Unique experiences

सा गत्वा त्रीनहोरात्रान् ददर्श परमाङ्गना ⁠। तापसारण्यमतुलं दिव्यकाननशोभितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६१ ⁠।⁠।

वसिष्ठभृग्वत्रिसमैस्तापसैरुपशोभितम् ⁠। नियतैः संयताहारैर्दमशैचसमन्वितैः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६२ ⁠।⁠।

अब्भक्षैर्वायुभक्षैश्च पत्राहारैस्तथैव च ⁠। जितेन्द्रियैर्महाभागैः स्वर्गमार्गदिदृक्षुभिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६३ ⁠।⁠।

वल्कलाजिनसंवीतैर्मुनिभिः संयतेन्द्रियैः ⁠। तापसाध्युषितं रम्यं ददर्शाश्रममण्डलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६४ ⁠।⁠।

After walking for three days and three nights, the great lady came across a forest that was filled with तपस्वीs – this forest looked unique and divine.

The place was abounding with तपस्वीs who were strict on adhering to disciplines, limited eaters (of food), possessed qualities like शम, दम, शौच, etc – they were like तथा वसिष्ठ, भृगु & अत्रिके, etc (in their orientation).

In this place, some तपस्वीs just lived on water while some others living on वायु only. Some were just chewing leaves. Those तपस्वीs who had controlled their senses were keen on attaining the great स्वर्गलोक.

She was able to see number of eye-catching आश्रमs within which these तपस्वीs were living, wearing वल्कल & मृगचर्म and who were मुनिs who had controlled their senses.

नानामृगगणैर्जुष्टं शाखामृगगणायुतम् ⁠। तापसैः समुपेतं च सा दृष्ट्वैव समाश्वसत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६५ ⁠।⁠।

सुभ्रूः सुकेशी सुश्रोणी सुकुचा सुद्विजानना ⁠। वर्चस्विनी सुप्रतिष्ठा स्वसितायतलोचना ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६६ ⁠।⁠।

सा विवेशाश्रमपदं वीरसेनसुतप्रिया ⁠। योषिद्रत्नं महाभागा दमयन्ती तपस्विनी ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६७ ⁠।⁠।

⁠साभिवाद्य तपोवृद्धान् विनयावनता स्थिता ⁠। स्वागतं त इति प्रोक्ता तैः सर्वैस्तापसोत्तमैः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६८ ⁠।⁠।

Within the आश्रम, lots of deers and monkeys were moving about. Just by looking at the beautiful आश्रम, दमयन्ती almost immediately attained calmness.

Her eyebrows were very beautiful. Her hair was attractive. Her hips, breasts, lining of her teeth and her face – all of them were beautiful. Her attractive moving eyes were wide. She was effulgent and distinguished (reputed).

That daughter in law of the great king वीरसेन who was a beauty among beautiful people and was a तपस्विनी herself, entered the आश्रम.

She bowed down to the elderly तपस्वीs and went and stood next to them with full humility. Then, all the great तपस्वीs who were living there told her “O देवि! You were welcome.”

पूजां चास्या यथान्यायं कृत्वा तत्र तपोधनाः ⁠। आस्यतामित्यथोचुस्ते ब्रूहि किं करवामहे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६९ ⁠।⁠।

तानुवाच वरारोहा कच्चिद् भगवतामिह ⁠। तपःस्वग्निषु धर्मेषु मृगपक्षिषु चानघाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७० ⁠।⁠।

कुशलं वो महाभागाः स्वधर्माचरणेषु च ⁠। तैरुक्ता कुशलं भद्रे सर्वत्रेति यशस्विनि ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७१ ⁠।⁠।

ब्रूहि सर्वानवद्याङ्गि का त्वं किं च चिकीर्षसि ⁠। दृष्ट्वैव ते परं रूपं द्युतिं च परमामिह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७२ ⁠।⁠।

विस्मयो नः समुत्पन्नः समाश्वसिहि मा शुचः ⁠। अस्यारण्यस्य देवी त्वमुताहोऽस्य महीभृतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७३ ⁠।⁠।

Then, after having duly received दमयन्ती in a respectful manner, those तपस्वीs asked her – “शुभे! Please be seated and let us know how can we be of any help to you.”

Then the beautiful दमयन्ती told them – O भगवन्! O निष्पाप महाभागगण! I trust all of you are safely able to conduct of तप, अग्निहोत्र, धर्म, taking care of the deers and birds as well as adhering to धर्म, etc. And they all replied – “O भद्रे! O यशस्विनि! Everything is safe here”.

O सर्वांगसुन्दरी! Tell us who are you and what is your stated course of action? You have a beautiful form and seeing such a lustrous person in this place is a wonder to us. Be courageous, do not grieve. You look like you are the देवी of this forest or the अधिदेवता of this mountain.

अस्याश्च नद्याः कल्याणि वद सत्यमनिन्दिते ⁠। साब्रवीत् तानृषीन् नाहमरण्यस्यास्य देवता ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७४ ⁠।⁠।

न चाप्यस्य गिरेर्विप्रा नैव नद्याश्च देवता ⁠। मानुषीं मां विजानीत यूयं सर्वे तपोधनाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७५ ⁠।⁠।

विस्तरेणाभिधास्यामि तन्मे शृणुत सर्वशः ⁠। विदर्भेषु महीपालो भीमो नाम महीपतिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७६ ⁠।⁠।

तस्य मां तनयां सर्वे जानीत द्विजसत्तमाः ⁠। निषधाधिपतिर्धीमान् नलो नाम महायशाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७७ ⁠।⁠।

वीरः संग्रामजिद् विद्वान् मम भर्ता विशाम्पतिः ⁠। देवताभ्यर्चनपरो द्विजातिजनवत्सलः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७८ ⁠।⁠।

O अनिन्दिते! O कल्याणि! Or maybe you are the अधिष्ठात्री देवी of this river – kindly tell us the truth. दमयन्ती then replied to the ऋषिs – O ब्राह्मणs who are deep in तपस्या! Neither am I the देवी of this forest nor an अधिदेवता of this mountain or the देवी of this river. You should all consider me as a normal human being.

Let me introduce myself fully, kindly listen. In the विदर्भ-देश, there is a famous king named भीम who rules there.

O द्विजवरो! All you महात्माs should know me as the daughter of the king. The ruler of निषध-देश, winner in all wars, brave, intelligent, knowledgeable, ruler and highly famed king नल is my husband. He is always immersed in पूजा of the देवताs and he carries a lot of respect in his heart for the ब्राह्मणs.

गोप्ता निषधवंशस्य महातेजा महाबलः ⁠। सत्यवान् धर्मवित् प्राज्ञः सत्यसंधोऽरिमर्दनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७९ ⁠।⁠।

ब्रह्मण्यो दैवतपरः श्रीमान् परपुरंजयः ⁠। नलो नाम नृपश्रेष्ठो देवराजसमद्युतिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८० ⁠।⁠।

मम भर्ता विशालाक्षः पूर्णेन्दुवदनोऽरिहा ⁠। आहर्ता क्रतुमुख्यानां वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८१ ⁠।⁠।

He is the protector of निषध-कुल, he is highly effulgent, very strong, speaker of truth, knower of धर्म, scholar, defeater of enemies, भक्त of the ब्राह्मणs, does उपासना of the देवताs, possess abundant splendour and wealth and capable of taking charge of the cities of the enemies. My husband नल is as effulgent as इंद्र. His eyes are large and his face bears the expression of full moon. He engages in wars with his enemies, he conducts multiple large यज्ञs and scholar in the वेद and वेदांग.

सपत्नानां मृधे हन्ता रविसोमसमप्रभः ⁠। स कैश्चिन्निकृतिप्रज्ञैरनार्यैरकृतात्मभिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८२ ⁠।⁠।

आहूय पृथिवीपालः सत्यधर्मपरायणः ⁠। देवने कुशलैर्जिह्मैर्हृतं राज्यं वसूनि च ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८३ ⁠।⁠।

तस्य मामवगच्छध्वं भार्यां राजर्षभस्य वै ⁠। दमयन्तीति विख्यातां भर्तुर्दर्शनलालसाम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८४ ⁠।⁠।

सा वनानि गिरींश्चैव सरांसि सरितस्तथा ⁠। पल्वलानि च सर्वाणि तथारण्यानि सर्वशः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८५ ⁠।⁠।

अन्वेषमाणा भर्तारं नलं रणविशारदम् ⁠। महात्मानं कृतास्त्रं च विचरामीह दुःखिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८६ ⁠।⁠।

In wars, he has already defeated a lot of enemies. He is as bright as the सूर्य and चंद्र and possesses beautiful aura around him. One day, King नल who is aligned to धर्म and सत्य, was invited for gambling by people who are skilled in committing frauds, who do not have senses in their control, who are not noble, who are devious and skilled in gambling. They succeeded in taking control of all his wealth and his kingdom via gambling.

Know me as the wife of the great king नल, famously known by many as दमयन्ती.

My husband, नल is skilled in the art of warfare and knowledgeable in the art of using अस्त्र & शस्त्र. Searching for him, I have moved around this forest, mountain, lake, river, valley and all dense places.

कच्चिद् भगवतां रम्यं तपोवनमिदं नृपः ⁠। भवेत् प्राप्तो नलो नाम निषधानां जनाधिपः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८७ ⁠।⁠।

यत्कृतेऽहमिदं ब्रह्मन् प्रपन्ना भृशदारुणम् ⁠। वनं प्रतिभयं घोरं शार्दूलमृगसेवितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८८ ⁠।⁠।

यदि कैश्चिदहोरात्रैर्न द्रक्ष्यामि नलं नृपम् ⁠। आत्मानं श्रेयसा योक्ष्ये देहस्यास्य विमोचनात् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८९ ⁠।⁠।

को नु मे जीवितेनार्थस्तमृते पुरुषर्षभम् ⁠। कथं भविष्याम्यद्याहं भर्तृशोकाभिपीडिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९० ⁠।⁠।

O भगवन्! Can you tell me if the good-looking नल, the king of निषध, came here? O ब्रह्मन्! It is for him that I have crossed tigers, lions and other animals present in this dangerous and dense forest.

Even I am unable to see king नल for a few more nights, then I will give up my body and release the आत्मा

What is the use of continuing to live without the presence of the नल, the gem among men? I do not know what I will turn into in the absence of my husband.

तथा विलपतीमेकामरण्ये भीमनन्दिनीम् ⁠। दमयन्तीमथोचुस्ते तापसाः सत्यदर्शिनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९१ ⁠।⁠।

उदर्कस्तव कल्याणि कल्याणो भविता शुभे ⁠। वयं पश्याम तपसा क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि नैषधम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९२ ⁠।⁠।

निषधानामधिपतिं नलं रिपुनिपातिनम् ⁠। भैमि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठं द्रक्ष्यसे विगतज्वरम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९३ ⁠।⁠।

Moving around alone in the forest and wailing, this is how दमयन्ती conveyed her mind to the तपस्वीs whose sole interest was to experience सत्य

O कल्याणि! शुभे! Using our तपोबल, we are able to see that your future will be auspicious and good. You will certainly meet King नल in the near future.

O भीमकुमारी! You will certainly be able to see the ruler of निषध-देश who is the greatest among धर्मात्माs and you will see him free from all kinds of worry.

विमुक्तं सर्वपापेभ्यः सर्वरत्नसमन्वितम् ⁠। तदेव नगरं श्रेष्ठं प्रशासतमरिंदमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९४ ⁠।⁠।

द्विषतां भयकर्तारं सुहृदां शोकनाशनम् ⁠। पति द्रक्ष्यसि कल्याणि कल्याणाभिजनं नृपम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९५ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्त्वा नलस्येष्टां महिषीं पार्थिवात्मजाम् ⁠। अन्तर्हितास्तापसास्ते साग्निहोत्राश्रमास्तथा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९६ ⁠।⁠।

सा दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं विस्मिता ह्यभवत् तदा ⁠। दमयन्त्यनवद्याङ्गी वीरसेननृपस्नुषा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९७ ⁠।⁠।

Your husband will certainly become free from all दु:ख that come from पापकर्म and will be living in complete wealth. The great king नल will again rile that great kingdom. His enemies will fear him and he will certainly eliminate unhappiness in the minds of his well-wishers. O  कल्याणि! In this way, you will see your husband, born within a good family, (get re-established as the king in his kingdom).

Saying this, all the तपस्वीs disappeared along with अग्निहोत्र and the आश्रम.

दमयन्ती, the daughter in law of king वीरसेन, was stunned when this happened and kept wondering as to what just happened.

किं नु स्वप्नो मया दृष्टः कोऽयं विधिरिहाभवत् ⁠। क्व नु ते तापसाः सर्वे क्व तदाश्रममण्डलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९८ ⁠।⁠।

क्व सा पुण्यजला रम्या नदी द्विजनिषेविता ⁠। क्व नु ते ह नगा हृद्याः फलपुष्पोपशोभिताः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९९ ⁠।⁠।

ध्यात्वा चिरं भीमसुता दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता ⁠। भर्तृशोकपरा दीना विवर्णवदनाभवत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०० ⁠।⁠।

(She wondered) – “Did I just witness a dream?” Where have all these तपस्वीs vanished and where is the group of आश्रम I was witnessing just now?”

Where is the sacred and beautiful river on whom the birds used to fly about? Where has it vanished? Even the trees filled with fruits and flowers are no longer seen by me.

The lady with pure and sweet smile, दमयन्ती, kept on contemplating in this surprise for a long while. Then again, sadness caused by loss of her husband returned back to her expression and she became aggrieved again.

सा गत्वाथापरां भूमिं बाष्पसंदिग्धया गिरा ⁠। विललापाश्रुपूर्णाक्षी दृष्ट्वाशोकतरुं ततः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०१ ⁠।⁠।

उपगम्य तरुश्रेष्ठमशोकं पुष्पितं वने ⁠। पल्लवापीडितं हृद्यं विहङ्गैरनुनादितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०२ ⁠।⁠।

अहो बतायमगमः श्रीमानस्मिन् वनान्तरे ⁠। आपीडैर्बहुभिर्भाति श्रीमान् पर्वतराडिव ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०३ ⁠।⁠।

Then she kept on moving and started wailing again with tear-filled eyes and shaky voice. Her eyes were filled with tears. As she moved further, she came across an अशोक tree. दमयन्ती went close to it. This tall tree was filled with अशोक flowers. The tree was looking beautiful with leaves and many chirping birds singing joyously on it.

(she exclaimed mentally =—) अहो! In this forest, this अशोक tree is looking very beautiful. It is filled with fruits, flowers, etc and these were adorning it and adding beauty owing to which it looks as beautiful as the king of the mountains.

विशोकां कुरु मां क्षिप्रमशोक प्रियदर्शन ⁠। वीतशोकभयाबाधं कच्चित् त्वं दृष्टवान् नृपम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०४ ⁠।⁠।

नलं नामारिदमनं दमयन्त्याः प्रियं पतिम् ⁠। निषधानामधिपतिं दृष्टवानसि मे प्रियम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०५ ⁠।⁠।

एकवस्त्रार्धसंवीतं सुकुमारतनुत्वचम् ⁠। व्यसनेनार्दितं वीरमरण्यमिदमागतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०६ ⁠।⁠।

यथा विशोका गच्छेयमशोकनग तत् कुरु ⁠। सत्यनामा भवाशोक अशोकः शोकनाशनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०७ ⁠।⁠।

एवं साशोकवृक्षं तमार्ता वै परिगम्य ह ⁠। जगाम दारुणतरं देशं भैमी वराङ्गना ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०८ ⁠।⁠।

(then she asked अशोक – ) O प्रियदर्शन अशोक! Kindly remove my sadness. Have you come across King नल, who is always free from sadness, fear and any impediments? Has your vision fallen on my love, the ruler of the life of दमयन्ती and king of निषध – नल?

He has covered himself with a half-saree part and the skin on his body looks very delicate. That courageous नल had to enter this forest after experiencing a large personal tragedy.

O अशोकवृक्ष! Kindly do something which will enable me to leave this place without experiencing further sadness. The meaning of the word अशोक itself means that which destroys शोक (sadness) – so kindly prove that you deserve the name that you carry as your identity.

In this way, the beautiful दमयन्ती, overcome with sadness, went around अशोक-वृक्ष and left the place towards further dangerous locations.

सा ददर्श नगान् नैकान् नैकाश्च सरितस्तथा ⁠। नैकांश्च पर्वतान् रम्यान् नैकांश्च मृगपक्षिणः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १०९ ⁠।⁠।

कन्दरांश्च नितम्बांश्च नदीश्चाद्भुतदर्शनाः ⁠। ददर्श तान् भीमसुता पतिमन्वेषती तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११० ⁠।⁠।

गत्वा प्रकृष्टमध्वानं दमयन्ती शुचिस्मिता ⁠। ददर्शाथ महासार्थं हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १११ ⁠।⁠।

उत्तरन्तं नदीं रम्यां प्रसन्नसलिलां शुभाम् ⁠। सुशीततोयां विस्तीर्णां ह्रदिनीं वेतसैर्वृताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११२ ⁠।⁠।

She witnessed many types of trees, many lakes, many beautiful mountains, many animals & birds, mountain caves and their middle portions along with many wondrous rivers. While continually searching for her husband, दमयन्ती kept on seeing all the aforesaid objects again and again. And after navigating like this for a long time, the sweet-smiled came across a सार्थ (a band of business people) who were travelling with elephants, horses and many chariots. This group of people were crossing a clean river that was full of clean water and beautiful. The water of the river was very sweet. Its banks were wide and it also had many ponds on the banks of which were present many बेंतक trees.

प्रोद्‌घुष्टां क्रौञ्चकुररैश्चक्रवाकोपकूजिताम् ⁠। कूर्मग्राहझषाकीर्णां विपुलद्वीपशोभिताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११३ ⁠।⁠।

सा दृष्ट्वैव महासार्थं नलपत्नी यशस्विनी ⁠। उपसर्प्य वरारोहा जनमध्यं विवेश ह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११४ ⁠।⁠।

उन्मत्तरूपा शोकार्ता तथा वस्त्रार्धसंवृता ⁠। कृशा विवर्णा मलिना पांसुध्वस्तशिरोरुहा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११५ ⁠।⁠।

तां दृष्ट्वा तत्र मनुजाः केचिद् भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः ⁠। केचिच्चिन्तापरा जग्मुः केचित् तत्र विचुक्रुशुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११६ ⁠।⁠।

On its banks were birds like क्रौंच, कुरर & चक्रवाक, etc which were chirping gloriously. The river was filled with fishes and the river was looking great around a large island.

When दमयन्ती saw this large collection of people, the famous and beautiful wife of नल came close to it and merged into the crowd.

Her form resembled that of a person who is very civilized, he was full of sadness, weak, unhappy and covered with dirt. She had covered her body in a half-dress and her hair was covered with dust.

Seeing दमयन्ती in this condition, some people ran away in fear. Some others started developing anxiety and some others started shouting.

प्रहसन्ति स्म तां केचिदभ्यसूयन्ति चापरे ⁠। अकुर्वत दयां केचित् पप्रच्छुश्चापि भारत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११७ ⁠।⁠।

कासि कस्यासि कल्याणि किं वा मृगयसे वने ⁠। त्वां दृष्ट्वा व्यथिताः स्मेह कच्चित् त्वमसि मानुषी ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११८ ⁠।⁠।

वद सत्यं वनस्यास्य पर्वतस्याथवा दिशः ⁠। देवता त्वं हि कल्याणि त्वां वयं शरणं गताः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११९ ⁠।⁠।

Some people made fun of her and some started finding faults with her. There were those others who developed pity on her and those people asked her

O कल्याणि! Who are you? You are a woman and what are you looking for in this forest? Looking at you, we are feeling sadness. Are you a human being?

O कल्याणि! Tell us the truth, are you an अधिष्ठात्री देवी of this forest, mountain or directions? Kindly take us under you and protect us.

यक्षी वा राक्षसी वा त्वमुताहोऽसि वराङ्गना ⁠। सर्वथा कुरु नः स्वस्ति रक्ष वास्माननिन्दिते ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२० ⁠।⁠।

यथायं सर्वथा सार्थः क्षेमी शीघ्रमितो व्रजेत् ⁠। तथा विधत्स्व कल्याणि यथा श्रेयो हि नो भवेत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२१ ⁠।⁠।

तथोक्ता तेन सार्थेन दमयन्ती नृपात्मजा ⁠। प्रत्युवाच ततः साध्वी भर्तृव्यसनपीडिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२२ ⁠।⁠।

सार्थवाहं च सार्थं च जना ये चात्र केचन ⁠। युवस्थविरबालाश्च सार्थस्य च पुरोगमाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२३ ⁠।⁠।

मानुषीं मां विजानीत मनुजाधिपतेः सुताम् ⁠। नृपस्नुषां राजभार्यां भर्तृदर्शनलालसाम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२४ ⁠।⁠।

Are you an यक्षी or a राक्षसी or a superior देवी? O अनिन्दिते! Kindly pray for our well-being and protection. Kindly pray that this group is able to safely move from here and all of us live happy.

Listening to those यात्रीs who spoke in this manner, the orphaned, sad and well-behaved दमयन्ती spoke in this manner to all

Kindly convey to the leader of this group, all the people in this group and all those old & young who are walking within this group that I am a human being only. I am the daughter of a king, daughter-in-law of a king and also a wife of a king. I am moving around in this forest in search of my Lord.

विदर्भराण्मम पिता भर्ता राजा च नैषधः ⁠। नलो नाम महाभागस्तं मृग्याम्यपराजितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२५ ⁠।⁠।

यदि जानीत नृपतिं क्षिप्रं शंसत मे प्रियम् ⁠। नलं पुरुषशार्दूलममित्रगणसूदनम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२६ ⁠।⁠।

तामुवाचानवद्याङ्गीं सार्थस्य महतः प्रभुः ⁠। सार्थवाहः शुचिर्नाम शृणु कल्याणि मद्वचः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२७ ⁠।⁠।

अहं सार्थस्य नेता वै सार्थवाहः शुचिस्मिते ⁠। मनुष्यं नलनामानं न पश्यामि यशस्विनि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२८ ⁠।⁠।

My father is the king of विदर्भ kingdom, भीम,  my husband, नल is the king of निषध. I am travelling in search of the brave नल.

If any of you know anything about the defeater of enemies and my lover great king नल, kindly do share whatever you know to me.

The leader of the group was a man named शुचि. He replied – O कल्याणि! Do listen to me.

O शुचिस्मिते! I am the leader and regulator of this collection of people. O यशस्विनि! So far, I have not come across anyone by the name of नल

कुञ्जरद्वीपिमहिषशार्दूलर्क्षमृगानपि ⁠। पश्याम्यस्मिन् वने कृत्स्ने ह्यमनुष्यनिषेविते ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२९ ⁠।⁠।

ऋते त्वां मानुषीं मर्त्यं न पश्यामि महावने ⁠। तथा नो यक्षराडद्य मणिभद्रः प्रसीदतु ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३० ⁠।⁠।

साब्रवीद् वणिजः सर्वान् सार्थवाहं च तं ततः ⁠। क्व नु यास्यति सार्थोऽयमेतदाख्यातुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३१ ⁠।⁠।

सार्थवाह उवाच सार्थोऽयं चेदिराजस्य सुबाहोः सत्यदर्शिनः ⁠। क्षिप्रं जनपदं गन्ता लाभाय मनुजात्मजे ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३२ ⁠।⁠।

This entire forest is filled with non-human beings. Within this I can see only elephants, Cheetahs, lions, bears and deers.

Apart from one woman, I have not seen any human being in this vast forest. यक्षराज मणिभद्र is happy with us today.

Then दमयन्ती spoke to all the business persons along with their leader – “Where is this group going? Kindly tell me.”

Then the leader replied — O राजकुमारी! We are on our way to the Chedi kingdom with the intent of making profits by visiting that place.

सा तच्छ्रुत्वानवद्याङ्गी सार्थवाहवचस्तदा ⁠। जगाम सह तेनैव सार्थेन पतिलालसा ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

अथ काले बहुतिथे वने महति दारुणे ⁠। तडागं सर्वतोभद्रं पद्मसौगन्धिकं महत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

ददृशुर्वणिजो रम्यं प्रभूतयवसेन्धनम् ⁠। बहुपुष्पफलोपेतं नानापक्षिनिषेवितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

निर्मलस्वादुसलिलं मनोहारि सुशीतलम् ⁠। सुपरिश्रान्तवाहास्ते निवेशाय मनो दधुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O राजन्! Listening to this, the beautiful दमयन्ती who was in pain for being separated from her husband, joined this group and started travelling along with them.

Afterwards, after some time, the group reached a dangerous large forest where they came across a large lake which went by the name, पद्मसौगन्धिक.  It was looking safe and beneficial from all sides. There was a lot of grass and fuel near the lake, flowers and fruits were also available in large abundance. Lots of birds too were residing at the lake.

The water of the lake was clean and sweet and it was looking very pleasing to the eye and atmosphere around it was cool. The animals pulling the chariots were very tired and the group therefore decided to set up a camp at this place.

सम्मते सार्थवाहस्य विविशुर्वनमुत्तमम् ⁠। उवास सार्थः सुमहान् वेलामासाद्य पश्चिमाम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

अथार्धरात्रसमये निःशब्दस्तिमिते तदा ⁠। सुप्ते सार्थे परिश्रान्ते हस्तियूथमुपागमत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

पानीयार्थं गिरिनदीं मदप्रस्रवणाविलाम् ⁠। अथापश्यत सार्थं तं सार्थजान् सुबहून् गजान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

Taking permission of the leader, all other people who were part of the group entered this great forest and settled down on the westside of the lake.

Thereafter, at midnight when no other sound was audible and all people who were part of the group had fallen asleep owing to tiredness, a flock of wild elephants came over there to drink the water from that lake. Those wild elephants saw a large number of people together with their domesticated elephants sleeping at the lake.

ते तान् ग्राम्यगजान् दृष्ट्वा सर्वे वनगजास्तदा ⁠। समाद्रवन्त वेगेन जिघांसन्तो मदोत्कटाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

तेषामापततां वेगः करिणां दुःसहोऽभवत् ⁠। नगाग्रादिव शीर्णानां शृङ्गणां पततां क्षितौ ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

स्पन्दतामपि नागानां मार्गा नष्टा वनोद्भवाः ⁠। मार्गं संरुध्य संसुप्तं पद्मिन्याः सार्थमुत्तमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

ते तं ममर्दुः सहसा चेष्टमानं महीतले ⁠। हाहाकारं प्रमुञ्चन्तः सार्थिकाः शरणार्थिनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

वनगुल्मांश्च धावन्तो निद्रान्धा बहवोऽभवन् ⁠। केचिद्‌ दत्तैः करैः केचित्‌ केचित्‌ पद्भ‍यां हता गजैः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

The wild elephants then decided to attack the domesticated elephants and commenced their attack immediately.

Just like boulders tear down from the top of the mountain towards the ground, the pace of the aggressive wild elephants was equally speedy.

But the route to attack the domesticated elephants by the wild elephants was blocked by the various business persons who were sleeping on the ground.

Reaching that place, the wild elephants then stomp over all men who were sleeping on the ground. Lots of men were injured and remained on the ground unable to get up after the attack. Lots of other men started shrieking and attempted to locate an escape route and then moved towards shrubs present within the forest. Some other men were blinded by their sleep as well as the darkness within the forest. The wild elephants injured many men using their tusks, legs and their trunks.

निहतोष्ट्राश्वबहुलाः पदातिजनसंकुलाः ⁠। भयादाधावमानाश्च परस्परहतास्तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

घोरान् नादान् विमुञ्चन्तो निपेतुर्धरणीतले ⁠। वृक्षेष्वारुह्य संरब्धाः पतिता विषमेषु च ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

एवं प्रकारैर्बहुभिर्दैवेनाक्रम्य हस्तिभिः ⁠। राजन् विनिहतं सर्वं समृद्धं सार्थमण्डलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

आरावः सुमहांश्चासीत् त्रैलोक्यभयकारकः ⁠। एषोऽग्निरुत्थितः कष्टस्त्रायध्वं धावताधुना ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

They also killed many horses and camels and many other men who used to walk on their legs. Running helter-skelter all around gripped with fear, many of these men used to crash into each other and thereby getting injured. In extreme grieved state, many were falling on the ground while some others attempted to climb trees but still fell to the ground.

O राजन्! In this way, owing to the attack by the wild elephants, the prosperous group of business persons got fully destroyed.

The shrieking and aggrieved sound made by people was shaking all the three worlds. Some said – See over there fire has been lit which has become very intense. We are experiencing a great difficulty – run and help yourselves. Some others said – See how many precious stones are littered across the ground, can anyone keep these safe? Why are you running all around.

रत्नराशिर्विशीर्णोऽयं गृह्णीध्वं किं प्रधावत ⁠। सामान्यमेतद् द्रविणं न मिथ्यावचनं मम ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

एवमेवाभिभाषन्तो विद्रवन्ति भयात् तदा ⁠। पुनरेवाभिधास्यामि चिन्तयध्वं सुकातराः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने दारुणे जनसंक्षये ⁠। दमयन्ती च बुबुधे भयसंत्रस्तमानसा ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

Some others said – O brother! All have equal rights on this wealth, I am not uttering a lie.

Some other said — O Cowards!  I will speak to you later, first focus on saving yourselves. Like this, expressing various kinds of words, people ran away gripped with fear.

In this way, while the extremely scary slaughter of men was happening, दमयन्ती also woke up and her heart too got filled with fear.

अपश्यद् वैशसं तत्र सर्वलोकभयंकरम् ⁠। अदृष्टपूर्वं तद् दृष्ट्वा बाला पद्मनिभेक्षणा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

संसक्तवदनाश्वासा उत्तस्थौ भयविह्वला ⁠। ये तु तत्र विनिर्मुक्ताः सार्थात् केचिदविक्षताः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

तेऽब्रुवन् सहिताः सर्वे कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् ⁠। नूनं न पूजितोऽस्माभिर्मणिभद्रो महायशाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

तथा यक्षाधिपः श्रीमान् न वै वैश्रवणः प्रभुः ⁠। न पूजा विघ्नकर्तॄणामथवा प्रथमं कृता ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

शकुनानां फलं वाथ विपरीतमिदं ध्रुवम् ⁠। ग्रहा न विपरीतास्तु किमन्यदिदमागतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

She saw the great slaughter with her own eyes which was a dreadful experience for all. She never witnessed a slaughter as large as this. Seeing all this, she became dejected overcome by fear. She was not getting any calm words of assurance from any score. She became frozen as if she was struck to the ground. After some time however, she somehow was able to get up and stand. Those people who were somehow saved from the slaughter stated saying in unison – “Is this a result of some कर्म that we have done? There is no doubt that we have not undertaken पूजा of famed मणिभद्रका properly. In the same way, we have not done पूजा of श्रीमान् यक्षराज कुबेर. Additionally, we have not done पूजा of विनायक before leaving our homes. Or else, we have been witnessing multiple negative omens and maybe this is an outcome of all such omens. If our stars were aligned properly, how can this tragedy befall us?”

अपरे त्वब्रुवन् दीना ज्ञातिद्रव्यविनाकृताः ⁠। यासावद्य महासार्थे नारी ह्युन्मत्तदर्शना ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

प्रविष्टा विकृताकारा कृत्वा रूपममानुषम् ⁠। तयेयं विहिता पूर्वं माया परमदारुणा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

राक्षसी वा ध्रुवं यक्षी पिशाची वा भयंकरी ⁠। तस्याः सर्वमिदं पापं नात्र कार्या विचारणा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

पश्यामो यदि तां पापां सार्थघ्नीं नैकदुःखदाम् ⁠। लोष्टभिः पांसुभिश्चैव तृणैः काष्ठैश्च मुष्टिभिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

Those others who became unhappy owing to destruction of their wealth as well as their own family members stated – “Today, we saw this frenzied woman who joined our group; there is no doubt that she is actually a terrifying राक्षसी who took on a beautiful form to enter our group. She must have planned for this event to happen much before joining our group.

There is no doubt that she is either a राक्षसी, a यक्षी or a dangerous पिशाची – it is obvious to conclude that this tragedy is her doing only. She has given us a lot of unhappiness and she has ensured that this entire group is destroyed. The moment we see her, let us kill her either using some weapons or by our fists or grass or sticks or dust.

अवश्यमेव हन्यामः सार्थस्य किल कृत्यकाम् ⁠। दमयन्ती तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वाक्यं तेषां सुदारुणम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

ह्रीता भीता च संविग्ना प्राद्रवद् यत्र काननम् ⁠। आशङ्कमाना तत्पापमात्मानं पर्यदेवयत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

अहो ममोपरि विधेः संरम्भो दारुणो महान् ⁠। नानुबध्नाति कुशलं कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

न स्मराम्यशुभं किंचित् कृतं कस्यचिदण्वपि ⁠। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३२ ⁠।⁠।

Listening to those dangerous words, दमयन्ती was embarrassed and became distraught with fear. Given the possibility that such an improper resolve may materialize, she escaped into the dense jungle. And reaching that place, she again reflected on her situation and started wailing again

अहो! There is no doubt that the विधाता (ब्रह्मा) has extremely dangerous and great anger against me owing to which I am unable to obtain any solution that gives me safety and calm. I am not sure that कर्मफल I am experiencing.

I am unable to recollect even a single situation where I have conceived of any wrong against any other either in my mind, speech and action – in that case, why is this कर्मफल being experienced by me?

नूनं जन्मान्तरकृतं पापमापतितं महत् ⁠। अपश्चिमामिमां कष्टामापदं प्राप्तवत्यहम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३३ ⁠।⁠।

भर्तृराज्यापहरणं स्वजनाच्च पराजयः ⁠। भर्त्रा सह वियोगश्च तनयाभ्यां च विच्युतिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३४ ⁠।⁠।

अथापरेद्युः निर्नाथता वने वासो बहुव्यालनिषेविते ⁠। सम्प्राप्ते हतशिष्टा जनास्तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३५ ⁠।⁠।

देशात् तस्माद् विनिष्क्रम्य शोचन्ते वैशसं कृतम् ⁠। भ्रातरं पितरं पुत्रं सखायं च नराधिप ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३६ ⁠।⁠।

There is no doubt that this must be कर्मफल from my previous जन्म owing to which I am experiencing this great difficulty.

My husband’s kingdom has been taken away, he had to lose from his own family, I got separated from my own husband and I am unable to even be with my own children. Further, I am having to spend time in this forest in the company of snakes, etc like an abandoned orphan.

Subsequently, when the next morning came about, people came out of that place and started weeping about the people who died. O राजन्! Someone was crying for their own brother, someone for their father, someone for their child and someone else for their friend.

अशोचत् तत्र वैदर्भी किं नु मे दुष्कृतं कृतम् ⁠। योऽपि मे निर्जनेऽरण्ये सम्प्राप्तोऽयं जनार्णवः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३७ ⁠।⁠।

स हतो हस्तियूथेन मन्दभाग्यान्ममैव तत् ⁠। प्राप्तव्यं सुचिरं दुःखं नूनमद्यापि वै मया ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३८ ⁠।⁠।

नाप्राप्तकालो म्रियते श्रुतं वृद्धानुशासनम् ⁠। या नाहमद्य मृदिता हस्तियूथेन दुःखिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३९ ⁠।⁠।

न ह्यदैवकृतं किंचिन्नराणामिह विद्यते ⁠। न च मे बालभावेऽपि किंचित् पापकृतं कृतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४० ⁠।⁠।

The princess of विदर्भ also started expressing dejection in the same manner – “What पाप I may have committed that in this lonely forest, I was blessed by having company of a large number of people but they too experienced dejection because of me and got killed by elephants. There is no doubt that maybe I will experience this दु:ख for a long period of time”.

One whose time for death has not come about, whether they like it or not, they cannot die. This wisdom which I have learnt from elderly people appears true – this is why despite being unhappy, the flock of wild elephants did not kill me.

Whatever सुख or दु:ख one experiences cannot come about unless it has been fated by विधाता. Even when I was a child, I have not done any पाप in my mind, speech or my actions owing to which I may be facing this दु:ख.

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यदिदं दुःखमागतम् ⁠।  मन्ये स्वयंवरकृते लोकपालाः समागताः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४१ ⁠।⁠।

प्रत्याख्याता मया तत्र नलस्यार्थाय देवताः ⁠। नूनं तेषां प्रभावेण वियोगं प्राप्तवत्यहम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४२ ⁠।⁠।

एवमादीनि दुःखार्ता सा विलप्य वराङ्गना ⁠। प्रलापानि तदा तानि दमयन्ती पतिव्रता ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४३ ⁠।⁠।

I understand that when my स्वयंवर where the देवताs had also come, I have insulted them owing to नल – it is quite likely that owing to those देवताs, I am experiencing this difficulty of separation. Driven by दु:ख, the beautiful पतिव्रता दमयन्ती kept on lamenting and went into delirium using multiple expressions