Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 3.72
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3.72.1
गच्छ केशिनि जानीहि क एष रथवाहकः ।
उपविष्टो रथोपस्थे विकृतो ह्रस्वबाहुकः ॥ ३.७२.१ ॥
Go, Keśinī, and find out who this charioteer is, seated on the chariot's seat, deformed and short-armed.
3.72.2
अभ्येत्य कुशलं भद्रे मृदुपूर्वंसमाहिता ।
पृच्छेथाः पुरुषे ह्येनं यथातत्त्वमनिन्दिते ॥ ३.७२.२ ॥
Going near, O gracious one, calmly and gently first ask after his well-being; O faultless one, question that man truthfully.
3.72.3
अत्र मे महती शङ्का भवेदेष नलो नृपः ।
यथाच मनसस्तुष्टिर्हृदयस्य च निर्वृतिः ॥ ३.७२.३ ॥
Here I have a great doubt: could this man be King Nala? If so, my mind would find its satisfaction and my heart its peace.
3.72.4
ब्रूयाश्चैनं कथान्ते त्वं पर्णादवचनं यथा ।
प्रतिवाक्यं च सुश्रोणि बुद्ध्येथास्त्वमनिन्दिते ॥ ३.७२.४ ॥
And at the end of your talk, O fair-hipped one, tell him the words of Parṇa, and mark well, O faultless one, his reply.
3.72.5
एवं समाहिता गत्वा दूती बाहुकमब्रवीत् ।
दमयन्त्यपि कल्याणी प्रासादस्थाऽनव्वैक्षत ॥ ३.७२.५ ॥
Thus composed, the messenger went and spoke to Bāhuka; and the auspicious Damayantī, standing on the palace, kept watching.
3.72.6
स्वागतं ते मनुष्येन्द्र कुशलं ते ब्रवीम्यहम् ।
दमयन्त्या वचः साधु निबोध पुरुषर्षभ ॥ ३.७२.६ ॥
Welcome, lord of men; I inquire after your well-being. Bull among men, hear Damayantī's good words.
3.72.7
कदा वै प्रस्थिता यूयं किमर्थमिह चागताः ।
तत्त्वं ब्रूहि यथान्यायं वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छति ॥ ३.७२.७ ॥
When did you set out, and for what purpose have you come here? Tell it truly and in order; the princess of Vidarbha wishes to hear.
3.72.8
श्रुतः स्वयंवरो राज्ञा कोसलेन महात्मना ।
द्वितीयो दमयन्त्या वै भविता श्व इति द्विजात् ॥ ३.७२.८ ॥
The high-souled king of Kosala heard it from a twice-born man: a second svayaṃvara for Damayantī would take place tomorrow.
3.72.9
श्रुत्वैतत्प्रस्थितो राजा शतयोजनयायिभिः ।
हयैर्वातजवैर्मुख्यैरहमस्य च सारथिः ॥ ३.७२.९ ॥
Hearing this, the king set out with excellent horses that could cover a hundred yojanas, swift as the wind; and I am his charioteer.
3.72.10
अथ योसौ तृतीयो वः स कुतः कस्य वा पुनः ।
त्वं च कस्य कथं चेदंत्वयि कर्म समाहितम् ॥ ३.७२.१० ॥
Now, who is that third one among you, from where is he, and whose is he? And whose are you, and how has this task been entrusted to you?
3.72.11
पुण्यश्लोकस्य वै सूतो वार्ष्णेय इति विश्रतः ।
स नले विद्रुते भद्रेभागस्वरिमुपस्थितः ॥ ३.७२.११ ॥
The charioteer of the one of holy renown (Nala) was well known as Vārṣṇeya. O gracious one, when Nala had fled, he entered the service of Bhāgasvari.
3.72.12
अहमप्यश्वकुशलः सूतत्वे च प्रतिष्ठितः ।
ऋतुपर्णेन सारथ्ये भोजने च वृतः स्वयम् ॥ ३.७२.१२ ॥
I too am skilled with horses and established in charioteering. Ṛtuparṇa himself has engaged me as charioteer and as cook.
3.72.13
अथ जानाति वार्ष्णेयः क्वनु राजा नलो गतः ।
कथं च त्वयि वा तेन कथितं स्यात्तु बाहुक ॥ ३.७२.१३ ॥
Then does the Vārṣṇeya know where King Nala has gone? Or how would he have told you, Bāhuka?
3.72.14
इहैव पुत्रौ निक्षिप्य नलस्य प्रियदर्शनौ ।
गतस्ततो यथाकामं नैष जानाति नैषधम् ॥ ३.७२.१४ ॥
Having left Nala's two fair sons right here, he went off wherever he pleased; he does not know Nala the Niṣadhan.
3.72.15
न चान्यः पुरुषः कश्चिन्नलं वेत्ति यशस्विनि ।
गूढश्चरति लोकेऽस्मिन्नष्टरूपो महीपतिः ॥ ३.७२.१५ ॥
And O glorious one, no other man knows Nala; in this world the lord of the earth wanders hidden, his form changed.
3.72.16
आत्मैव तु नलं वेद या चास्य तदनन्तरा ।
न हि वै स्वानि लिङ्गानि नलं शंसन्ति कर्हिचित् ॥ ३.७२.१६ ॥
Only his own self knows Nala, and after that the one who is next to him; his own marks never reveal Nala.
3.72.17
योसावयोध्यां प्रथमं गतोसौ ब्राह्मणस्तदा ।
इमानि नारीवाक्यानि कथयानः पुनःपुनः ॥ ३.७२.१७ ॥
That brahmin who first went to Ayodhyā, repeating these words of the woman again and again.
3.72.18
क्वनु त्वं कितव च्छित्त्वा वस्त्रार्धं प्रस्थितो मम ।
उत्सृज्य विपिने सुप्तामनुरक्तां प्रियां प्रिय ॥ ३.७२.१८ ॥
Where have you gone, gambler? Having cut off half my garment, you set out and abandoned your devoted beloved wife asleep in the forest, O dear one!
3.72.19
सा वै यथा समादिष्टा तथाऽऽस्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी ।
दह्यमाना दिवारात्रौ वस्त्रार्धेनाभिसंवृता ॥ ३.७२.१९ ॥
Indeed, she remains just as she was instructed, waiting for you, burning day and night, covered with half a garment.
3.72.20
तस्या रुदनत्याः सततं तेन दुःखेन पार्थिव ।
प्रसादं कुरु मे वीर प्रतिवाक्यं वदस्व च ॥ ३.७२.२० ॥
Because she weeps constantly from that sorrow, O king, O hero, show me your grace and give a reply.
3.72.21
तस्यास्तत्प्रियमाख्यानं प्रवदस्व महामते ।
तदेव वाक्यं वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छन्त्यनिन्दिता ॥ ३.७२.२१ ॥
O wise one, speak that dear message to her; that very word is what the blameless Vaidarbhī wishes to hear.
3.72.22
एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रतिवचस्तस्य दत्तं त्वया किल ।
यत्पुरा तत्पुनस्त्वत्तो वैदर्भी श्रोतुमिच्छति ॥ ३.७२.२२ ॥
Having heard this, the Vaidarbhī wishes to hear again from you the reply you once gave her.
3.72.23
एवमुक्तस्य केशिन्या नलस्य कुरुनन्दन ।
हृदयं व्यथितं चासीदश्रुपूर्णे च लोचने ॥ ३.७२.२३ ॥
When Keśinī had spoken thus, O delight of the Kurus, Nala's heart was pained and his eyes were filled with tears.
3.72.24
स निग्राह्यात्मनो दुःखं दह्यमानो महीपतिः ।
बाष्पसंदिग्धया वाचा पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३.७२.२४ ॥
Restraining his own sorrow, the burning king again spoke these words, his voice choked with tears.
3.72.25
वैषम्यमपि संप्राप्ता गोपायन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।
आत्मानमात्मना सत्यो जितः स्वर्गो न संशयः ॥ ३.७२.२५ ॥
Even when fallen into adversity, women of good family protect themselves by their own means; a truthful woman wins heaven by herself, there is no doubt.
3.72.26
रहिता भर्तृभिश्चापि न क्रुध्यन्ति कदाचन ।
प्राणांश्चारित्रकवचान्धारयन्ति वरस्त्रियः ॥ ३.७२.२६ ॥
Even when parted from their husbands, excellent women never grow angry; they sustain their life-breaths with good conduct as their armour.
3.72.27
विषमस्थेन मूढेन परिभ्रष्टसुखेन च ।
यत्सा तेन परित्यक्ता तत्रन क्रोद्धुमर्हति ॥ ३.७२.२७ ॥
Since he, standing in misfortune, deluded and fallen from happiness, abandoned her, she should not be angry.
3.72.28
प्राणयात्रां परिप्रेप्सोः शकुनैर्हतवाससः ।
आधिभिर्दह्यमानस्य श्यामा न क्रोद्धुमर्हति ॥ ३.७२.२८ ॥
For her husband, seeking the sustenance of life, whose garment was taken by birds and who burns with mental anguish, Śyāmā should not be angry.
3.72.29
सत्कृताऽसत्कृता वाऽपि पतिं दृष्ट्वा तथाविधम् ।
राज्यभ्रष्टं श्रिया हीनं क्षिधितं व्यसनाप्लुतम् ॥ ३.७२.२९ ॥
Whether honoured or dishonoured, having seen her husband in such a state, fallen from his kingdom, bereft of fortune, hungry and plunged in misfortune—
3.72.30
एवं ब्रुवाणस्तद्वाक्यं नलः परमदुर्मनाः ।
न बाष्पमशकत्सोढुं प्ररुरोद च भारत ॥ ३.७२.३० ॥
Thus speaking, Nala, deeply distressed, could not hold back his tears, and he wept aloud, O Bhārata.
3.72.31
ततः सा केशिनी गत्वा दमयन्त्यै न्यवेदयत् ।
तत्सर्वं कथितं चैव विकारं तस्य चैव तम् ॥ ३.७२.३१ ॥
Then Keśinī went and reported everything to Damayantī, and told her all about his agitation.