नैषधीयचरितम् — चतुर्दशः सर्गः

अथाधिगन्तुं निषधेश्वरं सा
प्रसादनामाद्रियतामराणाम् ।
यतः सुराणां सुरभिर्नृणां तु
सा वेधसासृज्यत कामधेनुः ॥

Summary AI Then, in order to attain the lord of Nishadha, she resorted to propitiating the gods. For prayer, which is the wish-fulfilling cow Surabhi for the gods, was created by Brahma as the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadhenu for humans.

१४.२

प्रदक्षिणप्रक्रमणालवाल-
विलेपधूपाचरणाम्बुसेकैः ।
इष्टं च मृष्टं च फलं सुवाना
देवा हि कल्पद्रुमकाननं नः ॥

Summary AI Indeed, the gods are a forest of wish-fulfilling trees for us, yielding desired and pleasing fruits through circumambulations that serve as basins around them, and through offerings of unguents, incense, and water that act as irrigation.

१४.३

श्रद्धामयीभूय सुपर्वणस्ता-
न्ननाम नामग्रहणाग्रकं सा ।
सुरेषु हि श्रद्दधतां नमस्य
सर्वार्थसिद्ध्यङ्गमिथः समस्या ॥

Summary AI Filled with faith, she (Damayanti) bowed to the gods, mentioning their names first. Indeed, for those who have faith in the gods, reverence is the means to accomplish all objectives; these two are mutually complementary.

१४.४

यत्तान्निजे सा हृदि भावनाया
बलेन साक्षादकृताखिलस्थान् ।
अभूदभीष्टप्रतिभूः स तस्या
वरं हि दृष्टा ददते परं ते ॥

Summary AI Because she visualized all of them directly in her own heart through the power of her meditation, that very visualization became a guarantor of her desired boon. For those gods, when seen (even mentally), grant the highest boons.

१४.५

सभाजनं तत्र ससर्ज तेषां
सभाजने पश्यति विस्मिते सा ।
आमुद्यते यत्सुमनोभिरेवं
फलस्य सिद्धौ सुमनोभिरेव ॥

Summary AI While the astonished assembly looked on, she offered worship to them. This is fitting, because when a desired result is achieved, the gods (sumanas) are indeed rejoiced with flowers (sumanas).

१४.६

वैशद्यहृद्यैर्म्रदिमाभिरामै-
रामोदिभिस्तानथ जातिजातैः ।
आनर्च गीत्यन्वितषट्पदैः सा
स्तवप्रसूनस्तबकैर्नवीनैः ॥

Summary AI Then, she worshipped them with fresh bouquets of praise-flowers, which were accompanied by bees humming musically, and also with Jati flowers that were charming due to their purity, delightful in their softness, and fragrant.

१४.७

हृत्पद्मसद्मन्यधिवास्य बुद्ध्या
दध्यावथैतानियमेकताना ।
सुपर्वणां हि स्फुटभावना या
सा पूर्वरूपं फलभावनायाः ॥

Summary AI Then, with single-minded concentration, she installed them in the abode of her lotus-heart with her intellect and meditated upon them with discipline. Indeed, the clear visualization of the gods is itself a precursor to the realization of the desired fruit.

१४.८

भक्त्या तयैव प्रससाद तस्या-
स्तुष्टं स्वयं देवचतुष्टयं ततः ।
स्वेनानलस्य स्फुटतां यियासोः
फूत्कृत्यपेक्षा कियती खलु स्यात् ॥

Summary AI Then, pleased by that very devotion of hers, the quartet of gods became gracious to her on their own. Indeed, for a fire that wishes to blaze forth on its own, how much need is there for blowing upon it?

१४.९

प्रसादमासाद्य सुरैः कृतं सा
सस्मार सारस्वतसूक्तिसृष्टेः ।
देवा हि नान्यद्वितरन्ति किंतु
प्रसद्य ते साधुधियं ददन्ते ॥

Summary AI Having received the grace bestowed by the gods, she recalled the creation of Saraswati's fine sayings. For gods do not grant anything else; rather, upon being pleased, they bestow righteous intellect.

१४.१०

शेषं नलं प्रत्यमरेण गाथा
या या समर्था खलु येन येन ।
तां तां तदन्येन सहालगन्तीं
तदा विशेषं प्रतिसंदधे सा ॥

Summary AI Then she understood the distinguishing feature. She realized that whichever descriptive verse was appropriate for Nala with respect to a particular god, that same verse did not apply to him in relation to any other god.

१४.११

एकैकवृत्तेः प्रतिलोकपालं
पतिव्रतात्वं जगृहुर्दिशां याः ।
वेद स्म गाथा मिलितास्तदासा-
वाशा इवैकस्य नलस्य वश्याः ॥

Summary AI Just as the directions (personified as wives of the Dikpalas) maintain their fidelity to their respective guardian-deities, she understood that the combined verses (describing the gods) were now, like those directions, subservient to the one Nala alone.

१४.१२

या पाशिनैवाशनिपाणिनैव
गाथा यमेनैव समाग्निनैव ।
तामेव मेने मिलितां नलस्य
सैषा विशेषाय तदा नलस्य ॥

Summary AI The descriptive verse that was applicable only to Varuna, only to Indra, only to Yama, and likewise only to Agni, she now considered that very same verse, in its combined form, to belong to Nala. This then served to distinguish Nala.

१४.१३

निश्चित्य शेषं तमसौ नरेशं
प्रमोदमेदस्वितरान्तराभूत् ।
देव्या गिरां भावितभङ्गिराख्य-
च्चित्तेन चिन्तार्णवयादसेयम् ॥

Summary AI Having thus determined that king to be the remaining one (Nala), she became filled with immense joy. She, whose manner of speech was inspired by the goddess of words, communicated this to her heart, which was like a creature in the ocean of anxiety.

१४.१४

सा भङ्गिरस्याः खलु वाचि कापि
यद्भारती मूर्तिमतीयमेव ।
श्लिष्टं निगद्यादृत वासवादी-
न्विशिष्य मे नैषधमप्यवादीत् ॥

Summary AI (Damayanti's heart thinks:) "There is indeed some unique charm in her (Saraswati's) speech, for she is the goddess of speech incarnate. Having spoken ambiguously, she paid respect to Indra and the other gods, but she also spoke specifically to me about Nala."

१४.१५

जग्रन्थ सेयं मदनुग्रहेण
वचःस्रजः स्पष्टयितुं चतस्रः ।
द्वे ते नलं लक्षयितुं क्षमेते
ममैव मोहोऽयमहो महीयान् ॥

Summary AI (Damayanti's heart continues:) "This goddess, out of grace for me, composed four garlands of words to make things clear. Two of them are capable of identifying Nala. Oh, how great was my delusion!"

१४.१६

श्लिष्यन्ति वाचो यदमूरमुष्याः
कवित्वशक्तेः खलु ते विलासाः ।
भूपाललीलाः किल लोकपालाः
समाविशन्ति व्यतिभेदिनोऽपि ॥

Summary AI (Damayanti's heart reasons:) "The fact that her (Saraswati's) words are ambiguous is surely a play of her poetic power. Indeed, the Lokapalas, though distinct, enter into the guise of the king (Nala)."

१४.१७

त्यागं महेन्द्रादिचतुष्टस्य
किमभ्यनन्दत्क्रमसूचिरस्य ।
किं प्रेरयामास नले च तन्मां
सा सूक्तिरस्या मम कः प्रमोहः ॥

Summary AI (Damayanti's heart reflects:) "Did her speech, indicating the sequence, approve of abandoning the four gods starting with Indra? Did that excellent saying of hers then impel me towards Nala? What delusion was mine?"

१४.१८

परस्य दारान्खलु मन्यमानै-
रस्पृश्यमानाममरैर्धरित्रीम् ।
भक्त्यैव भर्तुश्चरणौ दधानां
नलस्य तत्कालमपश्यदेषा ॥

Summary AI At that moment, she saw the earth. The gods did not touch it, considering it another's wife. But the earth, with devotion, was holding the feet of her husband, Nala.

१४.१९

सुरेषु नापश्यदवैक्षताक्ष्णो-
र्निमेषमुर्वीभृति संमुखी सा ।
इह त्वमागत्य नले मिलेति
संज्ञानदानादिव भाषमाणम् ॥

Summary AI Facing them, she did not see blinking in the eyes of the gods. However, in the king (Nala), she observed blinking, which seemed to be speaking, as if giving a signal: "You, come here and unite with Nala."

१४.२०

नाबुद्ध बाला विबुधेषु तेषु
क्षोदं क्षितेरैक्षत नैषधे तु ।
पत्ये सृजन्त्याः परिरम्भमुर्व्याः
संभूतसंभेदमसंशयं सा ॥

Summary AI The young lady did not perceive any dust of the earth on those gods. But on Nala, she undoubtedly saw dust, which was produced from the contact of the Earth as she offered an embrace to her husband.

१४.२१

स्वेदः स्वदेहस्य वियोगतापं
निर्वापयिष्यन्निव संसिसृक्षोः ।
हीराङ्कुरश्चारुणि हेमनीव
नले तयालोकि न दैवतेषु ॥

Summary AI By her, perspiration was seen on Nala, but not on the gods. It appeared like sprouts of diamond on beautiful gold, as if intending to extinguish the heat of separation from his own body, which desired union.

१४.२२

सुरेषु मालाममलामपश्य-
न्नले तु बाला मलिनीभवन्तीम् ।
इमां किमासाद्य नलोऽद्य मृद्वीं
श्रद्धास्यते मामिति चिन्तयेव ॥

Summary AI The young lady saw that the garlands on the gods were unfading. On Nala, however, she saw a wilting garland, as if it were fading with the thought, "Having obtained this delicate garland today, will Nala believe me (Damayanti)?"

१४.२३

श्रियं भजन्तां कियदस्य देवा-
श्छाया नलस्यास्ति तथापि नैषाम् ।
इतीरयन्तीव तया निरैक्षि
सा नैषधे न त्रिदशेषु तेषु ॥

Summary AI "How much splendor can the gods partake from this Nala's reflection? Even so, they do not possess it." As if thinking this, she (Damayanti) was guided by her (Sarasvati's) gaze not towards the gods, but towards Nala.

१४.२४

चिह्नैरमीभिर्नलसंविदस्याः
संवादमाप प्रथमोपजाता ।
सा लक्षणव्यक्तिभिरेव देव-
प्रसादमासादितमप्यबोधि ॥

Summary AI Through these signs, her initial recognition of Nala was confirmed. By the very manifestation of these characteristics, she also understood that she had obtained the favor of the gods.

१४.२५

नले निधातुं वरणस्रजं तां
स्मरः स्म रामां त्वरयत्यथैनाम् ।
अपत्रपा तां निषिषेध तेन
द्वयानुरोधं तुलितं दधौ सा ॥

Summary AI Then, Kama (the god of love) urged the beautiful woman to place the wedding garland on Nala. However, her modesty restrained her. For this reason, she maintained a balanced regard for both her love and her modesty.

१४.२६

स्रजा समालिङ्गयितुं प्रियं सा
रसादधत्तैव बहुप्रयत्नम् ।
स्तम्भत्रपाभ्यामभवत्तदीये
स्पन्दस्तु मन्दोऽपि न पाणिपद्मे ॥

Summary AI Out of love, she indeed made a great effort to embrace her beloved with the garland. But, due to being paralyzed by shyness, there was not even a slight movement in her lotus-like hand.

१४.२७

तस्या हृदि व्रीडमनोभवाभ्यां
दोलाविलासं समवाप्यमाने ।
स्थितं धृतैणाङ्ककुलातपत्रे
शृङ्गारमालिङ्गदधीश्वरश्रीः ॥

Summary AI While her heart was being made to swing between shyness and love, the royal splendor (of Nala) embraced the sentiment of love (Shringara), which was situated under the royal umbrella of the moon's lineage.

१४.२८

करः स्रजा सज्जतरस्तदीयः
प्रियोन्मुखः सन्विरराम भूयः ।
प्रियाननस्यार्धपथं ययौ च
प्रत्याययौ चातिचलः कटाक्षः ॥

Summary AI Her hand, quite ready with the garland and facing her beloved, stopped again. And her very fickle sidelong glance went halfway to her beloved's face and then returned.

१४.२९

तस्याः प्रियं चित्तमुपेतमेव
प्रभूबभूवाक्षि न तु प्रयातुम् ।
सत्यः कृतः स्पष्टमभूत्तदानीं
तयाक्ष्णि लज्जेति जनप्रवादः ॥

Summary AI Her mind had indeed reached her beloved, but her eye was not able to go. At that moment, the popular saying, 'shame resides in the eye,' was clearly made true by her.

१४.३०

कथं कथंचिन्निषधेश्वरस्य
कृत्वास्यपद्मं दरवीक्षितश्रि ।
वाग्देवताया वदनेन्दुबिम्बं
त्रपावती साकृत सामिदृष्टम् ॥

Summary AI With great difficulty, the shy Damayanti, having made Nala's lotus-face the object of a slight glance, then cast a half-glance at the moon-like face of Sarasvati, the goddess of speech.

१४.३१

अजानतीवेदमवोचदेना-
माकूतमस्यास्तदवेत्य देवी ।
भावस्त्रपोर्मिप्रतिसीरया ते
न दीयते लक्षयितुं ममापि ॥

Summary AI The goddess, having understood Damayanti's intention, spoke to her as if she didn't know, 'Your feeling, veiled by the curtain of the waves of your shyness, cannot be perceived even by me.'

१४.३२

देव्याः श्रुतौ नेति नलार्धनाम्नि
गृहीत एव त्रपया निपीता ।
अथाङ्गुलीरङ्गुलिभिर्मृशन्ती
दूरं शिरः सा नमयांचकार ॥

Summary AI Then, as soon as half of Nala's name was uttered within the goddess's hearing, the word 'no' was swallowed by her shyness. Fidgeting with her fingers, she bowed her head low.

१४.३३

करे विधृत्येश्वरया गिरां सा
पान्था पथीन्द्रस्य कृता विहस्य ।
वामेति नामैव बभाज सार्धं
पुरन्ध्रिसाधारणसंविभागम् ॥

Summary AI Held by the hand by Sarasvati, the mistress of words, and made a traveler on the right path with a smile, she acquired the name 'Vama' (contrary one), a title she shared with all women.

१४.३४

विहस्य हस्तेऽथ विकृष्य देवी
नेतुं प्रयाताऽभि महेन्द्रमेताम् ।
भ्रमादियं दत्तमिवाहिदेहे
ततश्चमत्कृत्य करं चकर्ष ॥

Summary AI Then the goddess, smiling, pulled her by the hand and started to lead her towards Indra. But she, as if having mistakenly placed her hand on a snake's body, was startled and pulled her hand back.

१४.३५

भैमीं निरीक्ष्याभिमुखीं मघोनः
स्वाराज्यलक्ष्मीरभृताभ्यसूयाम् ।
दृष्ट्वा ततस्तत्परिहारिणीं तां
व्रीडं बिडौजःप्रवणाभ्यपादि ॥

Summary AI Seeing Damayanti facing Indra, the goddess of sovereignty (Shachi) felt jealousy. Then, seeing her turn away, she (Shachi), devoted to Indra, was filled with shame.

१४.३६

त्वत्तः श्रुतं नेति नले मयातः
परं वदस्वेत्युदिताथ देव्या ।
ह्रीमन्मथद्वैरथरङ्गभूमी
भैमी दृशा भाषितनैषधाभूत् ॥

Summary AI Then, addressed by the goddess, 'I heard a 'no' from you regarding Nala; therefore, speak further,' Damayanti, who was the battlefield for the duel between shyness and love, spoke of Nala with her eyes.

१४.३७

हसत्सु भैमीं दिविषत्सु पाणौ
पाणिम्प्रणीयाप्सरसां रसात्सा ।
आलिङ्ग्य नीत्वाकृत पान्थदुर्गां
भूपालदिक्पालकुलाध्वमध्यम् ॥

Summary AI While the gods were laughing at Damayanti, she (Sarasvati), placing her hand in the hands of the Apsaras, affectionately embraced and led her, making the path between the groups of kings and guardian deities difficult for her to traverse.

१४.३८

आदेशितामप्यवलोक्य मन्दं
मन्दं नलस्यैव दिशा चलन्तीम् ।
भूयः सुरानर्धपथादथासौ
तानेव तां नेतुमना नुनोद ॥

Summary AI Then she (Sarasvati), seeing Damayanti moving slowly only in Nala's direction despite being instructed otherwise, turned back from halfway and again urged those very gods, intending to lead her to them.

१४.३९

मुखाब्जमावर्तनलोलनालं
कृत्वालिहूंहूंरवलक्ष्यलक्ष्यम् ।
भीमोद्भवा तां नुनुदेऽङ्कपालीं
देव्या नवोढेव दृढां विवोढुः ॥

Summary AI Damayanti, turning her lotus-face (whose stalk, her neck, trembled) towards the target indicated by the humming of bees (Nala), pushed away the goddess's embrace, just as a new bride pushes away the firm embrace of her husband.

१४.४०

देवी कथंचित्खलु तामदेव-
द्रीचीं भवन्तीं स्मितसिक्तसृक्का ।
आह स्म मां प्रत्यपि ते पुनः का
शङ्का शशाङ्कादधिकास्यबिम्बे ॥

Summary AI The goddess, her lips moistened with a smile, somehow spoke to Damayanti, who was turning away from the gods: 'What hesitation do you have again, even towards me, regarding him (Nala) whose face is more radiant than the moon?'

१४.४१

एषामकृत्वा चरणप्रणाम-
मेषामनुज्ञामनवाप्य सम्यक् ।
सुपर्ववैरे तव वैरसेनिं
वरीतुमीहा कथमौचितीयम् ॥

Summary AI 'Without paying obeisance at their feet, without properly obtaining their permission, how is your desire to choose Nala, the son of Virasena, proper, especially when it means creating enmity with the gods?'

१४.४२

इतीरिते विश्वसितां पुनस्ता-
मादाय पाणौ दिविषत्सु देवी
कृत्वा प्रणम्रां वदति स्म सा
तान्भक्तेयमर्हत्यधुनानुकम्प्-
आम्

Summary AI When this was said, the goddess again took the reassured Damayanti by the hand, made her bow before the gods, and said to them, 'This devoted one now deserves your compassion.'

१४.४३

युष्मान्वृणीते न बहून्सतीयं
शेषावमानाच्च भवत्सु नैकम् ।
तद्वः समेतान्नृपमेनमंशा-
न्वरीतुमन्विष्यति लोकपालाः ॥

Summary AI O guardians of the world, this chaste lady does not choose all of you, nor does she choose just one from among you, as that would disrespect the others. Therefore, she seeks to choose this king Nala, who embodies all of your assembled parts.

१४.४४

भैम्या स्रजःसञ्जनया पथि प्रा-
क्स्वयंवरं संजनयांबभूव ।
संभोगमालिङ्गनयास्य वेधाः
शेषं तु कं हन्तुमियद्यतध्वे ॥

Summary AI The Creator already orchestrated the svayamvara on the path through Damayanti's act of placing the garland, and He created their union through her embrace. Why then do you strive so hard to destroy what remains?

१४.४५

वर्णाश्रमाचारपथात्प्रजाभिः
स्वाभिः सहैवास्खलते नलाय ।
प्रसेदुषो वेदृशवृत्तभङ्ग्या
दित्सैव कीर्तेर्भुवमानयद्वः ॥

Summary AI Was it the desire to grant fame to Nala—who, along with his subjects, never falters from the path of Varna and Ashrama duties—that brought you, who are pleased with him, to earth? Or was it this breach of conduct?

१४.४६

इति श्रुतेऽस्या वचसैव हास्या-
त्कृत्वा सलास्याधरमास्यबिम्बम् ।
भ्रूविभ्रमाकूतकृताभ्यनुज्ञे-
ष्वेतेषु तां साथ नलाय निन्ये ॥

Summary AI Then, upon hearing these words of hers, the gods smiled, making their lips dance, and gave their permission through the playful movement of their eyebrows. She (Saraswati) then led her (Damayanti) to Nala.

१४.४७

मन्दाक्षनिस्पन्दतनोर्मनोभू-
दुष्प्रेरमप्यानयति स्म तस्याः ।
मधूकमालामधुरं करं सा
कण्ठोपकण्ठं वसुधासुधांशोः ॥

Summary AI She (Saraswati) brought the hand of Damayanti—who was motionless with shyness and whose hand was sweet with the Madhuka garland and difficult to move even for Kamadeva—near the neck of Nala, the moon on earth.

१४.४८

अथाभिलिख्येव समर्प्यमाणां
राजिं निजस्वीकरणाक्षराणाम् ।
दूर्वाङ्कुराढ्यां नलकण्ठनाले
वधूर्मधूकस्रजमुत्ससर्ज ॥

Summary AI Then the bride (Damayanti) placed the Madhuka garland, rich with Durva grass shoots, on the stalk-like neck of Nala, as if writing and offering a line of letters signifying her acceptance.

१४.४९

तां दूर्वया श्यामलयातिवेलं
शृङ्गारभाषंनिभया सुशोभाम् ।
मालां प्रसूनायुधपाशभासं
कण्ठेन भूभृद्बिभरांबभूव ॥

Summary AI The king (Nala) wore on his neck that exceedingly beautiful garland, which, with its dark Durva grass, resembled the language of love and shone like the noose of Kamadeva, the god of love.

१४.५०

दूर्वाग्रजाग्रत्पुलकावलिं तां
नलाङ्गमङ्गाद्भृशमुल्लसन्तीम् ।
मानेन मन्ये नमितानना सा
सासूयमालोकत पुष्पमालाम् ॥

Summary AI I think that she (Damayanti), with her face bent down due to jealous pride, looked enviously at that flower garland, which was shining intensely from contact with Nala's body and seemed to have a line of horripilations appearing at the tips of its Durva grass.

Other texts to read

महाभारतम् वेदव्यासः

किरातार्जुनीयम् भारविः

About

Resources