Turn of events for नल & दमयन्ती

हतशेषैः सह तदा ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः ⁠। अगच्छद् राजशार्दूल चन्द्रलेखेव शारदी ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४४ ⁠।⁠।

गच्छन्ती साचिराद् बाला पुरमासादयन्महत् ⁠। सायाह्ने चेदिराजस्य सुबाहोः सत्यदर्शिनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४५ ⁠।⁠।

अथ वस्त्रार्धसंवीता प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम् ⁠। तं विह्वलां कृशां दीनां मुक्तकेशीममार्जिताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४६ ⁠।⁠।

O नृपश्रेष्ठ! Thereafter, those who survived (the wild elephant attack) included for scholarly ब्राह्मणs well-versed in the वेद and दमयन्ती, who was looking like the moon in the शरत्काल, accompanied them and by evening, she reached the kingdom of King सुबाहु from the चेदि kingdom.

She had only a half cloth that was covering her body and in this state, she entered the city.

She was overwhelmed, destitute and weak. Her hair was open (or her hair was dishevelled). She had not had a bath.

उन्मत्तामिव गच्छन्तीं ददृशः पुरवासिनः ⁠। प्रविशन्तीं तु तां दृष्ट्वा चेदिराजपुरीं तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४७ ⁠।⁠।

अनुजग्मुस्तत्र बाला ग्रामिपुत्राः कुतूहलात् ⁠। सा तैः परिवृतागच्छत् समीपं राजवेश्मनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४८ ⁠।⁠।

तां प्रासादगतापश्यद् राजमाता जनैर्वृताम् ⁠। धात्रीमुवाच गच्छैनामानयेह ममान्तिकम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४९ ⁠।⁠।

जनेन क्लिश्यते बाला दुःखिता शरणार्थिनी ⁠। तादृग् रूपं च पश्यामि विद्योतयति मे गृहम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५० ⁠।⁠।

People of the city saw her walking in a demented state. Out of curiosity, may kids playing on the streets kept on following her as she was moving about in the city. Surrounded by these kids, दमयन्ती made her way towards the palace.

At this very time, the queen of the kingdom happened to spot दमयन्ती from the windows who was surrounded by many people. The queen than told a helper – “Go and get this young woman to me”.

These people are troubling her. This sad woman is seeking some form of protection. I am able to see her form in a way that suggests that she will brighten up my own house.

उन्मत्तवेषा कल्याणी श्रीरिवायतलोचना ⁠। सा जनं वारयित्वा तं प्रासादतलमुत्तमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५१ ⁠।⁠।

आरोप्य विस्मिता राजन् दमयन्तीमपृच्छत ⁠। एवमप्यसुखाविष्टा बिभर्षि परमं वपुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५२ ⁠।⁠।

भासि विद्युदिवाभ्रेषु शंस मे कासि कस्य वा ⁠। न हि ते मानुषं रूपं भूषणैरपि वर्जितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५३ ⁠।⁠।

Her appearance seems as if she is not sane but this wide-eyed youthful young woman appearance like a beneficial लक्ष्मी to me. Oh helper! Move out all the people surrounding her and get her to climb and enter palatial mansion. O राजन्!  Struck with wonder, the queen asked दमयन्ती – अहो! Despite experiencing or being crushed by a lot of दु:ख, how come you are able to wear this beautiful form?”

Even in sadness, you are looking as bright as a lighting that shines within a dark cloud. Kindly tell me who you are. Whose woman are you? Though I am unable to spot any ornaments on your body, but your form seems to suggest that you are not from this world of human beings. You seem to have the bright lustre as a देवी – how come you are not afraid of people despite being in an unprotected state?  

असहाया नरेभ्यश्च नोद्विजस्यमरप्रभे ⁠। तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या भैमी वचनमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५४ ⁠।⁠।

मानुषीं मां विजानीहि भर्तारं समनुव्रताम् ⁠। सैरन्ध्रीजातिसम्पन्नां भुजिष्यां कामवासिनीम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५५ ⁠।⁠।

फलमूलाशनामेकां यत्रसायंप्रतिश्रयाम् ⁠। असंख्येयगुणो भर्ता मां च नित्यमनुव्रतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५६ ⁠।⁠।

You seem helpless but do not seem like a ब्राह्मण too – are you a देवी? Listening to her, the daughter of भीम replied

O Mother ! You consider me as a human female only. I am a woman who is most happy being at the feet of my husband. I belong to सैरन्ध्री जाति and work inside the palace. I am an attendant and wherever it pleases, I stay there.

I am alone and am surviving by eating fruits and roots. Wherever evening comes about, I stay there. My husband has uncountable good गुण and I am deeply attached to him.

भक्ताहमपि तं वीरं छायेवानुगता पथि ⁠। तस्य दैवात् प्रसङ्गोऽभूदतिमात्रं सुदेवने ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५७ ⁠।⁠।

द्यूते स निर्जितश्चैव वनमेक उपेयिवान् ⁠। तमेकवसनं वीरमुन्मत्तमिव विह्वलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५८ ⁠।⁠।

आश्वासयन्ती भर्तारमहमप्यगमं वनम् ⁠। स कदाचिद् वने वीरः कस्मिंश्चित् कारणान्तरे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५९ ⁠।⁠।

क्षुत्परीतस्तु विमनास्तदप्येकं व्यसर्जयत् ⁠। तमेकवसना नग्नमुन्मत्तवदचेतसम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६० ⁠।⁠।

अनुव्रजन्ती बहुला न स्वपामि निशास्तदा ⁠। ततो बहुतिथे काले सुप्तामुत्सृज्य मां क्वचित् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६१ ⁠।⁠।

वाससोऽर्धं परिच्छिद्य त्यक्तवान् मामनागसम् ⁠। तं मार्गमाणा भर्तारं दह्यमाना दिवानिशम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६२ ⁠।⁠।

Just as a shadow keeps following a person while walking on the road, I too always remain attached to own husband with भक्ति and always follow his words. Owing to a misfortune, my husband became attached to gambling one day

And continuing to gamble, he lost everything and walked away alone into the forest. Wearing just a single cloth, became insane-like and dejected. To console him, I too followed him into the forest. One day, it so happened that my husband for some unknown reason went deep into the forest

At that time, he was very hungry and getting agitated. Therefore, he left even that single cloth that he was wearing in the forest and went off. Even I had a single cloth only on my body. He was naked, insane-like and becoming stone-like in his demeanour. In that state, since I always follow him, I too remained awake and did not sleep for many nights. Thereafter, after many days, when I feel asleep, he tore off half my cloth and left the blame-less wife (viz me) and went into the forest leaving me alone. Since then, bitten by the pangs of separation, I have been moving around searching for him day and night.

साहं कमलगर्भाभमपश्यन्ती हृदि प्रियम् ⁠। न विन्दाम्यमरप्रख्यं प्रियं प्राणेश्वरं प्रभुम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६३ ⁠।⁠।

तामश्रुपरिपूर्णाक्षीं विलपन्तीं तथा बहु ⁠। राजमाताब्रवीदार्ता भैमीमार्तस्वरां स्वयम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६४ ⁠।⁠।

वसस्व मयि कल्याणि प्रीतिर्मे परमा त्वयि ⁠। मृगयिष्यन्ति ते भद्रे भर्तारं पुरुषा मम ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६५ ⁠।⁠।

अपि वा स्वयमागच्छेत् परिधावन्नितस्ततः ⁠। इहैव वसती भद्रे भर्तारमुपलप्स्यसे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६६ ⁠।⁠।

My lustre of my loving husband resembles the inside part of the lotus. He is as bright as the देवताs, the ruler of my life and strong. Despite a lot of searching, I have been unable to find him and know his whereabouts.

The daughter of भीम, दमयन्ती’s eyes were filled with tears and she was wailing in an agitated tone. The queen too became sad listening to the sad tale and said – O कल्याणि! You stay with me. I will shower you with love. O भद्रे! My attendants will help locate your husband.

It is also possible that after moving here and there, he may end up coming here on his own. O भद्रे! You stay here and obtain your husband at this place only.

राजमातुर्वचः श्रुत्वा दमयन्ती वचोऽब्रवीत् ⁠। समयेनोत्सहे वस्तुं त्वयि वीरप्रजायिनि ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६७ ⁠।⁠।

उच्छिष्टं नैव भुञ्जीयां न कुर्यां पादधावनम् ⁠। न चाहं पुरुषानन्यान् प्रभाषेयं कथंचन ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६८ ⁠।⁠।

प्रार्थयेद् यदि मां कश्चिद् दण्ड्यस्ते स पुमान् भवेत् ⁠। वध्यश्च तेऽसकृन्मन्द इति मे व्रतमाहितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६९ ⁠।⁠।

भर्तुरन्वेषणार्थं तु पश्येयं ब्राह्मणानहम् ⁠। यद्येवमिह वत्स्यामि त्वत्सकाशे न संशयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७० ⁠।⁠।

Listening to the words of the queen, दमयन्तीने said — Oवीरमातः! I can stay here but on one condition.

I cannot eat food that has been leftover by someone else (or half-eaten by someone else), I will not wash the feet of anyone and I will not engage in any conversation with any other man.

If any man approaches me or tries to seek me, you should punish such a person and if the person does not relent and keeps trying again and again, you should put him to death, such is my clear vow.

To search for my husband, I will only meet ब्राह्मणs. If such arrangements can be made here, I will certainly stay here – there is no doubt about this. 

अतोऽन्यथा न मे वासो वर्तते हृदये क्वचित् ⁠। तां प्रहृष्टेन मनसा राजमातेदमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७१ ⁠।⁠।

सर्वमेतत् करिष्यामि दिष्ट्या ते व्रतमीदृशम् ⁠। एवमुक्त्वा ततो भैमीं राजमाता विशाम्पते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७२ ⁠।⁠।

उवाचेदं दुहितरं सुनन्दां नाम भारत ⁠। सैरन्ध्रीमभिजानीष्व सुनन्दे देवरूपिणीम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७३ ⁠।⁠।

वयसा तुल्यतां प्राप्ता सखी तव भवत्वियम् ⁠। एतया सह मोदस्व निरुद्विग्नमनाः सदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७४ ⁠।⁠।

If something happens here that is contrary to what I am seeking, I will be unable to stay here any longer. Listening to this, the queen was happy and replied

O Daughter! I will facilitate all this. It is a good fortune that your vow is of the highest virtue.

O King युधिष्ठिर! Stating this to दमयन्ती, the queen called her daughter सुनन्दा and told her – O सुनन्दे! Consider this सैरन्ध्री as a देवी

In status, he is equal to you, therefore, let her live here as your friend. Always be happy and joyful in her presence with you as a companion.

ततः परमसंहृष्टा सुनन्दा गृहमागमत् ⁠। दमयन्तीमुपादाय सखीभिः परिवारिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७५ ⁠।⁠।

Then surrounded by numerous attendants, सुनन्दा brought दमयन्ती into her palace with a lot of happiness.

स तत्र पूज्यमाना वै दमयन्ती व्यनन्दत ⁠। सर्वकामैः सुविहितैर्निरुद्वेगावसत् तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७६ ⁠।⁠।

सुनन्दा ensured that all requests of दमयन्ती were catered to appropriately and used to allow her to remain in palace with a lot of respect. दमयन्ती was very happy with this and she used to stay there free of anxiety.

Condition of नल

उत्सृज्य दमयन्तीं तु नलो राजा विशाम्पते ⁠। ददर्श दावं दह्यन्तं, महान्तं गहने वने ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

तत्र शुश्राव शब्दं वै मध्ये भूतस्य कस्यचित् ⁠। अभिधाव नलेत्युच्चैः पुण्यश्लोकेति चासकृत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

मा भैरिति नलश्चोक्त्वा मध्यमग्नेः प्रविश्य तम् ⁠। ददर्श नागराजानं शयानं कुण्डलीकृतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O युधिष्ठिर! After leaving नल, when the king went further, and in that deep forest, he saw that a great fire had lit up in that forest.

From within the fire, he heard the voice of a living being – O पुण्यश्लोक महाराज नल! Kindly run and save me. Since this was repeated loudly again and again, listening to this voice, नल said – “Do not worry”. And saying this, he immediately leapt into the fire. Over there, there was a नागराज which was lying down in the form of a कुण्डल (circled).

स नागः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वेपमानो नलं तदा ⁠। उवाच मां विद्धि राजन् नागं कर्कोटकं नृप ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

मया प्रलब्धो ब्रह्मर्षिर्नारदः सुमहातपाः ⁠। तेन मन्युपरीतेन शप्तोऽस्मि मनुजाधिप ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

तिष्ठ त्वं स्थावर इव यावदेव नलः क्वचित् ⁠। इतो नेता हि तत्र त्वं शापान्मोक्ष्यसि मत्कृतात् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

तस्य शापान्न शक्तोऽस्मि पदाद् विचलितुं पदम् ⁠। उपदेक्ष्यामि ते श्रेयस्त्रातुमर्हति मां भवान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

This नाग folded its hands and shakily told नल in this way – O राजन्! Know me as कर्कोटक नाग. O नरेश्वर! One day, I tried to hoodwink ब्रह्मर्षि नारद and therefore मनुजेश्वर! He was consumed with anger and cursed me that I will stay put in one place like a tree and till King नल comes and takes you somewhere else from this place, you will not be able to get rid of my curse.

O राजन्! Owing to the curse given by ब्रह्मर्षि नारद, I have been unable to move even a little  from here. Kindly help me and (once released), I will give you a beneficial advise.

सखा च ते भविष्यामि मत्समो नास्ति पन्नगः ⁠। लघुश्च ते भविष्यामि शीघ्रमादाय गच्छ माम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्त्वा स नागेन्द्रो बभूवाङ्‌गुष्ठमात्रकः ⁠। तं गृहीत्वा नलः प्रायाद् देशं दावविवर्जितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

आकाशदेशमासाद्य विमुक्तं कृष्णवर्त्मना ⁠। उत्स्रष्टुकामं तं नागः पुनः कर्कोटकोऽब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

पदानि गणयन् गच्छ स्वानि नैषध कानिचित् ⁠। तत्र तेऽहं महाबाहो श्रेयो धास्यामि यत् परम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

Also, I will become your friend. There is no one among सर्प-जाति who is as effective/ capable as me. For your benefit, I will lose my weight. Kindly quickly take me away from here.

Saying this, नागराज कर्कोटक became as small as a thumb. Taking him, King नल took him to a place where the impact of fire was not there.

When नल brought him to a safe location where the impact of fire was not present, while he was about to release the snake, कर्कोटक said again –

O नैषध! Take a few steps back and start counting. O महाबाहो! If you do this, I will be an instrument that will be of great benefit to you.

ततः संख्यातुमारब्धमदशद् दशमे पदे ⁠। तस्य दष्टस्य तद् रूपं क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

स दृष्ट्वा विस्मितस्तस्थावात्मानं विकृतं नलः ⁠। स्वरूपधारिणं नागं ददर्श स महीपतिः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

ततः कर्कोटको नागः सान्त्वयन् नलमब्रवीत् ⁠। मया तेऽन्तर्हितं रूपं न त्वां विद्युर्जना इति ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

यत्कृते चासि निकृतो दुःखेन महता नल ⁠। विषेण स मदीयेन त्वयि दुःखं निवत्स्यति ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

When King नल started counting his steps as he was going backwards, when the king said “ten”, then the नाग bit him. The moment he was bitten, this original form became hidden.

King नल was struck with wonder when he saw that his form had changed completely. Then he stood up and saw कर्कोटक नाग which had regained its previous form.

Then कर्कोटक नागने calmed King नल and told him Oराजन्! I have ensured that your earlier form vanishes so that people are unable to recognize you.

O महाराज नल! Owing to the mischief of कलियुग, you have had to face a lot of hardship. But since I have bitten you, the poison inside your body will make life very difficult for कलियुग inside you.

विषेण संवृतैर्गात्रैर्यावत् त्वां न विमोक्ष्यति ⁠। तावत् त्वयि महाराज दुःखं वै स निवत्स्यति ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

अनागा येन निकृतस्त्वमनर्हो जनाधिप ⁠। क्रोधादसूययित्वा तं रक्षा मे भवतः कृता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

My poison will enter and spread across the entire body of कलियुग. O महाराज! Till the time it does not release you, till such time, it will live within your body with a lot of pain.

O नरेश्वर! You were not the person who deserved to suffer using fraud but despite no guilt, the one who has made your suffer, I have shown my anger towards it and thereby protected you.

न ते भयं नरव्याघ्र दंष्ट्रिभ्यः शत्रुतोऽपि वा ⁠। ब्रह्मविद्भ‍यश्च भविता मत्प्रसादान्नराधिप ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

राजन् विषनिमित्ता च न ते पीडा भविष्यति ⁠। संग्रामेषु च राजेन्द्र शश्वज्जयमवाप्स्यसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

गच्छ राजन्नितः सूतो बाहुकोऽहमिति ब्रुवन् ⁠। समीपमृतुपर्णस्य स हि चैवाक्षनैपुणः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

अयोध्यां नगरीं रम्यामद्य वै निषधेश्वर ⁠। स तेऽक्षहृदयं दाता राजाश्वहृदयेन वै ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

इक्ष्वाकुकुलजः श्रीमान् मित्रं चैव भविष्यति ⁠। भविष्यसि यदाक्षज्ञः श्रेयसा योक्ष्यसे तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

O नरव्याघ्र महाराज! Thanks to my प्रसाद, no animal having large molars, no enemies and no knowers of वेद, etc can trouble or curse you and you need not fear any of them.

O राजन्! Also, you will not experience any pain on account of my poison within you. O

राजेन्द्र! You will always be victorious in all wars.

O राजन्! From now on, you take the name of बाहुक and introducing yourself as a सूत (charioteer), go over to king ऋतुपर्ण. He is an expert in playing dice.

O Lord of निषध! Go over now itself to the beautiful अयोध्या. King ऋतुपर्ण is born in इक्ष्वाकु-कुल and he can learn knowledge of horses from you and in turn, you can learn secrets of gambling from him. Eventually, he will also become your friend. And when you too acquire expertise in gambling, then your life will become beneficial again.

सममेष्यसि दारैस्त्वं मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः ⁠। राज्येन तनयाभ्यां च सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

स्वं रूपं च यदा द्रष्टुमिच्छेथास्त्वं नराधिप ⁠। संस्मर्तव्यस्तदा तेऽहं वासश्चेदं निवासयेः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

अनेन वाससाच्छन्नः स्वं रूपं प्रतिपत्स्यसे ⁠। इत्युक्त्वा प्रददौ तस्मै दिव्यं वासोयुगं तदा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

एवं नलं च संदिश्य वासो दत्त्वा च कौरव ⁠। नागराजस्ततो राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

I am telling you the truth, you will obtain your wife, children as well as your children all at the same time – hence, do not harbour any worry within your mind.

O नरेश्वर! Whenever you are ready to show your real स्वरूप to the world, you may remember me at that time and cover yourself with this cloth.

When you cover yourself with this cloth, then you will obtain your original form. Saying this, the नाग gave him two divine clothes.  

O कुरुनन्दन युधिष्ठिर!  This way, after giving the message and clothes, नागराज कर्कोटक disappeared from the place.

बृहदश्व उवाच

तस्मिन्नन्तर्हिते नागे प्रययौ नैषधो नलः ⁠। ऋतुपर्णस्य नगरं प्राविशद् दशमेऽहनि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

स राजानमुपातिष्ठद् बाहुकोऽहमिति ब्रुवन् ⁠। अश्वानां वाहने युक्तः पृथिव्यां नास्ति मत्समः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

अर्थकृच्छ्रेषु चैवाहं प्रष्टव्यो नैपुणेषु च ⁠। अन्नसंस्कारमपि च जानाम्यन्यैर्विशेषतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

यानि शिल्पानि लोकेऽस्मिन् यच्चैवान्यत् सुदुष्करम् ⁠। सर्वं यतिष्ये तत् कर्तुमृतुपर्ण भरस्व माम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि —After कर्कोटक नाग disappeared, the king of निषधनरेश, नल took ten days and reached the kingdom of king ऋतुपर्ण

He introduced himself as बाहुक after reaching King ऋतुपर्ण and told him – “I am very good at riding horse chariots and there is no one on this earth who is as good as me”.

I am currently going through financial troubles. If you want an opinion on the quality of any skill, I will certainly be in a position to give a good advice to you. Even in the art of making food, this is a skill I am very good at.

In this universe, there are many kinds of शिल्पकला as well as other difficult domains; I am be effective in working with such skills. O महाराज ऋतुपर्ण! You may allow me to stay here and take care of me.

ऋतुपर्ण उवाच

वस बाहुक भद्रं ते सर्वमेतत् करिष्यसि ⁠। शीघ्रयाने सदा बुद्धिर्ध्रियते मे विशेषतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

स त्वमातिष्ठ योगं तं येन शीघ्रा हया मम ⁠। भवेयुरश्वाध्यक्षोऽसि वेतनं ते शतं शतम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

त्वामुपस्थास्यतश्चैव नित्यं वार्ष्णेयजीवलौ ⁠। एताभ्यां रंस्यसे सार्धं वस वै मयि बाहुक ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

Said ऋतुपर्णने — O बाहुक! Let you be well. You can stay in my kingdom. You will have to take charge of multiple responsibilities. In my mind, I specifically contemplate about how I am reach any destination in a speedy manner.

Therefore, you come out with a solution by which my horses can ride much more speedily. From today, you have been appointed as chief of horses. You will also receive a salary of 10000 coins.

Both वार्ष्णेय & जीवल— these two charioteers will be serving you. O बाहुक! You will be very happy living in their company. You stay at my place.

बृहदश्व उवाच

एवमुक्तो नलस्तेन न्यवसत् तत्र पूजितः ⁠। ऋतुपर्णस्य नगरे सहवार्ष्णेयजीवलः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि— O राजन्! After the king conveyed his wish, नल stayed with वार्ष्णेय & जीवल and used to stay in the city of ऋतुपर्ण with respect.

स वै तत्रावसद् राजा वैदर्भीमनुचिन्तयन् ⁠। सायं सायं सदा चेमं श्लोकमेकं जगाद ह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

क्व नु सा क्षुत्पिपासार्ता श्रान्ता शेते तपस्विनी ⁠। स्मरन्ती तस्य मन्दस्य कं वा साद्योपतिष्ठति ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं निशायां जीवलोऽब्रवीत् ⁠। कामेनां शोचसे नित्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि बाहुक ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

He used to always think of दमयन्ती while he was staying there. Every evening, he used to read this श्लोक

Pained with hunger and thirst and fully exhausted, remembering the मन्दबुद्धि man, where must the तपस्विनी be sleeping and at which location must she be staying at.

One day, when the king was uttering this श्लोक again and again, जीवल asked him – O बाहुक! Can you kindly let me know for which woman do you keep reflecting on with sadness, I wish to know.

आयुष्मन् कस्य वा नारी यामेवमनुशोचसि ⁠। तमुवाच नलो राजा मन्दप्रज्ञस्य कस्यचित् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

आसीद् बहुमता नारी तस्यादृढतरं वचः ⁠। स वै केनचिदर्थेन तया मन्दो व्ययुज्यत ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

विप्रयुक्तः स मन्दात्मा भ्रमत्यसुखपीडितः ⁠। दह्यमानः स शोकेन दिवारात्रमतन्द्रितः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

O आयुष्मन्! Whose wife is this person for whom you are always continually remaining in an unhappy state? Then King नल replied – She is the wife of an अल्पबुद्धि man despite she always being respected by him at all times. But the man was not true to his promise (to her) and he slipped from his promise (to take care of her). Triggered by some circumstances, this ill-fated man got separated from his wife.

After being separated from his wife, this मन्दबुद्धि man spends time living in deep dejection all day & night and being immersed in दु:ख and pained by it, he keeps moving about here and there.

निशाकाले स्मरंस्तस्याः श्लोकमेकं स्म गायति ⁠। स विभ्रमन् महीं सर्वां क्वचिदासाद्य किंचन ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

And in the night, he keeps remembering her and keeps singing this श्लोक again and again. After moving around in many places, he reaches a certain location and staying there and remembering his lover wife daily, he is experiencing दु:ख. But the truth is that he does not deserve to experience this दु:ख.

वसत्यनर्हस्तद् दुःखं भूय एवानुसंस्मरन् ⁠। सा तु तं पुरुषं नारी कृच्छ्रेऽप्यनुगता वने ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

त्यक्ता तेनाल्पपुण्येन दुष्करं यदि जीवति ⁠। एका बालानभिज्ञा च मार्गाणामतथोचिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

His wife was such a पतिव्रता that even in a difficult situation, she accompanied her husband into the forest but this this who was lacking in पुण्य abandoned her in the forest. If she is even alive now, she would be undergoing a lot of difficulties. That woman is alone and she is not familiar with the roads. She is thus experiencing a lot of difficulties and quite frankly, she does not deserve to experience such difficulties.

क्षुत्पिपासापरीताङ्गी दुष्करं यदि जीवति ⁠। श्वापदाचरिते नित्यं वने महति दारुणे ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

त्यक्ता तेनाल्पभाग्येन मन्दप्रज्ञेन मारिष ⁠। इत्येवं नैषधो राजा दमयन्तीमनुस्मरन् ⁠।⁠। अज्ञातवासं न्यवसद् राज्ञस्तस्य निवेशने ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

Her entire body was filled with pain derived from hunger and thirst. In the state, after she was abandoned, even if she was alive, it would be very difficult to imagine that she will live for long. O आर्य जीवल! In the dark deep forest which is filled with many violent animals moving around, this मन्दबुद्धि and मन्दभाग्य man abandoned her. In this manner, the king of निषध was regularly remembering दमयन्ती while living hiding his real identity in the kingdom of king ऋतुपर्ण.

बृहदश्व उवाच

हृतराज्ये नले भीमः सभार्ये च वनं गते ⁠। द्विजान् प्रस्थापयामास नलदर्शनकाङ्क्षया ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

संदिदेश च तान् भीमो वसु दत्त्वा च पुष्कलम् ⁠। मृगयध्वं नलं चैव दमयन्तीं च मे सुताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

अस्मिन् कर्मणि सम्पन्ने विज्ञाते निषधाधिपे ⁠। गवां सहस्रं दास्यामि यो वस्तावानयिष्यति ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

अग्रहारांश्च दास्यामि ग्रामं नगरसम्मितम् ⁠। न चेच्छक्याविहानेतुं दमयन्ती नलोऽपि वा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।  

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O राजन्! When the kingdom was stolen and both नल & दमयन्ती went away into the forest, भीम, the king of विदर्भ, sent a lot of ब्राह्मणs to multiple locations to search for them.

Giving a lot of wealth to the ब्राह्मणs, king भीम gave this message to them – “Kindly go ahead and search for King नल and my daughter, दमयन्ती. When the king of निषध is found and this work is concluded and thereby if anyone from you brings over नल and दमयन्ती, I will give them a thousand cows. Further, to sustain your lives, I will give you an अग्रहार (tax-free locations) and will also give such villages whose income is equal to the cities. If one is able to either bring over here both नल or दमयन्ती or either one of them or even if you are able to locate them, the offer of thousand cows applies to all these scenarios”.

ज्ञातमात्रेऽपि दास्यामि गवां दशशतं धनम् ⁠।  इत्युक्तास्ते ययुर्हृष्टा ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतो दिशम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

पुरराष्ट्राणि चिन्वन्तो नैषधं सह भार्यया ⁠। नैव क्वापि प्रपश्यन्ति नलं वा भीमपुत्रिकाम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

ततश्चेदिपुरीं रम्यां सुदेवो नाम वै द्विजः ⁠। विचिन्वानोऽथ वैदर्भीमपश्यद् राजवेश्मनि ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

Hearing the message of the king, the ब्राह्मणs became happy and went in multiple directions to locate नल and दमयन्ती in various towns, cities and countries; however, many of them were not successful in locating either नल or दमयन्ती. Thereafter, a ब्राह्मण who went by the name सुदेव reached the चेदि kingdom and successfully identified the princess of विदर्भ, दमयन्ती, inside the kingdom.

पुण्याहवाचने राज्ञः सुनन्दासहितां स्थिताम् ⁠। मन्दं प्रख्यायमानेन रूपेणाप्रतिमेन ताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

निबद्धां धूमजालेन प्रभामिव विभावसोः ⁠। तां समीक्ष्य विशालाक्षीमधिकं मलिनां कृशाम् ⁠। तर्कयामास भैमीति कारणैरुपपादयन् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

During the ritual invocation of the king, she was standing next to सुनन्दा. (owing to being covered by dirt), her lustre was visible partially only and this was like how अग्नि is covered by smoke in a यज्ञ. Seeing the wide-eyed princess covered in dirt and weak, he was able to spot other signs based on which he concluded that this woman was दमयन्ती, the daughter of भीम.

सुदेव उवाच यथेयं मे पुरा दृष्टा तथारूपेयमङ्गना ⁠। कृतार्थोऽस्म्यद्य दृष्ट्वेमां लोककान्तामिव श्रियम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

पूर्णचन्द्रनिभां श्यामां चारुवृत्तपयोधराम् ⁠। कुर्वन्तीं प्रभया देवीं सर्वा वितिमिरा दिशः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

चारुपद्मविशालाक्षीं मन्मथस्य रतीमिव ⁠। इष्टों समस्तलोकस्य पूर्णचन्द्रप्रभामिव ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

सुदेव expressed within his own mind – her form is more or less similar to what I had seen earlier when she was the beautiful princess. Like the universally loved लक्ष्मी, looking at this daughter of भीम leaves me with a feeling of being blessed.

This dark complexioned youth possesses the lustre of the full moon. Her breasts are well formed and the lustre of this देवी is lighting up all directions around her.

Her large eyes even shame the beauty of lotus petals. She looks like to कामदेव’s रति. Just like the full moon on the night of पूर्णिमा, she is loved by all.

विदर्भसरसस्तस्माद् दैवदोषादिवोद्धताम् ⁠। मलपङ्कानुलिप्ताङ्गीं मृणालीमिव चोद्‌धृताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

पौर्णमासीमिव निशां राहुग्रस्तनिशाकराम् ⁠। पतिशोकाकुलां दीनां शुष्कस्रोतां नदीमिव ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

विध्वस्तपर्णकमलां वित्रासितविहंगमाम् ⁠। हस्तिहस्तपरामृष्टां व्याकुलामिव पद्मिनीम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

सुकुमारीं सुजाताङ्गीं रत्नगर्भगृहोचिताम् ⁠। दह्यमानामिवार्केण मृणालीमिव चोद्‌धृताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

It appears as if owing to the दोष of प्रारब्ध, this lotus has been removed from the विदर्भ-like lake. The dirt on her body appears like the dirt on the lotus stalk when removed from the water. She looks like the full moon which has been covered up during a lunar eclipse by राहू. Suffering from the pangs of separation from her husband and having become destitute, she appears like a river bed that has dried up. 

Her state seems like a lotus pond which has been invaded by a flock of wide elephants owing to which the lotus flowers have been separated from their leaves scaring the birds which usually grace the place with their presence. Owing to दु:ख, he appears extremely dejected.

This delicate princess who possesses beautiful body deserves to live in a palace that is filled with pearls. However, (looking at her situation now), she appears like a lotus pulled out of the pond and burnt up by the rays of सूर्य.

रूपौदार्यगुणोपेतां मण्डनार्हाममण्डिताम् ⁠। चन्द्रलेखामिव नवां व्योम्नि नीलाभ्रसंवृताम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

कामभोगैः प्रियैर्हीनां हीनां बन्धुजनेन च ⁠। देहं संधारयन्तीं हि भर्तृदर्शनकाङ्क्षया ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

भर्ता नाम परं नार्या भूषणं भूषणैर्विना ⁠। एषा हि रहिता तेन शोभमाना न शोभते ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

दुष्करं कुरुतेऽत्यन्तं हीनो यदनया नलः ⁠। धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न शोकेनापि सीदति ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

She is fully endowed with गुण like beauty, generosity, etc. Despite deserving of being adorned at all times, she is without any adornment just like the new moon covered up by dark clouds on the sky.

This princess is living without any entertainment/ pleasure. She is separated from her own family and carrying the intent of being with her husband, she has decided to adopt this form (being dejected and weak).

In fact, it is well-understood that a husband is the best ornament of a wife. When a husband is around, she looks beautiful even without wearing ornaments but since this woman is bereft of an ornament in the form of a husband, she looks as if she has lost lustre even though she possesses aura/ lustre.

Being separated from her, if King नल is still alive and not becoming weak owing to sadness, one must conclude that he is possibly immersed in a very difficult situation/ action.

इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रायतेक्षणाम् ⁠। सुखार्हां दुःखितां दृष्ट्वा ममापि व्यथते मनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

कदा नु खलु दुःखस्य पारं यास्यति वै शुभा ⁠। भर्तुः समागमात् साध्वी रोहिणी शशिनो यथा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

अस्या नूनं पुनर्लाभान्नैषधः प्रीतिमेष्यति ⁠। राजा राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः पुनर्लब्ध्वा च मेदिनीम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

तुल्यशीलवयोयुक्तां तुल्याभिजनसंवृताम् ⁠। नैषधोऽर्हति वैदर्भीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

When I see this princess who is dark haired, wide-eyed like a lotus and who is always deserving of happiness immersed in sorrow, even my own mind is getting agitated and immersed in sorrow.

Just like रोहिणी is happy when she is together with चंद्र, in that way, this साध्वी possessing all great लक्षण will be able to cross the ocean of दु:ख only after reuniting with her husband.

When a king who had lost his kingdom experiences significant happiness when he regains his kingdom, even नल, the king of निषध, will regain happiness once he regains his kingdom.

दमयन्ती, the princess of विदर्भ is endowed with virtue and youth just as King नल and she is also from a high family like the king. The king of निषध is deserving of the princess of विदर्भ and this beautiful eyed वैदर्भी is also deserving of नल.

युक्तं तस्याप्रमेयस्य वीर्यसत्त्ववतो मया ⁠। समाश्वासयितुं भार्यां पतिदर्शनलालसाम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

अहमाश्वासयाम्येनां पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम् ⁠। अदृष्टपूर्वां दुःखस्य दुःखार्तां ध्यानतत्पराम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

The bravery and courage of King नल is unlimited. This wife of his is longing for meeting her husband – I have to therefore meet her and calm her down.

I have never seen this princess whose face resembles a full moon, ever unhappy. And since in the state of constant thinking about the loss of her husband, she is unhappy, I see merit in me meeting her to calm her down.

बृहदश्व उवाच

एवं विमृश्य विविधैः कारणैर्लक्षणैश्च ताम् ⁠। उपागम्य ततो भैमीं सुदेवो ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

अहं सुदेवो वैदर्भि भ्रातुस्ते दयितः सखा ⁠। भीमस्य वचनाद् राज्ञस्त्वामन्वेष्टुमिहागतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

कुशली ते पिता राज्ञि जननी भ्रातरश्च ते ⁠। आयुष्मन्तौ कुशलिनौ तत्रस्थौ दारकौ च तौ ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

त्वत्कृते बन्धुवर्गाश्च गतसत्त्वा इवासते ⁠। अन्वेष्टारो ब्राह्मणाश्च भ्रमन्ति शतशो महीम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

Says बृहदश्व मुनि — O युधिष्ठिर! Thus, by identifying Damayanti using various means and traits, thinking about his duty, the ब्राह्मण सुदेव went over to दमयन्ती and told her – “O विदर्भराजकुमारी! I am a good friend of your brother. At the order of your father भीम to search for you, I have come over here taking his permission.

O queen of निषध-देश! Your father, mother and brothers are happy and even both your children are safe and happy in कुण्डिनपुर.

All your relatives have come dead-like owing to their constant worry about you. To locate you, many ब्राह्मणs are moving around the Earth.

बृहदश्व उवाच

अभिज्ञाय सुदेवं तं दमयन्ती युधिष्ठिर ⁠। पर्यपृच्छत तान् सर्वान् क्रमेण सुहृदः स्वकान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

Said बृहदश्व मुनि — O युधिष्ठिर! Having recognized सुदेव, दमयन्ती became curious and asked about the welfare of all her relatives.

रुरोद च भृशं राजन् वैदर्भी शोककर्शिता ⁠। दृष्ट्वा सुदेवं सहसा भ्रातुरिष्टं द्विजोत्तमम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३२ ⁠।⁠।

रुदतीं तामथो दृष्ट्वा सुनन्दा शोककर्शिता ⁠। सुदेवेन सहैकान्ते कथयन्तीं च भारत ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३३ ⁠।⁠।

जनित्र्यै कथयामास सैरन्ध्री रोदितीति च ⁠। ब्राह्मणेन सहागम्य तां वेद यदि मन्यसे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३४ ⁠।⁠।

अथ चेदिपतेर्माता राज्ञश्चान्तःपुरात् तदा ⁠। जगाम यत्र सा बाला ब्राह्मणेन सहाभवत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३५ ⁠।⁠।

O राजन्! Having seen the good friend of her brother, the best of द्विज, सुदेव, she was overcome with dejection and started crying profusely. O भारत! Thereafter, having watched दमयन्ती speak alone with सुदेव, सुनन्दा too was overcome with grief.

She came and told her mother – O Mother! सैरन्ध्री is speaking to a ब्राह्मण and crying profusely. If you agree, we must find out the reason for this.

Thereafter, the queen of चेदि kingdom came out of her room inside the palace and went over to the place where दमयन्ती was speaking to the ब्राह्मण.

ततः सुदेवमानाय्य राजमाता विशाम्पते ⁠। पप्रच्छ भार्या कस्येयं सुता वा कस्य भाविनी ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३६ ⁠।⁠।

कथं च नष्टा ज्ञातिभ्यो भर्तुर्वा वामलोचना ⁠। त्वया च विदिता विप्र कथमेवंगता सती ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३७ ⁠।⁠।

एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं त्वत्तः सर्वमशेषतः ⁠। तत्त्वेन हि ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छन्त्या देवरूपिणीम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३८ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्तस्तया राजन् सुदेवो द्विजसत्तमः ⁠। सुखोपविष्ट आचष्ट दमयन्त्या यथातथम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३९ ⁠।⁠।

O युधिष्ठिर! Then the queen called सुदेव and asked him – O विप्रवर! It looks like you know her. Tell me, whose wife and whose daughter in this woman? How did this beautiful eyed woman get separated from her brother and other relatives as well as from her own husband? How did this सती-साध्वी woman end up in this situation?

O ब्रह्मन्!  Kindly convey to me completely about this देवी like woman. Whatever I ask you, kindly give me a clear response.

O राजन्! When the queen asked in this manner, the द्विजश्रेष्ठ सुदेव sitting down happily conveyed the entire story about दमयन्ती.

विदर्भराजो धर्मात्मा भीमो नाम महाद्युतिः ⁠। सुतेयं तस्य कल्याणी दमयन्तीति विश्रुता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १ ⁠।⁠।

राजा तु नैषधो नाम वीरसेनसुतो नलः ⁠। भार्येयं तस्य कल्याणी पुण्यश्लोकस्य धीमतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २ ⁠।⁠।

स द्यूतेन जितो भ्रात्रा हृतराज्यो महीपतिः ⁠। दमयन्त्या गतः सार्धं न प्राज्ञायत कस्यचित् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३ ⁠।⁠।

ते वयं दमयन्त्यर्थे चरामः पृथिवीमिमाम् ⁠। सेयमासादिता बाला तव पुत्रनिवेशने ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४ ⁠।⁠।

Said सुदेवने — O देवि! The king विदर्भ-देश, the highly bright भीम is a great धर्मात्मा. This woman is his daughter. The name of this beautiful princess is दमयन्ती.

नल is the son of वीरसेन and the famous king of निषध-देश. This woman is the beautiful wife of the intelligent virtuous नल.

One day, King नल lost his kingdom to his own brothers by indulging in gambling. In the way, he lost his entire kingdom. He then left into the forest along with दमयन्ती. Since then, the whereabouts of both of them remains unknown.

Many ब्राह्मणs like me are moving around this Earth to locate दमयन्ती. Finally, in the house of your son, I have been able to locate the queen.

अस्या रूपेण सदृशी मानुषी न हि विद्यते ⁠। अस्या ह्येष भ्रुवोर्मध्ये सहजः पिप्लुरुत्तमः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५ ⁠।⁠।

श्यामायाः पद्मसंकाशो लक्षितोऽन्तर्हितो मया ⁠। मलेन संवृतो ह्यस्याश्छन्नोऽभ्रेणेव चन्द्रमाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ६ ⁠।⁠।

In beauty, there is no other human being who can match this person. Between both her eyebrows, since she was born, she sports a तिल sign.

I have seen that this dusky princess sports the lotus-like sign on her forehead, though it is hidden. Just as a moon is covered by dark clouds, her prominent sign is hidden owing to the dust accumulated there.  

चिह्नभूतो विभूत्यर्थमयं धात्रा विनिर्मितः ⁠। प्रतिपत्कलुषस्येन्दोर्लेखा नातिविराजते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ७ ⁠।⁠।

न चास्या नश्यते रूपं वपुर्मलसमाचितम् ⁠। असंस्कृतमभिव्यक्तं भाति काञ्चनसंनिभम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ८ ⁠।⁠।

अनेन वपुषा बाला पिप्लुनानेन सूचिता ⁠। लक्षितेयं मया देवी निभृतोऽग्निरिवोष्मणा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ९ ⁠।⁠।

This sign, that has been given to her by विधाता, reminds all of her previous grandeur. As of now, owing to dirt (or tan) accumulated on her, her shine is not visible just as the shine is the moon is not visible on प्रतिपदा (first day of lunar fortnight). Her golden body is covered by dirt and owing to non-adherence to संस्कार (daily rituals like नित्य पूजा, देवता उपासना, etc), her natural shine is not getting reflected on her face. Her form and beauty has not been destroyed. Just as hidden fire can be identified when one experiences heat, by seeing her sign of तिल, I have recognized her even though rest of the body is covered with dust (or tan).

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य सुदेवस्य विशाम्पते ⁠। सुनन्दा शोधयामास पिप्लुप्रच्छादनं मलम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १० ⁠।⁠।

स मलेनापकृष्टेन पिप्लुस्तस्या व्यरोचत ⁠। दमयन्त्या यथा व्यभ्रे नभसीव निशाकरः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ११ ⁠।⁠।

पिप्लुं दृष्ट्वा सुनन्दा च राजमाता च भारत ⁠। रुदत्यौ तां परिष्वज्य मुहूर्तमिव तस्थतुः ⁠।⁠।⁠ १२ ⁠।⁠।

उत्सृज्य बाष्पं शनकै राजमातेदमब्रवीत् ⁠। भगिन्या दुहिता मेऽसि पिप्लुनानेन सूचिता ⁠।⁠।⁠ १३ ⁠।⁠।

O युधिष्ठिर! Listening to सुदेव, सुनन्दा washed away the dust accumulated on the forehead of  दमयन्तीक to see the तिल sign clearly.

And when washed, the sign started shining on the forehead just as moon shines clearly when clouds have disappeared from the sky.

O भारत! When the sign became visible, both सुनन्दा and the queen started crying profusely and embracing दमयन्ती, all of them froze (in shock) for some time.

Subsequent to this, shedding tears, the queen spoke slowly this way — O Daughter! You are the daughter of my own sister. Seeing this sign clearly, I too have identified you now.

अहं च तव माता च राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः ⁠। सुते दशार्णाधिपतेः सुदाम्नश्चारुदर्शने ⁠।⁠।⁠ १४ ⁠।⁠।

भीमस्य राज्ञः सा दत्ता वीरबाहोरहं पुनः ⁠। त्वं तु जाता मया दृष्टा दशार्णेषु पितुर्गृहे ⁠।⁠।⁠ १५ ⁠।⁠।

यथैव ते पितुर्गेहं तथैव मम भामिनि ⁠। यथैव च ममैश्वर्यं दमयन्ति तथा तव ⁠।⁠।⁠ १६ ⁠।⁠।

तां प्रहृष्टेन मनसा दमयन्ती विशाम्पते ⁠। प्रणम्य मातुर्भगिनीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ १७ ⁠।⁠।

O सुन्दरी! Both your mother and myself are daughters of King सुदामा who ruled दशार्ण-देश.  

Your mother got married to king भीम while I got married to the king of चेदि, वीरबाहु. You were born in the kingdom of दशार्णदेश in the house of my father and I had seen you at that time.

O भामिनि! Just as your father’s house is yours, similarly, this house is also yours only. दमयन्ती! Just as all this wealth here is mine, this is yours too.

O युधिष्ठिर! With a happy heart, दमयन्ती bowed down to her mother’s sister and said

अज्ञायमानापि सती सुखमस्म्युषिता त्वयि ⁠। सर्वकामैः सुविहिता रक्षयमाणा सदा त्वया ⁠।⁠।⁠ १८ ⁠।⁠।

सुखात् सुखतरो वासो भविष्यति न संशयः ⁠। चिरविप्रोषितां मातर्मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ⁠।⁠।⁠ १९ ⁠।⁠।

O Mother! Even when I had not recognized you, I had stayed here with a lot of happiness. You had provided me with all accompaniments for my happiness and thus, you had been my protector.

And now I know that if I continue to stay here, my stay will be filled with much more joyful – there is no doubt about it. However, given that I have been moving all over the place for the past few days, O Mother! Kindly permit me to return to विदर्भ 

दारकौ च हि मे नीतौ वसतस्तत्र बालकौ ⁠। पित्रा विहीनौ शोकार्तौ मया चैव कथं नु तौ ⁠।⁠।⁠ २० ⁠।⁠।

I had sent my children to कुण्डिनपुर before itself – they stay there only. Not only have they been away from their father, they are now living separate from me too and in this state, they must be struggling and living in an unhappy way.

यदि चापि प्रियं किंचिन्मयि कर्तुमिहेच्छसि ⁠। विदर्भान् यातुमिच्छामि शीघ्रं मे यानमादिश ⁠।⁠।⁠ २१ ⁠।⁠।

बाढमित्येव तामुक्त्वा हृष्टा मातृष्वसा नृप ⁠। गुप्तां बलेन महता पुत्रस्यानुमते ततः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २२ ⁠।⁠।

प्रास्थापयद् राजमाता श्रीमतीं नरवाहिना ⁠। यानेन भरतश्रेष्ठ स्वन्नपानपरिच्छदाम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २३ ⁠।⁠।

O Mother! If you really want to help me, kingly arrange for a means for conveyance to enable me to return home. I wish to go over to विदर्भ-देश.

O राजन्! Then the queen who was the sister of the mother of दमयन्ती replied with “I am fine” and considering the request of दमयन्ती, happily put her on a palanquin and sent her home. For her protection, a large contingent of army was also sent.

O भरतश्रेष्ठ! The queen also ensured that arrangements were made for food & water and other essential objects so that the journey back home is taken care of appropriately.

ततः सा न चिरादेव विदर्भानगमत् पुनः ⁠। तां तु बन्धुजनः सर्वः प्रहृष्टः समपूजयत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २४ ⁠।⁠।

Thereafter, after departing, she reached the capital of विदर्भ-देश राजधानीमें in a few days. Both her parents, relatives, etc became very happy on seeing her and everyone welcomed her. \

सर्वान् कुशलिनो दृष्ट्वा बान्धवान् दारकौ च तौ ⁠। मातरं पितरं चोभौ सर्वं चैव सखीजनम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २५ ⁠।⁠।

देवताः पूजयामास ब्राह्मणांश्च यशस्विनी ⁠। परेण विधिना देवी दमयन्ती विशाम्पते ⁠।⁠।⁠ २६ ⁠।⁠।

अतर्पयत् सुदेवं च गोसहस्रेण पार्थिवः ⁠। प्रीतो दृष्ट्वैव तनयां ग्रामेण द्रविणेन च ⁠।⁠।⁠ २७ ⁠।⁠।

सा व्युष्टा रजनीं तत्र पितुर्वेश्मनि भाविनी ⁠। विश्रान्ता मातरं राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ २८ ⁠।⁠।

O राजन्! After seeing her own two children, all relatives and all her friends, the famed देवी दमयन्ती did पूजा in the highest appropriate manner to the देवताs and ब्राह्मणs.

King भीम was extremely happy on seeing his daughter. He gave a thousand cows, a village and wealth to the ब्राह्मण सुदेव and thus satisfied him.

O युधिष्ठिर! During that night, दमयन्ती slept in the palace of her father. When morning came, she told her mother

दमयन्त्युवाच मां चेदिच्छसि जीवन्तीं मातः सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ⁠। नलस्य नरवीरस्य यतस्वानयने पुनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ २९ ⁠।⁠।

दमयन्त्या तथोक्ता तु सा देवी भृशदुःखिता ⁠। बाष्पेणापिहिता राज्ञी नोत्तरं किंचिदब्रवीत् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३० ⁠।⁠।

तदवस्थां तु तां दृष्ट्वा सर्वमन्तःपुरं तदा ⁠। हाहाभूतमतीवासीद् भृशं च प्ररुरोद ह ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३१ ⁠।⁠।

ततो भीमं महाराजं भार्या वचनमब्रवीत् ⁠। दमयन्ती तव सुता भर्तारमनुशोचति ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३२ ⁠।⁠।

Said दमयन्ती बो —O Mother! If you want to continue seeing me alive, I am telling you that we need to recommence our search for the brave King नल.

When दमयन्ती spoke this way, her mother’s eyes swelled up with tears. She became very unhappy and she was unable to give an immediate answer to her.

When everyone in the अन्तःपुर witnessed the pitiable state of their queen, all of them started crying profusely.

Then the mother spoke to King भीम — O प्राणनाथ! Your daughter दमयन्ती continues to experience deep sorrow thinking about her husband.

अपकृष्य च लज्जां सा स्वयमुक्तवती नृप ⁠। प्रयतन्तां तव प्रेष्याः पुण्यश्लोकस्य मार्गणे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३३ ⁠।⁠।

तया प्रदेशितो राजा ब्राह्मणान् वशवर्तिनः ⁠। प्रास्थापयद् दिशः सर्वा यतध्वं नलमार्गणे ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३४ ⁠।⁠।

ततो विदर्भाधिपतेर्नियोगाद् ब्राह्मणास्तदा ⁠। दमयन्तीमथो सृत्वा प्रस्थिताःस्मेत्यथाब्रुवन् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३५ ⁠।⁠।

अथ तानब्रवीद् भैमी सर्वराष्ट्रेष्विदं वचः ⁠। ब्रुवध्वं जनसंसत्सु तत्र तत्र पुनः पुनः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३६ ⁠।⁠।

O नरेश्वर! She ignored any sense of embarrassment she may have (by asking me to locate her husband); therefore, kindly get your attendants to resume search of king नल.

Taking from the words of the queen, King भीम called all ब्राह्मणs subordinate to him and told him “Kindly make efforts to try to locate King नल”.  

Thereafter, after taking the order from the king of विदर्भ, the appointed ब्राह्मणs went over to दमयन्ती and told her — O राजकुमारी! All of us are going across to find the whereabouts of King नल.

Then, the daughter of भीम told those ब्राह्मण — As you reach various locations and move around groups of people, you must say aloud these words again and again which I am going to tell you

क्व नु त्वं कितवच्छित्त्वा वस्त्रार्धं प्रस्थितो मम ⁠। उत्सृज्य विपिने सुप्तामनुरक्तां प्रियां प्रिय ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३७ ⁠।⁠।

सा वै यथा त्वया दृष्टा तथाऽऽस्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी ⁠। दह्यमाना भृशं बाला वस्त्रार्धेनाभिसंवृता ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३८ ⁠।⁠।

तस्या रुदत्याः सततं तेन शोकेन पार्थिव ⁠। प्रसादं कुरु वै वीर प्रतिवाक्यं ददस्व च ⁠।⁠।⁠ ३९ ⁠।⁠।

एवमन्यच्च वक्तव्यं कृपां कुर्याद् यथा मयि ⁠। वायुना धूयमानो हि वनं दहति पावकः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४० ⁠।⁠।

O gambling lover! Where have you gone after leaving your loving wife who was asleep in the forest and carries a deep affection for you, after tearing a part of her cloth?

In whatever state you had seen her when you left her, she continues to remain in the same state even now and she continues to await your return back to her. Covering herself with a half cloth, this youthful woman continues to burn with pangs of separation.

O brave भूमिपाल! I am crying always immersed in sorrow; please therefore grace your loving wife and give me a response to my question.

O ब्राह्मणो! Say this and a few other words too; listening to which he will grace me. With the aid of air, the fire burns up the entire forest (similarly, the sadness that has come to me from experiencing the pangs of separation are burning me)

भर्तव्या रक्षणीया च पत्नी पत्या हि सर्वदा ⁠। तन्नष्टमुभयं कस्माद् धर्मज्ञस्य सतस्तव ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४१ ⁠।⁠।

O प्राणनाथ! It is appropriate for the husband that he always take care and protects the wife at all times. You are fully aware of धर्म and you are a good person too; how can both these duties of yours get destroyed?

ख्यातः प्राज्ञः कुलीनश्च सानुक्रोशो भवान् सदा ⁠। संवृत्तो निरनुक्रोशः शङ्के मद्भाग्यसंक्षयात् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४२ ⁠।⁠।

तत् कुरुष्व नरव्याघ्र दयां मयि नरर्षभ ⁠। आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मस्त्वत्त एव हि मे श्रुतः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४३ ⁠।⁠।

एवं ब्रुवाणान् यदि वः प्रतिब्रूयात् कथंचन ⁠। स नरः सर्वथा ज्ञेयः कश्चासौ क्व नु वर्तते ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४४ ⁠।⁠।

यश्चैवं वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रूयात् प्रतिवचो नरः ⁠। तदादाय वचस्तस्य ममावेद्यं द्विजोत्तमाः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४५ ⁠।⁠।

You are a popular scholar, from a good family and keep a benevolent disposition towards all – however, I am starting having a doubt that maybe you have become detached as my (good) fate has been destroyed.

O नरव्याघ्र! O नरोत्तम! Kindly have mercy on me. I have heard from you directly that mercy is the highest धर्म.

O ब्राह्मणो! When you utter these words, if you get an answer from any person, then find out more about this person in terms of who this person is, where does he stay, etc.

O विप्रवरो! After listening to your words, whosoever gives whatever type of response, kindly remember everything and return and convey this to me.

यथा च वो न जानीयाद् ब्रुवतो मम शासनात् ⁠। पुनरागमनं चैव तथा कार्यमतन्द्रितैः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४६ ⁠।⁠।

यदि वासौ समृद्धः स्याद् यदि वाप्यधनो भवेत् ⁠। यदि वाप्यसमर्थः स्याज्ज्ञेयमस्य चिकीर्षितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४७ ⁠।⁠।

एवमुक्तास्त्वगच्छंस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतो दिशम् ⁠। नलं मृगयितुं राजंस्तदा व्यसनिनं तथा ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४८ ⁠।⁠।

ते पुराणि सराष्ट्राणि ग्रामान् घोषांस्तथाऽऽश्रमान् ⁠। अन्वेषन्तो नलं राजन् नाधिजग्मुर्द्विजातयः ⁠।⁠।⁠ ४९ ⁠।⁠।

No one should however know that all of you are expressing these words by following my order. And the moment you get a response, shed laziness and immediately come over here to convey the answer given to you.

Whether the person giving the response is a wealth person or a poor person, capable or incapable, what is important is the nature of response being given and trying to understand the response.

O राजन्! After listening to दमयन्ती, all the ब्राह्मणs departed in all directions to attempt to locate King नल who may be experiencing misery.

O युधिष्ठिर! Those ब्राह्मणs travelled the cities, towns, villages, nations, cowsheds and आश्रमs but they were unable to locate him at any of the places.

तच्च वाक्यं तथा सर्वे तत्र तत्र विशाम्पते ⁠। श्रावयांचक्रिरे विप्रा दमयन्त्या यथेरितम् ⁠।⁠।⁠ ५० ⁠।⁠।

O महाराज! Whatever was instructed by दमयन्ती, those words were repeated verbatim by the ब्राह्मणs at various places to the people living in such locations.