्टा सुखोषितम् ॥

tato'bravīnmahārājaḥ kṛtaśaucamahaṃ nalam | damayantyā sahopetaṃ kalye draṣṭā sukhoṣitam

Then the great king said: "In the morning I shall see Nala, after he has bathed and rested well, together with Damayanti."

Note on the text: Separated the run-together अहं नलम्.

Verse 54 (3.74.54)

ततस्तौ सहितौ रात्रिं कथयन्तौ पुरातनम् । वने विचरितं सर्वमूषतुर्मुदितौ नृप ॥

tatastau sahitau rātriṃ kathayantau purātanam | vane vicaritaṃ sarvamūṣaturmuditau nṛpa

Then the two spent the night together, happily telling each other all that had befallen them in the forest, O king.

Verse 55 (3.74.55)

गृहे भीमस्य नृपतेः परस्परसुखैषिणौ । वसेतां हृष्टसंकल्पौ वैदर्भी च नलश्च ह ॥

gṛhe bhīmasya nṛpateḥ parasparasukhaiṣiṇau | vasetāṃ hṛṣṭasaṃkalpau vaidarbhī ca nalaśca ha

In King Bhima's house the princess of Vidarbha and Nala lived on with joyful hearts, each seeking the other's happiness.

Note on the text: Corrected नलश् ह → नलश्च ह (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara). Not in the critical edition's text (it appears in the apparatus as star passage 346, after 3.74.24; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 56 (3.74.56)

स चतुर्थे ततो वर्षे संगम्य सह भार्यया । सर्वकामैः सुसिद्धार्थो लब्धवान्परमां मुदम् ॥

sa caturthe tato varṣe saṃgamya saha bhāryayā | sarvakāmaiḥ susiddhārtho labdhavānparamāṃ mudam

In the fourth year, reunited with his wife and with every wish fulfilled, he found the highest joy.

Verse 57 (3.74.57)

दमयन्त्यपि भर्तारमासाद्याप्यायिता भृशम् । अर्धसंजातसस्येव तोयं प्राप्य वसुंधरा ॥

damayantyapi bhartāramāsādyāpyāyitā bhṛśam | ardhasaṃjātasasyeva toyaṃ prāpya vasuṃdharā

Damayanti too, having found her husband again, was wholly refreshed, like the earth with its crops half-grown when it receives water.

Verse 58 (3.74.58)

सैवं समेत्य व्यपनीय तन्द्रां । शान्तज्वरा हर्षविवृद्धसत्त्वा । रराज भैमी समवाप्तकामा । शीतांशुना रात्रिरिवोदितेन ॥

saivaṃ sametya vyapanīya tandrāṃ | śāntajvarā harṣavivṛddhasattvā | rarāja bhaimī samavāptakāmā | śītāṃśunā rātririvoditena

So reunited, her weariness gone, her fever calmed, her spirit swelling with joy, Bhima's daughter, her wish fulfilled, shone like the night when the moon has risen.