Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 3.65
हिन्दी · தமிழ் · తెలుగు · ಕನ್ನಡ · മലയാളം · বাংলা · मराठी · ગુજરાતી · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ · ଓଡ଼ିଆ · اردو · English · Español · Français · Deutsch · Português · Русский · 中文 · 日本語 · العربية · Bahasa Indonesia · ไทย
3.65.1
हृतराज्ये नले भीमः सभार्येऽदर्शनं गते ।
चिन्तयामास बहुशः सहामात्यैर्नराधिपः ॥ ३.६५.१ ॥
When Nala had lost his kingdom and vanished with his wife, King Bhīma repeatedly pondered the matter with his ministers.
3.65.2
समाहूय द्विजान्सर्वानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।
अग्रहारं च दास्यामिग्रामं नगरसंमितम् ॥ ३.६५.२ ॥
Summoning all the brahmins, he spoke these words: "I will give a village equal to a city as an agrahāra land-grant."
3.65.3
दमयन्तीं नलं चैव पर्यन्वेषति यो द्विजः ।
गवां शतसहस्राणि दाता तस्मै द्विजातये ॥ ३.६५.३ ॥
To the brahmin who searches out Damayantī and Nala, I will give hundreds of thousands of cows.
3.65.4
इत्युक्त्वा ब्राह्मणान्सर्वान्समाहूय द्विजोत्तमान् ।
प्रस्थापयामास तदा तयोर्दर्शनकाङ्क्षया ॥ ३.६५.४ ॥
Having said this, he summoned all the best brahmins and then dispatched them, desiring to see the two of them again.
3.65.5
संदिदेश च तान्भीमो वसु दत्ता च पुष्कलम् ।
मृगयध्वं नलं चैव दमयन्तीं च मे सुताम् ॥ ३.६५.५ ॥
Bhīma gave them abundant wealth and instructed them: "Search out Nala and my daughter Damayantī."
3.65.6
अस्मिन्कर्मणि निष्पन्ने विज्ञाते निषधाधिपे ।
गवां सहस्रं दास्यामि यो वस्तावानयिष्यति ॥ ३.६५.६ ॥
When this task is accomplished and the lord of the Niṣadhas is known, I will give a thousand cows to whoever brings him back.
3.65.7
अग्रहारांश्च दास्यामि ग्रामं नगरसंमितम् ।
हिरण्यंच सुवर्णं च दासीदासं तथैव ॥ ३.६५.७ ॥
I will give agrahāra lands and a village as large as a city, gold and fine gold, and likewise male and female servants.
3.65.8
न चेच्छक्याविहानेतुं दमयन्ती नलोऽपि वा ।
ज्ञातमात्रेऽपि दास्यामि गवां दशशतं धनम् ॥ ३.६५.८ ॥
Even if it is not possible to bring back Damayantī or Nala, I will give a fortune of a thousand cows the moment they are recognized.
3.65.9
इत्युक्तास्ते ययुर्हृष्टा ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतो दिशम् ।
पुरराष्ट्राणि चिन्वन्तो नैषधं सह भार्यया।
नैव क्वापि प्रपश्यन्ति नलं वा भीमपुत्रिकाम् ॥ ३.६५.९ ॥
Thus addressed, the delighted brahmins went off in every direction, searching cities and kingdoms, yet nowhere did they see Nala, lord of Niṣadha, with his wife, or Bhīma's daughter.
3.65.10
ततश्चेदिपुरीं रम्यां सुदेवो नाम वै द्विजः ।
विचिन्वानोऽथ वैदर्भीमपश्यद्राजवेश्मनि ॥ ३.६५.१० ॥
Then a brahmin named Sudeva, searching in the delightful city of Cedi, saw the Vidarbha princess in the royal palace.
3.65.11
तयैव राजमाता च ब्राह्मणान्पर्यवेषयत् ।
भोजनार्थे सुदेवोऽपि तत्रैव प्रविवेश ह ॥ ३.६५.११ ॥
Together with her, the queen mother also served the brahmins, and Sudeva too entered right there for the meal.
3.65.12
कृशां विवर्णां मलिनां भर्तृशोकपरायणाम् ।
पुण्याहवाचने राज्ञः सुनन्दासहितां स्थिताम् ॥ ३.६५.१२ ॥
thin, pale, soiled, absorbed in grief for her husband, standing with Sunandā during the king's auspicious-day recitation.
3.65.13
मन्दं प्रख्यायमानेन रूपेणाप्रतिमेन ताम् ।
निबद्धां धूमजालेन प्रभामिव विभावसोः ॥ ३.६५.१३ ॥
Faintly shining forth, of incomparable beauty, she was like the radiance of the fire bound in a web of smoke.
3.65.14
तां समीक्ष्य विशालाक्षीमधिकं मलिनां कृशाम् ।
तर्कयामास भैमीति कारणैरुपपादयन् ॥ ३.६५.१४ ॥
Looking closely at her, wide-eyed, very soiled and thin, he reasoned out by evidence that this was Bhaimī.
3.65.15
यथेयं मे पुरा दृष्टा तथारूपेयमङ्गना ।
कृतार्थोस्म्यद्य दृष्ट्वेमां लोककान्तामिव श्रियं ॥ ३.६५.१५ ॥
This woman is of the same form as the one I saw before. Having seen her today, I am gratified, as if she were Śrī, beloved of the world.
3.65.16
पूर्णचन्द्राननां श्यामां चारुवृत्तपयोधराम् ।
कुर्वन्तीं प्रभया देवीं सर्वावितिमिरा दिशः ॥ ३.६५.१६ ॥
Full-moon-faced, dark-hued, with graceful rounded breasts, the goddess who dispels the darkness of all the quarters with her radiance.
3.65.17
चारुपद्मविशालाक्षीं मन्मथस्य रतीमिव ।
इष्टां समस्तलोकस्य पूर्णचन्द्रप्रभामिव ॥ ३.६५.१७ ॥
Of graceful, wide, lotus-like eyes, like Rati of Manmatha, beloved of all the world, like the radiance of the full moon.
3.65.18
विदर्भसरसस्तस्माद्दैवदोषादिवोद्धृताम् ।
मलपङ्कानुलिप्ताङ्गीं प्रम्लानां नलिनीमिव ॥ ३.६५.१८ ॥
Like a lotus withered, uprooted by the fault of fate from the lake of Vidarbha, its limbs smeared with the mud of filth.
3.65.19
पौर्णमासीमिव निशां राहुग्रस्तनिशाकराम् ।
पतिशोकाकुलां दीनां कृशस्त्रोतां नदीमिव ॥ ३.६५.१९ ॥
She was like a full-moon night with its moon seized by Rāhu, like a river with its stream thinned, distressed and wretched, overwhelmed with grief for her husband.
3.65.20
विध्वस्तपर्णकमलां वित्रासितविहंगमाम् ।
हस्तिहस्तपरिक्लिष्टां व्याकुलामिव पद्मिनीम् ॥ ३.६५.२० ॥
She was like a lotus pond with its leaves and lotuses crushed, its birds frightened away, harassed by elephant trunks, agitated.
3.65.21
सुकुमारीं सुजाताङ्गीं रत्नगर्भगृहोचिताम् ।
दह्यमानामिवार्केण मृणालीमिव चोद्धृताम् ॥ ३.६५.२१ ॥
She was tender, with well-formed limbs, fit for a house full of jewels, as if burning under the sun, or like a lotus stalk plucked up.
3.65.22
रूपौदार्यगुणोपेतां मण्डनार्हाममण्डिताम् ।
चन्द्रलेखामिव नवांव्योम्नि नीलाभ्रसंवृताम् ॥ ३.६५.२२ ॥
She was endowed with beauty and noble qualities, worthy of ornaments yet unadorned, like a new crescent moon in the sky covered by dark blue clouds.
3.65.23
कामभोगैः प्रियैर्हीनां हीनां बन्धुजनेन च ।
देहं धारयतीं दीनं भर्तृदर्शनकाङ्क्षया ॥ ३.६५.२३ ॥
Deprived of dear pleasures and of her kinsfolk, she bore her body wretchedly, out of longing to see her husband.
3.65.24
भर्ता नाम परं नार्या भूषणं भूषणैर्विना ।
एषा हि रहिता तेन शोभमाना न शोभते ॥ ३.६५.२४ ॥
The husband is indeed a woman's supreme ornament, greater than all ornaments. Separated from him, she does not shine, even when she shines with adornment.
3.65.25
दुष्करं कुरुतेऽत्यन्तं हीनो यदनया नलः ।
धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न शोकेनापि सीदति ॥ ३.६५.२५ ॥
Though bereft of her, Nala performs an exceedingly difficult deed: he sustains his own body, and even through grief he does not collapse.
3.65.26
इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रायतेक्षणाम् ।
सुखार्हां दुःखितां दृष्ट्वा ममापि व्यथते मनः ॥ ३.६५.२६ ॥
Seeing her, dark-tressed and lotus-eyed, worthy of happiness, yet afflicted, my own mind is pained.
3.65.27
कदा नु खलुः दुःखस्य पारं यास्यति वै शुभा ।
भर्तुः समागमात्साध्वीरोहिणी शशिनो यथा ॥ ३.६५.२७ ॥
When will this auspicious woman cross to the far shore of sorrow? Like Rohiṇī united with the moon, so this virtuous lady through reunion with her husband.
3.65.28
अस्या नूनं पुनर्लाभान्नैषधः प्रीतिमेष्यति ।
राजा राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः पुनर्लब्ध्वेव मेदिनीम् ॥ ३.६५.२८ ॥
Through regaining her, the Naiṣadha will surely find joy again, as a king who has lost his realm is glad to regain the earth.
3.65.29
तुल्यशीलवयोयुक्तां तुल्याभिजनसंवृतम् ।
नैषधोऽर्हति वैदर्भीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा ॥ ३.६५.२९ ॥
The Vaidarbhī, of equal character and age, surrounded by equal lineage, is fit for the Naiṣadha; and this dark-eyed one is fit for him.
3.65.30
युक्तं तस्याप्रमेयस्य वीर्यसत्ववतो मया ।
समाश्वासयितुं भार्यां पतिदर्शनलालसाम् ॥ ३.६५.३० ॥
It is fitting that I should console his wife, longing to see her husband, of that immeasurable one possessing valour and strength.
3.65.31
अहमाश्वासयाम्येनां पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम् ।
अदृष्टदुःखां दुःखार्तां ध्यानरोदनतत्पराम् ॥ ३.६५.३१ ॥
I shall comfort her, whose face is like the full moon, tormented by grief unseen, absorbed in meditation and weeping.
3.65.32
एवं विमृश्य विविधैः कारणैर्लक्षणैश्च ताम् ।
उपगम्य ततो भैमीं सुदेवो ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ३.६५.३२ ॥
Thus, having considered her by various reasons and signs, the brahmin Sudeva approached Bhaimī and spoke.
3.65.33
अहं सुदेवो वैदर्भि भ्रातुस्ते दयितः सखा ।
भीमस्य वचनाद्राज्ञस्त्वामन्वेष्टुमिहागतः ॥ ३.६५.३३ ॥
I am Sudeva, O princess of Vidarbha, the beloved friend of your brother. At Bhīma's word I have come here to search for you, in search of the king.
3.65.34
कुशली ते पिता राज्ञि जननी भ्रातरश्च ते ।
आयुष्मन्तौ कुशलिनौ तत्रस्थौ दारकौ च ते ॥ ३.६५.३४ ॥
Your father is well, O queen, and your mother and brothers as well. Your two long-lived children, staying there, are well too.
3.65.35
त्वत्कृतेबन्धुवर्गाश्च गतसत्वा इवासते ।
अन्वेष्टारो ब्राह्मणाश्च भ्रमन्ति शतशो महीम् ॥ ३.६५.३५ ॥
For your sake your kinsmen sit as though lifeless, and brahmins searching for you wander the earth by the hundreds.
3.65.36
अभिज्ञाय सुदेवं तं दमयन्ती युधिष्ठिर ।
पर्यपृच्छत तान्सर्वान्क्रमेण सुहृदः स्वकान् ॥ ३.६५.३६ ॥
Recognizing Sudeva, Damayantī, O Yudhiṣṭhira, questioned him in order about all her own friends.
3.65.37
रुरोद च भृशं राजन्वैदर्भी शोककर्शिता ।
दृष्ट्वा सुदेवं सहसा भ्रातुरिष्टं द्विजोत्तमम् ॥ ३.६५.३७ ॥
O king, the princess of Vidarbha, worn down by grief, wept bitterly when she suddenly saw Sudeva, the best of brahmins, dear to her brother.
3.65.38
ततो रुदन्तीं तां दृष्ट्वा सुनन्दा शोककर्शिता ।
सुदेवेन सहैकान्ते कथयन्तीं च भारत ॥ ३.६५.३८ ॥
Then, seeing her weeping and speaking with Sudeva in a secluded place, Sunandā, wasted by sorrow, O descendant of Bharata...
3.65.39
जनित्र्याः प्रेषयामास सैरन्ध्री रुदते भृशम् ।
ब्राह्मणेन सहागम्य तांविद्धि यदि मन्यसे ॥ ३.६५.३९ ॥
His mother sent the maidservant Sairandhrī, who wept greatly. If you think so, know that she had come together with the brahmin and was with him.
3.65.40
अथ चेदिपतेर्माता राज्ञश्चान्तःपुरात्तदा ।
जगाम यत्रसा बाला ब्राह्मणेन सहाभवत् ॥ ३.६५.४० ॥
Then the mother of the lord of the Cedis, from the king's inner apartments, went to where that young woman was with the brahmin.
3.65.41
ततः सुदेवमानाय्य राजमाता विशांपते ।
पप्रच्छ भार्या कस्येयं सुता वा कस्य भामिनी ॥ ३.६५.४१ ॥
Then, O lord of men, the queen mother had Sudeva brought and asked: 'Whose wife is this radiant lady, or whose daughter?'
3.65.42
कथं च नष्टा ज्ञातिभ्यो भर्तुर्वा वामलोचना ।
त्वया च विदिता विप्र कथमेवंगता सती ॥ ३.६५.४२ ॥
O brahmin, how was this lovely-eyed woman lost from her kinsmen or from her husband? How did you come to know her? How did this virtuous woman come to such a state?
3.65.43
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं त्वत्तः सर्वमशेषतः ।
तत्त्वेन हि ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छन्त्यादेवरूपिणीम् ॥ ३.६५.४३ ॥
I wish to hear all of this from you, without omission. She who has the form of a goddess asks; tell it to me truly.
3.65.44
एवमुक्तस्तया राजन्सुदेवो द्विजसत्तमः ।
सुखोपविष्ट आचष्ट दमयन्त्या यथातथम् ॥ ३.६५.४४ ॥
O king, when she had thus addressed him, Sudeva, best of the twice-born, sat at ease and began to relate the account of Damayantī exactly as it had happened.