Mahabharata — Volume II (Dutt edition) — Chapter 54

MBh 2 54.1

बृहदश्च उवाच दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वचो हंसस्य भारत। ततः प्रभृति न स्वस्था नलं प्रति बभूव सा॥

bṛhadaśca uvāca damayantī tu tacchrutvā vaco haṃsasya bhārata| tataḥ prabhṛti na svasthā nalaṃ prati babhūva sā||

Brihadashva said: O Bharata hearing the words of the swan, Damayanti thence forth became restless on account of her anxiety for Nala.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.2

ततश्चिन्तापरा दीना विवर्णवदना कृशा। बभूव दमयन्ती तु निःश्वासपरमा तदा॥

tataścintāparā dīnā vivarṇavadanā kṛśā| babhūva damayantī tu niḥśvāsaparamā tadā||

For this reason, Damayanti became filled with great anxiety and grief; and sighning heavily became lean and pale-faced.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.3

ऊर्ध्वदृष्टिानपरा बभूवोन्मत्तदर्शना। पाण्डुवर्णा क्षणेनाथ हृच्छयाविष्टचेतना॥

ūrdhvadṛṣṭiānaparā babhūvonmattadarśanā| pāṇḍuvarṇā kṣaṇenātha hṛcchayāviṣṭacetanā||

She always gazed on high with contemplative turn of mind and looked like a dementate. Possessed by the god of love, she also became pale and slender.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.4

न शय्यासनभोगेषु रतिं विन्दति कर्हिचित्। न नक्तं न दिवा शेते हाहेति रुदती पुनः॥

na śayyāsanabhogeṣu ratiṃ vindati karhicit| na naktaṃ na divā śete hāheti rudatī punaḥ||

She had no desire for the enjoyments, either of beds or seats. And she did not lie down either during the day or night and lamented again and again with the exclamations of Ah and Alas.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.5

तामस्वस्थां तदाकारां सख्यस्ता जजुरिङ्गितः। ततो विदर्भपतये दमयन्त्याः सखीजनः॥ न्यवेदयत् तामस्वस्थां दमयन्ती नरेश्वरे। तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपतिर्भीमो दमयन्ती सखीगणात्॥ चिन्तयामास तत् कार्यं सुमहत् स्वां सुतां प्रति। किमर्थं दुहिता मेऽद्य नातिस्वस्थेव लक्ष्यते॥

tāmasvasthāṃ tadākārāṃ sakhyastā jajuriṅgitaḥ| tato vidarbhapataye damayantyāḥ sakhījanaḥ|| nyavedayat tāmasvasthāṃ damayantī nareśvare| tacchrutvā nṛpatirbhīmo damayantī sakhīgaṇāt|| cintayāmāsa tat kāryaṃ sumahat svāṃ sutāṃ prati| kimarthaṃ duhitā me'dya nātisvastheva lakṣyate||

O King, the hand-maids, of Damayanti beholding her that condition and features, represented them to the ruler of Vidharbha. The king Bhima hearing all from the handmaids was set to serious thinking regarding the affair of his daughter; the thought within, himself why was it that his daughter scemed to be so uncasy at present.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.6

स समीक्ष्य महीपाल: स्वां सुतां प्राप्तयौवनाम्। अपश्यदात्मना कार्यं दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम्॥

sa samīkṣya mahīpāla: svāṃ sutāṃ prāptayauvanām| apaśyadātmanā kāryaṃ damayantyāḥ svayaṃvaram||

The king, secing his daughter had attained to puberty, observed in his mind that it was his Own duty to make arrangements for Damayanti's Svayamvara (marriage).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.7

तेषां भीमो महाबाहुः स संनिमन्त्रयामास महीपालान् विशाम्पतिः। एषोऽनुभूयतां वीरा: स्वयंवर इति प्रभो॥

teṣāṃ bhīmo mahābāhuḥ sa saṃnimantrayāmāsa mahīpālān viśāmpatiḥ| eṣo'nubhūyatāṃ vīrā: svayaṃvara iti prabho||

O exalted one, the king united all the rulers of the earth saying, “O heroes, the Svayamvara ceremony of Damayanti is going to be held.”

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.8

श्रुत्वा तु पार्थिवाः सर्वे दमयन्त्याः स्वयंवरम्। अभिजग्मुस्ततो भीमं राजानो भीमशासनात्॥ हस्त्यश्वरथघोषेण पूरयन्तो वसुन्धराम्। विचित्रमाल्याभरणैर्बलैर्दृश्यैः स्वलंकृतैः॥ पार्थिवानां महात्मनाम्। यथार्हमकरोत् पूजां तेऽवसंस्तत्र पूजिताः॥

śrutvā tu pārthivāḥ sarve damayantyāḥ svayaṃvaram| abhijagmustato bhīmaṃ rājāno bhīmaśāsanāt|| hastyaśvarathaghoṣeṇa pūrayanto vasundharām| vicitramālyābharaṇairbalairdṛśyaiḥ svalaṃkṛtaiḥ|| pārthivānāṃ mahātmanām| yathārhamakarot pūjāṃ te'vasaṃstatra pūjitāḥ||

Having learnt of Damayanti's Svayamvara (marriage), all the kings, the rulers of the earth, in obedience to the invitation of Bhima, came to him. The earth was filled with the noise caused by the clatter of the cars, the neighing of horses and the roars of elephants; and those high-souled rulers of the earth, who came with their fair-complexioned battalions decked in ornaments and handsome garlands, were received by that heroic Bhima with the most suitable offerings. Thus honoured by a respectful reception, the kings took up their abodes (in the city of Bhima).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.9

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सुराणामृषिसत्तमौ। अटमानौ महात्मानाविन्द्रलोकमितो गतौ॥ नारदः पर्वतश्चैव महाप्राज्ञौ महाव्रतौ। देवराजस्य भवनं विविशाते सुपूजितौ॥

etasminneva kāle tu surāṇāmṛṣisattamau| aṭamānau mahātmānāvindralokamito gatau|| nāradaḥ parvataścaiva mahāprājñau mahāvratau| devarājasya bhavanaṃ viviśāte supūjitau||

At this juncture, those most exalted of the divine sages, the illustrious, greatly wise and austere Narada and Parvata, having arrived at the regions of Indra, obtained admittance into his palace with a respectful reception.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.10

तावर्चयित्वा मघवा ततः कुशलमव्ययम्। पप्रच्छानामयं चापि तयोः सर्वगतं विभुः॥

tāvarcayitvā maghavā tataḥ kuśalamavyayam| papracchānāmayaṃ cāpi tayoḥ sarvagataṃ vibhuḥ||

The illustrious Maghavat (Indra), having offered them proper worship, inquired after their everlasting welfare and peace regarding all matters.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.11

नारद उवाच आवयोः कुशलं देव सर्वत्रगतमीश्वर। लोके च मघवन् कृत्स्ने नृपाः कुशलिनो विभो॥

nārada uvāca āvayoḥ kuśalaṃ deva sarvatragatamīśvara| loke ca maghavan kṛtsne nṛpāḥ kuśalino vibho||

Narada said: O Lord, O God, we enjoy peace as regards all matters; and O Maghavat, O illustrious one, so also the beings of the entire world.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.12

बृहदश्व उवाच नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पप्रच्छ बलवृत्रहा। धर्मज्ञाः पृथिवीपालास्त्यक्तजीवितयोधिनः॥ शस्त्रेण निधनं काले ये गच्छन्त्यपराङ्मुखाः। अयं लोकोऽक्षयस्तेषां यथैव मम कामधुक्॥ क्व नु ते क्षत्रियाः शूरा न हि पश्यामि तानहम्। आगच्छतो महीपालान् दयितानतिथीन् मम॥ एवमुक्तस्तु शक्रेण नारदः प्रत्यभाषत।

bṛhadaśva uvāca nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā papraccha balavṛtrahā| dharmajñāḥ pṛthivīpālāstyaktajīvitayodhinaḥ|| śastreṇa nidhanaṃ kāle ye gacchantyaparāṅmukhāḥ| ayaṃ loko'kṣayasteṣāṃ yathaiva mama kāmadhuk|| kva nu te kṣatriyāḥ śūrā na hi paśyāmi tānaham| āgacchato mahīpālān dayitānatithīn mama|| evamuktastu śakreṇa nāradaḥ pratyabhāṣata|

Brihadashva said : Hearing the speeches of Narada the slayer of Bala and Vitra, asked, “Where are those warlike Kshatriyas and why do I not find those princes, coming to me, as they are my most favourite guests? They are the virtuous rulers of the earth, renouncing their life in battle. Your meet death by weapons, when time is come; and never turn their faces away from the battle; their is this world, eternal unto them and bestowing upon them all the objects of enjoyments, even as it does to me. Narada, thus addressed by Shakra, said in reply.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.13

नारद उवाच शृणु मे मघवन् येन न दृश्यन्ते महीक्षितः॥ विदर्भराज्ञो दुहिता दमयन्तीति विश्रुता। रूपेण समतिक्रान्ता पृथिव्यां सर्वयोषितः॥

nārada uvāca śṛṇu me maghavan yena na dṛśyante mahīkṣitaḥ|| vidarbharājño duhitā damayantīti viśrutā| rūpeṇa samatikrāntā pṛthivyāṃ sarvayoṣitaḥ||

Narada said : O Maghavat, listen to me, why the rulers of the earth are not being seen by you now. The king of the Vidharbhas has a daughter the famous Damayanti; who, in beauty, surpasses all the women of the earth.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.14

तस्याः स्वयंवरः शक्र भविता न चिरादिव। तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो राजपुत्राश्च सर्वशः॥

tasyāḥ svayaṃvaraḥ śakra bhavitā na cirādiva| tatra gacchanti rājāno rājaputrāśca sarvaśaḥ||

O Shakra, her Svayamvara will shortly take place. There the kings and princes are going from all directions.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.15

तां रत्नभूतां लोकस्य प्रार्थयन्तो महीक्षितः। काक्षन्ति स्म विशेषेण बलवृत्रनिषूदन॥ सर्वे

tāṃ ratnabhūtāṃ lokasya prārthayanto mahīkṣitaḥ| kākṣanti sma viśeṣeṇa balavṛtraniṣūdana|| sarve

O slayer of Bala and Vitra, the kings, desirous of getting that pearl of the earth, all desire to have her most eagerly.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.16

एतस्मिन् कथ्यमाने तु लोकपालाश्च साग्निकाः। आजग्मुर्देवराजस्य समीपममरोत्तमाः॥

etasmin kathyamāne tu lokapālāśca sāgnikāḥ| ājagmurdevarājasya samīpamamarottamāḥ||

While they were discoursing thus, the most excellent of the immortals, the Lokapalas, (with Agni among them) came before the king of heaven, Indra.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.17

ततस्ते सुश्रुवुः नारदस्य वचो महत्। श्रुत्वैव चाब्रुवन् हृष्टा गच्छामो वयमप्युत।॥

tataste suśruvuḥ nāradasya vaco mahat| śrutvaiva cābruvan hṛṣṭā gacchāmo vayamapyuta|||

They then all heard the speeches of Narada pregnant with lofty ideas and becoming greatly delighted to hear them said that they would also go there.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.18

ततः सर्वे महाराज सगणा: सहवाहनाः। विदर्भानभिजग्मुस्ते यतः सर्वे महीक्षितः॥

tataḥ sarve mahārāja sagaṇā: sahavāhanāḥ| vidarbhānabhijagmuste yataḥ sarve mahīkṣitaḥ||

O great king, mounted on their vehicles, accompanied by their attendants, they all betook themselves to the country of the Vidharbhas where all the rulers of the earth had gone.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.19

नलोऽपि राजा कौन्तेय श्रुत्वा राज्ञां समागमम्। अभ्यगच्छददीनात्मा दमयन्तीमनुव्रतः॥

nalo'pi rājā kaunteya śrutvā rājñāṃ samāgamam| abhyagacchadadīnātmā damayantīmanuvrataḥ||

O son of Kunti, the lofty-minded king, Nala, hearing of the assembly of the kings, set out, thinking of Damayanti.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.20

अथ देवाः पथि नलं ददृशुर्भूतले स्थितम्। साक्षादिव स्थितं मूर्त्या मन्मथं रूपसम्पदा॥

atha devāḥ pathi nalaṃ dadṛśurbhūtale sthitam| sākṣādiva sthitaṃ mūrtyā manmathaṃ rūpasampadā||

The celestials saw Nala on the way walking on the earth. In beauty he resembled even the god of love himself in his embodied form.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.21

तं दृष्ट्वा लोकपालास्ते भ्राजमानं यथा रविम्। तस्युर्विगतसंकल्पा विस्मिता रूपसम्पदा॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā lokapālāste bhrājamānaṃ yathā ravim| tasyurvigatasaṃkalpā vismitā rūpasampadā||

The Lokapalas, having seen him resplendent as the sun, were struck with astonishment at his wealth of beauty; and they, therefore, abandoned their idea (of getting her).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.22

ततोऽन्तरिक्षे विष्टभ्य विमानानि दिवौकसः। अब्रुवन् नैषधं राजन्नवतीर्य नभस्तलात्॥

tato'ntarikṣe viṣṭabhya vimānāni divaukasaḥ| abruvan naiṣadhaṃ rājannavatīrya nabhastalāt||

The celestials, leaving their cars, alighted from heaven and (then) addressed the king of the Nishadhas thus.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 2 54.23

भो भो निषधराजेन्द्र नल सत्यव्रतो भवान्। अस्माकं कुरु साहाय्यं दूतो भव नरोत्तम॥

bho bho niṣadharājendra nala satyavrato bhavān| asmākaṃ kuru sāhāyyaṃ dūto bhava narottama||

"O the most exalted of the rulers of the Nishadhas, O Nala, O you who do observe the vow of truth, O the foremost of men, help us; be our messenger."

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)