Mahabharata — Volume II (Dutt edition) — Chapter 53
MBh 2 53.1
बृहदश्व उवाच आसीद् राजा नलो नाम वीसेनसुतो बली। उपपन्नो गुणैरिष्टै रूपवानश्वकोविदः॥
bṛhadaśva uvāca āsīd rājā nalo nāma vīsenasuto balī| upapanno guṇairiṣṭai rūpavānaśvakovidaḥ||
Brihadashva said: There was a heroic king, named Nala the son of Virasena. He was possessed of desirable attainments, handsome and well-acquainted with the management of horses.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.2
अतिष्ठन्मनुजेन्द्राणां मूर्ध्नि देवपतिर्यथा। उपर्युपरि सर्वेषामादित्य इव तेजसा॥ ब्रह्मण्यो वेदविच्छूरो निषधेषु महीपतिः। अक्षप्रियः सत्यवादी महानक्षौहिणीपतिः॥
atiṣṭhanmanujendrāṇāṃ mūrdhni devapatiryathā| uparyupari sarveṣāmāditya iva tejasā|| brahmaṇyo vedavicchūro niṣadheṣu mahīpatiḥ| akṣapriyaḥ satyavādī mahānakṣauhiṇīpatiḥ||
He stood at the head of all the princes, even as the king of the celestials; and exalted above all, was equal to the sun in splendour. He was the well-wisher of the Brahmanas and the lord of the Nishadhas. He was truthful, the commander of a mighty force, consisting of cavalry and infantry and a large number of chariots and elephants but fond of gaming at dice,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.3
ईप्सितो वरनारीणामुदारः संयतेन्द्रियः। रक्षिताधन्विनां श्रेष्ठः साक्षादिव मनुः स्वयम्॥
īpsito varanārīṇāmudāraḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ| rakṣitādhanvināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sākṣādiva manuḥ svayam||
He was beloved of women, high-souled and with all passions checked. He was also the refuge of all and the best of bowmen and was like Manu himself.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.4
तथैवासीद् विदर्भेषु भीमो भीमपराक्रमः। शूरः सर्वगुणैर्युक्तः प्रजाकामः स चाप्रजः॥
tathaivāsīd vidarbheṣu bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ| śūraḥ sarvaguṇairyuktaḥ prajākāmaḥ sa cāprajaḥ||
Like him (Nala) there was a king among the Vidarbhas, named Bhima, who was warlike, possessor of immense power and all accomplishments and beloved of his subjects. But with all these virtues he was without an issue.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.5
स प्राजर्थे परं यत्नमकरोत् सुसमाहितः। तमभ्यगच्छद् ब्रह्मर्षिर्दमनो नाम भारत॥
sa prājarthe paraṃ yatnamakarot susamāhitaḥ| tamabhyagacchad brahmarṣirdamano nāma bhārata||
He, with a fixity of purpose, made great endeavour for obtaining issue. O Bharata, there came before him, a Brahmarishi named Damana.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.6
तं स भीमः प्रजाकामस्तोषयामासधर्मवित्। महिष्या सह राजेन्द्र सत्कारेण सुवर्चसम्॥ तस्मै प्रसन्नो दमनः सभार्याय वरं ददौ। कन्यारत्नं कुमारांश्च त्रीनुदारान् महायशाः॥
taṃ sa bhīmaḥ prajākāmastoṣayāmāsadharmavit| mahiṣyā saha rājendra satkāreṇa suvarcasam|| tasmai prasanno damanaḥ sabhāryāya varaṃ dadau| kanyāratnaṃ kumārāṃśca trīnudārān mahāyaśāḥ||
Thereupon, O king of kings, the virtuous prince, Bhima, assisted by his wife, satisfied that reverened sage with the most respectful offerings. Damana, thus pleased, conferred upon the king and his spouse a boon of a daughter like unto a jewel and three sons possessed of liberal heart and great fame.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.7
दमयन्ती दमं दान्तं दमनं च सुवर्चसम्। उपपन्नान् गुणैः सर्वैर्भीमान् भीमपराक्रमान्॥
damayantī damaṃ dāntaṃ damanaṃ ca suvarcasam| upapannān guṇaiḥ sarvairbhīmān bhīmaparākramān||
The daughter and the three sons were named Damayanti and Dama, Danta and the illustrious Damana. The latter were possessed of all the virtues, most fearful and of terrible might.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.8
दमयन्ती तु रूपेण तेजसा यशसा श्रिया। सौभाग्येन च लोकेषु यशः प्राप्त सुमध्यमा॥
damayantī tu rūpeṇa tejasā yaśasā śriyā| saubhāgyena ca lokeṣu yaśaḥ prāpta sumadhyamā||
But Damayanti of slender waist, obtained celebrity all ever the world in beauty and brightness and in good name, luck and glory.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.9
अथ तां वयसि प्राप्ते दासीनां समलंकृताम्। शतं शतं सखीनां च पर्युपासच्छचीमिव॥
atha tāṃ vayasi prāpte dāsīnāṃ samalaṃkṛtām| śataṃ śataṃ sakhīnāṃ ca paryupāsacchacīmiva||
And when she attained to age, hundreds and hundreds of female servants and hand-raids, decked in ornaments, waited on her like Sachi herself.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.10
तत्र स्म राजते भैमी सर्वाभरणभूषिता। सखीमध्येऽनवद्याङ्गी विद्युत्सौदामनी यथा॥
tatra sma rājate bhaimī sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā| sakhīmadhye'navadyāṅgī vidyutsaudāmanī yathā||
There shone in the midst of her hand-maids the daughter of Bhima, of beautiful features and decked with all ornaments like the bright lightning of the sky.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.11
अतीव रूपसम्पन्ना श्रीरिवायतलोचना। न देवेषु न यक्षेषु तादृग् रूपवती क्वचित्॥
atīva rūpasampannā śrīrivāyatalocanā| na deveṣu na yakṣeṣu tādṛg rūpavatī kvacit||
The damsel was possessed of extra-ordinary beauty and large eyes and was like Lakshmi (the goddess of riches) herself. Indeed, there was none among the celestials or the Yakshasa who could be compared with her.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.12
मानुषेष्वपि चान्येषु दृष्टपूर्वाथवा श्रुता। चित्तप्रसादनी बाला देवानामपि सुन्दरी॥
mānuṣeṣvapi cānyeṣu dṛṣṭapūrvāthavā śrutā| cittaprasādanī bālā devānāmapi sundarī||
No body among men or others, was possessed of such beauty, seen or heard of. In fact, the damsel was most pleasant to look at and more handsome than the celestials.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.13
नलश्च नरशार्दूलो लोकेष्वप्रतिमो भुवि। कन्दर्प इव रूपेण मूर्तिमानभवत् स्वयम्॥
nalaśca naraśārdūlo lokeṣvapratimo bhuvi| kandarpa iva rūpeṇa mūrtimānabhavat svayam||
That foremost of men, Nala, was peerless in the worlds; because on earth he resembled in beauty Kandarpa (the god of love) himself in his embodied form.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.14
तस्याः समीपे तु नलं प्रशशंसुः कुतूहलात्। नैषधस्य समीपे तु दमयन्तीं पुनः पुनः॥
tasyāḥ samīpe tu nalaṃ praśaśaṃsuḥ kutūhalāt| naiṣadhasya samīpe tu damayantīṃ punaḥ punaḥ||
Moved with admiration, they (the heralds) again and again uttered the praises of Nala before her (Damayanti) and those of Damayanti before the king of the Nishadhas, Nala.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.15
तयोरदृष्टः कामोऽभूच्छृण्वतोः सततं गुणान्। अन्योन्यं प्रति कौन्तेय स व्यवर्धत हृच्छयः॥
tayoradṛṣṭaḥ kāmo'bhūcchṛṇvatoḥ satataṃ guṇān| anyonyaṃ prati kaunteya sa vyavardhata hṛcchayaḥ||
Although they had not seen each other, yet they conceived a love (for each other) produced by their repeatedly hearing each other's accomplishments. O son of Kunti, that mutual attachment began to grow very strong.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.16
अशक्नुवन् नलः कामं तदाधारयितुं हृदा। अन्तःपुरसमीपस्थे वन आस्ते रहोगतः॥
aśaknuvan nalaḥ kāmaṃ tadādhārayituṃ hṛdā| antaḥpurasamīpasthe vana āste rahogataḥ||
And then Nala, incapable of holding it in his bosom, passed much of his time in solitude in the gardens adjacent to the inner apartments (of his palace).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.17
न ददर्श ततो हंसान् जातरूपपरिष्कृतान्। वने विचरतां तेषामेकं जचाह पक्षिणम्॥
na dadarśa tato haṃsān jātarūpapariṣkṛtān| vane vicaratāṃ teṣāmekaṃ jacāha pakṣiṇam||
There he saw, one day, a lot of swans, with golden wings, roving in those woods. Of them he caught one with his hands.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.18
ततोऽन्तरिक्षगो वाचं व्याजहार नलं तदा। हन्तव्योऽस्मि न ते राजन् करिष्यामि तव प्रियम्।२०॥
tato'ntarikṣago vācaṃ vyājahāra nalaṃ tadā| hantavyo'smi na te rājan kariṣyāmi tava priyam|20||
Thereupon that sky-roving one spoke unto Nala. "O king, it behoves you not to kill me. I will render some good to you.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.19
दमयन्तीसकाशे त्वां कथयिष्यामि नैषध। यथा त्वदन्यं पुरुषं न सा मंस्यति कर्हिचित्॥
damayantīsakāśe tvāṃ kathayiṣyāmi naiṣadha| yathā tvadanyaṃ puruṣaṃ na sā maṃsyati karhicit||
O prince of the Nishadhas, I will speak of you before Damayanti and in such a manner that she will never mind to have any other person (for her lord) but yourself."
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.20
एवमुक्तस्ततो हंसमुत्ससर्ज महीपतिः। ते तु हंसाः समुत्पत्य विदर्भानगमंस्ततः॥
evamuktastato haṃsamutsasarja mahīpatiḥ| te tu haṃsāḥ samutpatya vidarbhānagamaṃstataḥ||
Thus spoken, the king liberated the swan. Thereafter the swans, spreading their wings, betook themselves to the country of the Vidharbhas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.21
विदर्भनगरौं गत्वा दमयन्त्यास्तदान्तिके। निपेतुस्ते गरुत्मन्तः सा ददर्श च तान् खगान्॥
vidarbhanagarauṃ gatvā damayantyāstadāntike| nipetuste garutmantaḥ sā dadarśa ca tān khagān||
Arriving at the city of the Vidharbhas the birds alighted from heaven before Damayanti, who also beheld them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.22
सा तानद्भुतरूपान् वै दृष्ट्वा सखिगणावृता। हृष्टा ग्रहीतुं खगमांस्त्वरमाणोपचक्रमे॥
sā tānadbhutarūpān vai dṛṣṭvā sakhigaṇāvṛtā| hṛṣṭā grahītuṃ khagamāṃstvaramāṇopacakrame||
Damayanti surrounded by her hand-maids, having seen those birds of extraordinary beauty, desired to catch those rovers of the skies without loss of time.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.23
अथ हंसा विससृपुः सर्वतः प्रमदावने। एकैकशस्तदा कन्यास्तान् हंसान् समुपाद्रवन्॥
atha haṃsā visasṛpuḥ sarvataḥ pramadāvane| ekaikaśastadā kanyāstān haṃsān samupādravan||
Thereupon the swans fled in all directions in that charming forcst; and the ladies ran after them, each pursuing one.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.24
दमयन्ती तु यं हंसं समुपाधावदन्तिके। स मानुषी गिरं कृत्वा दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत्॥
damayantī tu yaṃ haṃsaṃ samupādhāvadantike| sa mānuṣī giraṃ kṛtvā damayantīmathābravīt||
The swan which Damayanti pursued, led her into a solitary corner of the gardens and addressed her a human speech the following words,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.25
दमयन्ति नलो नाम निषधेषु महीपतिः। अश्विनोः सदृशो रूपे न समास्तस्य मानुषाः॥
damayanti nalo nāma niṣadheṣu mahīpatiḥ| aśvinoḥ sadṛśo rūpe na samāstasya mānuṣāḥ||
“O Damayanti, there is a prince among the Nishadhas, named Nala, who is in beauty, like the Ashvins; and he has not his equal among men.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.26
कन्दर्प इव रूपेण मूर्तिमानभवत् स्वयम्। तस्य वै यदि भार्या त्वं भवेथा वरवर्णिनी॥ सफलं ते भवेज्जन्म रूपं चेदं सुमध्यमे। वयं हि देवगन्धर्वमनुष्योरगराक्षसान्॥ दृष्टवन्तो न चास्माभिर्दृष्टपूर्वस्तथाविधः। त्वं चापि रत्नं नारीणां नरेषु च नलो वरः॥ विशिष्टया विशिष्टेन संगमो गुणवान् भवेत्।
kandarpa iva rūpeṇa mūrtimānabhavat svayam| tasya vai yadi bhāryā tvaṃ bhavethā varavarṇinī|| saphalaṃ te bhavejjanma rūpaṃ cedaṃ sumadhyame| vayaṃ hi devagandharvamanuṣyoragarākṣasān|| dṛṣṭavanto na cāsmābhirdṛṣṭapūrvastathāvidhaḥ| tvaṃ cāpi ratnaṃ nārīṇāṃ nareṣu ca nalo varaḥ|| viśiṣṭayā viśiṣṭena saṃgamo guṇavān bhavet|
In beauty he is like Kandarpa (the god of love) himself in his embodied form. O fair complexioned one, if you becomes his wife. O you of slender waist, your birth and also your beauty may be of some avail. We have, as a matter of fact, seen celestials, Gandharvas, men, Nagas and Rakshasas; but never have we seen one like him (Nala). As you are a jewel among the maidens, so Nala is the best among men. The best united with the best is of merit.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 53.27
एवमुक्ता तु हंसेन दमयन्ती विशांपते॥ अब्रवीत् तत्र तं हंसं त्वमप्येवं नले वद। तथेत्युक्त्वाण्डजः कन्या विदर्भस्य विशाम्पते। पुनरागम्य निषधान् नले सर्वं न्यवेदयत्॥
evamuktā tu haṃsena damayantī viśāṃpate|| abravīt tatra taṃ haṃsaṃ tvamapyevaṃ nale vada| tathetyuktvāṇḍajaḥ kanyā vidarbhasya viśāmpate| punarāgamya niṣadhān nale sarvaṃ nyavedayat||
O Prince, Damayanti, was in the above way addressed by the swan. She (Damayanti) in retum said to the swan, “you also thus speak unto Nala."O Prince, the bird having uttered to the daughter of Vidharbha "So be it" returned to the country of the Nishadhas and described everything to Nala himself.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)