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॥ अथ षोडशः सर्गः ॥
१६.१
वृतः प्रतस्थे स रथैरथो रथी
गृहान्विदर्भाधिपतेर्धराधिपः ।
पुरोधसं गौतममात्मवित्तमं
द्विधा पुरस्कृत्य गृहीतमङ्गलः ॥
Summary AI Then, having performed auspicious rites, that lord of the earth, Nala, the great warrior, placing his most self-knowing priest Gautama in front, set out for the home of the lord of Vidarbha, surrounded by chariots.
१६.३
परार्ध्यवेषाभरणैः पुरःसरैः
समं जिहाने निषधावनीभुजि ।
दधे सुनासीरपदाभिधेयतां
स रूढिमात्राद्यदि वृत्रशात्रवः ॥
Summary AI As Nala, the ruler of Nishadha, proceeded with his attendants adorned in priceless attire and ornaments, he truly bore the title of Indra. If the enemy of Vritra (the actual Indra) holds that title, it is merely by convention.
१६.४
नलस्य नासीरसृजां महीभुजां
किरीटरत्नैः पुनरुक्तदीपया ।
अदीपि रात्रौ वरयात्रया तया
चमूरजोमिश्रतमिस्रसंपदा ॥
Summary AI At night, the bridegroom's procession was illuminated by the gems on the crowns of the kings in Nala's vanguard, which made other lamps redundant. This light shone through the great darkness, which was mixed with the dust raised by the army.
१६.७
भुवाह्वयन्तीं निजतोरणस्रजा
गजालिकर्णानिलखेलया ततः ।
ददर्श दूतीमिव भीमजन्मन-
ह्स तत्प्रतीहारमहीं महीपतिः ॥
Summary AI Then the king (Nala) saw the ground before the city gate. It seemed like a female messenger from Damayanti, beckoning him with her eyebrow—which was the garland on the gateway, set in motion by the wind from the ears of the rows of elephants.
१६.८
श्लथैर्दलैः स्तम्भयुगस्य रम्भयो-
श्चकास्ति चण्डातकमण्डिता स्म सा ।
प्रियासखीवास्य मनःस्थितिस्फुर-
त्सुखागतप्रश्निततूर्यनिःस्वना ॥
Summary AI That ground before the gate shone, adorned with the loose leaves of the two plantain trees serving as pillars, which looked like a short skirt. With the sounds of musical instruments that seemed to ask about his happy arrival, reflecting his own state of mind, she was like a dear friend of his beloved.
१६.९
विनेतृभर्तृद्वयभीतिदान्तयोः
परस्परस्मादनवाप्तवैशसः ।
अजायत द्वारि नरेन्द्रसेनयोः
समागमः स्फारमुखारवोद्गमः ॥
Summary AI The two armies of the kings, tamed by fear of their respective trainers and masters, met at the gate. This meeting was marked by loud sounds from their mouths, yet no harm was caused by one to the other.
१६.११
अथायमुत्थाय विसार्य दोर्युगं
मुदा प्रतीयेष तमात्मजन्मनः ।
सुरस्रवन्त्या इव पात्रमागतं
भृताभितोवीचिगतिः सरित्पतिः ॥
Summary AI Then, this king (Bhima), rising and spreading his arms with joy, approached Nala, his daughter's husband. He was like the ocean, whose movement is filled with waves, approaching the worthy vessel of the celestial river (Ganges) that has come to it.
१६.१५
विदर्भजायाः करवारिजेन
यन्नलस्य पाणेरुपरि स्थितं किल
विशङ्क्य सूत्रं पुरुषायितस्य
तद्भविष्यतोऽस्मायि तदा तदालिभ्-
इः
Summary AI When Damayanti's lotus-like hand was placed upon Nala's hand, her friends smiled. They suspected that this act was the beginning (sutra) of her future 'purushayita', where she would take the dominant role in their love-play.
१६.१६
सखा यदस्मै किल भीमसंज्ञया
स यक्षसख्याधिगतं ददौ भवः ।
ददौ तदेष श्वशुरः सुरोचितं
नलाय चिन्तामणिदाम कामदम् ॥
Summary AI His friend, Bhava (Shiva), under the name Bhima, had given Nala something obtained through friendship with Kubera. Now, this father-in-law (King Bhima) gave to Nala that very thing: a wish-fulfilling necklace of Chintamani gems, suitable for the gods.
१६.१७
बहोर्दुरापस्य वराय वस्तुन-
श्चितस्य दातुं प्रतिबिम्बकैतवात् ।
बभौतरामन्तरवस्थितं दध-
द्यदर्थमभ्यर्थितदेयमर्थिने ॥
Summary AI To give the collected wealth, which was vast and hard to obtain, to the groom, it shone exceedingly. It seemed to hold inside, under the pretext of a reflection, that which was requested and to be given to the supplicant, Nala.
१६.१८
असिं भवान्याः क्षतकासरासुरं
वराय भीमः स्म ददाति भासुरम् ।
ददे हि तस्मै धवनामधारिणे
स शंभुसंभोगनिमग्नयानया ॥
Summary AI Bhima gave the groom a shining sword of Bhavani, which had killed the demon Kasara. Indeed, that sword had been given by her (Bhavani), while immersed in union with Shambhu, to him (Shiva) who bears the name 'Dhava' (husband).
१६.१९
अधारि यः प्राङ्नहिषासुरद्विषा
कृपाणमस्मै तमदत्त कूकुदः ।
अहायि तस्या हि धवार्धमज्जिना
स दक्षिणार्धेन पराङ्गदारणः ॥
Summary AI The king (Bhima) gave Nala that sword which was formerly wielded by the enemy of Mahishasura (Durga). For that sword, which tears the limbs of enemies, was abandoned by her right half, which is merged into half of her husband (Shiva, in the Ardhanarishvara form).
१६.२०
उवाह यः सान्द्रतराङ्गकाननः
स्वशौर्यसूर्योदयपर्वतव्रतम् ।
सनिर्झरः शाणनधौतधारया
समूढसंध्यः क्षतशत्रुजासृजा ॥
Summary AI That sword, with its very dense forest of patterns, bore the role of the sunrise mountain for the sun of its own valor. Its sharpened edge was like a waterfall, and the blood from slain enemies created the appearance of twilight.
१६.२१
यमेन जिह्वा प्रहितेव या निजा
तमात्मजां याचितुमर्थिना भृशम् ।
स तां ददेऽस्मै परिवारशोभिनीं
करग्रहार्हामसिपुत्रिकामपि ॥
Summary AI He (Bhima) also gave Nala a dagger, which was worthy of being held and shone with its sheath. It was as if it were Yama's own tongue, sent forth by him as a supplicant to earnestly ask Nala for his daughter (i.e., to take lives).
१६.२२
यदङ्गभूमी बभतुः स्वयोषिता-
मुरोजपत्त्रावलिनेत्रकज्जले ।
रणस्थलस्थण्डिलशायिताव्रतै-
र्गृहीतदीक्षैरिव दक्षिणीकृते ॥
Summary AI The two surfaces of the dagger's body shone like the decorative leaf-patterns on the breasts and the kohl in the eyes of their own wives. It was as if these were made the sacrificial fee by enemies who had undertaken the vow of lying on the sacrificial ground of the battlefield.
१६.२३
पुरैव तस्मिन्समदेशि तत्सुता-
भिकेन यः सौहृदनाटिनाग्निना ।
नलाय विश्राणयति स्म तं रथं
नृपः सुलङ्घ्याद्रिसमुद्रकापथम् ॥
Summary AI The king (Bhima) gave to Nala that chariot for which mountains, oceans, and difficult paths were easily crossable. This was the same chariot that Agni, acting the part of a friend and desiring Bhima's daughter, had previously instructed Nala about.
१६.२४
प्रसूतवत्ता नलकूबरान्वय-
प्रकाशितास्यापि महारथस्य यत् ।
कुबेरदृष्टान्तबलेन पुष्पक-
प्रकृष्टतैतस्य ततोऽनुमीयते ॥
Summary AI Since this great chariot also had the distinction of being made famous by the lineage of Nalakubara (son of Kubera), its superiority even to the Pushpaka chariot is therefore inferred by the force of the example of Kubera himself.
१६.२५
महेन्द्रमुच्चैःश्रवसा प्रतार्य
यन्निजेन पत्याऽकृत सिन्धुरन्वित्-
अम् स तद्ददेऽस्मै हयरत्नमर्पित्-
अं पुराऽनुबन्धुं वरुणेन बन्धुत्-
आम्
Summary AI He (Bhima) gave to Nala that jewel of a horse, which was previously given by Varuna to establish friendship. This was the horse with which the river (Saraswati), prompted by her husband Varuna, had deceived Indra regarding his horse Uchchaishravas.
१६.२६
जवादवारीकृतदूरदृक्पथ-
स्तथाक्षियुग्माय ददे मुदं न यः ।
ददद्दिदृक्षादरदासतां यथा
तयैव तत्पांसुलकण्ठनालताम् ॥
Summary AI The horse, whose path of sight was made unobstructed for a great distance due to its speed, did not give as much joy to the eyes as it did by making them subservient to the desire to see it. This very desire caused the neck to stretch like a stalk, becoming dusty from straining to watch it.
१६.२८
नलेन ताम्बूलविलासितोज्झितै-
र्मुखस्य यः पूगकणैर्भृतो न वा ।
इति व्यवेचि स्वमयूखमण्डला-
दुदञ्चदुच्चारुणचारुणश्चिरात् ॥
Summary AI That spittoon was so beautiful with its intensely red hue rising from its own circle of rays, that only after a long time could it be discerned whether it was filled or not with the particles of areca nut spat out by Nala after enjoying betel leaf.
१६.३०
छदे सदैव च्छविमस्य बिभ्रतां
न केकिनां सर्पविषं विसर्पति ।
न नीलकण्ठत्वमधास्यदत्र
चेत्स कालकूटं भगवानभोक्ष्यत ॥
Summary AI Snake venom does not spread in peacocks who always bear the lustre of Nala's complexion in their feathers. If Lord Shiva had consumed the Kalakuta poison here (in Nala's presence), he would not have acquired a blue throat.
१६.३२
मदान्मदग्रे भवताथवा भिया
परं दिगन्तादपि यात जीवत ।
इति स्म यो दिक्करिणः स्वकर्णयो-
र्विनैव वर्णस्रजमागतैर्गतैः ॥
Summary AI Nala, through the coming and going (flapping) of his own ears, taught the elephants of the quarters without even a garland of letters (speech), saying: 'Either stand before me out of pride, or go beyond the ends of the earth out of fear, and live.'
१६.३३
बभार बीजं निजकीर्तये रदौ
द्विषामकीर्त्यै खलु दानविप्लुषः ।
श्रवःश्रमैः कुम्भकुचां शिरःश्रियं
मुदे मदस्वेदवतीमुपास्त यः ॥
Summary AI The elephant (gifted to Nala) bore its two tusks as a seed for its own fame, and its drops of ichor for the infamy of its enemies. With the fanning of its ears, it joyfully served the beauty of the head of the direction (personified as a woman with pitcher-like breasts), which was covered in the sweat of its ichor.
१६.३५
करग्रहे वाम्यमधत्त यस्तयोः
प्रसाद्य भैम्यानु च दक्षिणीकृतः ।
कृतः पुरस्कृत्य ततो नलेन स
प्रदक्षिणस्तत्क्षणमाशुशुक्षणिः ॥
Summary AI The fire, which at first showed opposition (wavered to the left) during their hand-taking ceremony, was then pleased by Damayanti and made favorable (turned to the right). Then, Nala, placing it in front, immediately circumambulated it.
१६.३६
स्थिरा त्वमश्मेव भवेति मन्त्रवा-
गनेशदाशास्य किमाशु तां ह्रिया ।
शिला चलेत्प्रेरणया नृणामपि
स्थितेस्तु नाचालि बिडौजसापि सा ॥
Summary AI After blessing her with the mantra 'Be firm like a stone,' did the mantra-speech quickly vanish out of shame? For a stone might be moved even by the pushing of men, but she, from her firm resolve, could not be moved even by Indra.
१६.३८
ध्रुवावलोकाय तदुन्मुखभुवा
निर्दिश्य पत्याभिदधे विदर्भजा ।
किमस्य न स्यादणिमाक्षिसाक्षिक-
स्तथापि तथ्यो महिमागमोदितः ॥
Summary AI To see the pole star, Damayanti was instructed by her husband, who pointed it out with his upturned eyebrow. She was told: 'Though its minuteness may not be witnessed by the eye, its greatness, as declared in the scriptures, is nevertheless true.'
१६.३९
धवेन सादर्शि वधूररुन्धतीं
सतीमिमां पश्य गतामिवाणुताम् ।
कृतस्य पूर्वं हृदि भूपतेः कृते
तृणीकृतस्वर्गपतेर्जनादिति ॥
Summary AI The husband showed the bride Arundhati, saying, 'Look at this chaste Arundhati, who seems to have become minute out of respect for this person (Damayanti), who, for the sake of the king (Nala), had previously considered the lord of heaven (Indra) as mere straw in her heart.'
१६.४०
प्रसूनता तत्करपल्लवस्थितै-
रुडुच्छविर्व्योमविहारिभिः पथि ।
मुखेऽमराणामनले रदावले-
रभाजि लाजैरनयोज्झितैर्द्युतिः ॥
Summary AI The parched grains, held in her sprout-like hands, acquired the nature of flowers from the sky-roaming gods on the path. When thrown by the couple into the fire, these grains attained the brilliant lustre of a row of teeth in the faces of the gods, resembling the shine of stars.
१६.४१
तया प्रतीष्टाहुतिधूमपद्धति-
र्गता कपोले मृगनाभिशोभिताम् ।
ययौ दृशोरञ्जनतां श्रुतौ श्रिता
तमाललीलामलिकेऽलकायिता ॥
Summary AI The line of smoke from the oblations offered by her, upon reaching her cheek, took on the beauty of musk paste. It became collyrium for her eyes, resting on her ear it resembled the beauty of a Tamala leaf, and on her forehead, it looked like a lock of hair.
१६.४२
अपह्नुतः स्वेदभरः करे तयो-
स्त्रपाजुषोर्दानजलैर्मिलन्मुहुः ।
दृशोरपि प्रस्रुतमस्रु सात्त्विकं
घनैः समाधीयत धूमलङ्घनैः ॥
Summary AI The profuse sweat on the hands of the shy couple, mixing repeatedly with the ceremonial water for the gift, was concealed. Similarly, the involuntary tears flowing from their eyes were explained away by the thick, assaulting smoke.
१६.४३
बहूनि भीमस्य वसूनि दक्षिणां
प्रयच्छतः सत्त्वमवेक्ष्य तत्क्षणम् ।
जनेषु रोमाञ्चमितेषु मिश्रतां
ययुस्तयोः कण्टककुड्मलश्रियः ॥
Summary AI At that moment, seeing the great generosity of Bhima as he gave away abundant riches as gifts, the people's hair stood on end. The splendors of the bud-like horripilation of Nala and Damayanti (from their own emotions) merged with that of the assembled crowd.
१६.४४
बभूव न स्तम्भविजित्वरी तयोः
श्रुतिक्रियारम्भपरम्परात्वरा ।
न कम्पसंपत्तिमलुम्पदग्रतः
स्थितोऽपि वह्निः समिधा समेधितः ॥
Summary AI The couple's haste in performing the series of Vedic rites was not overcome by the emotional state of paralysis (stambha). Even the well-kindled fire in front of them, fed with fuel sticks, could not remove their abundance of trembling (kampa).
१६.४७
तथाशनाय निरशेषि नो ह्रिया
न सम्यगालोकि परस्परक्रिया ।
विमुक्तसंभोगमशायि सस्पृहं
वरेण वध्वा च यथाविधि त्र्यहम् ॥
Summary AI Due to shyness, they did not eat completely, nor did they properly observe each other's actions. For three days, according to the rites, the groom and bride slept without consummation, yet full of longing.
१६.४८
कटाक्षणाज्जन्यजनैर्निजप्रजाः
क्वचित्परीहारसमचीकर्त्तराम् ।
धराप्सरोभिर्वरयात्रयागता-
नभोजयद्भोजकुलाङ्कुरः क्वचित् ॥
Summary AI Somewhere, Bhima, the scion of the Bhoja dynasty, caused his own subjects to be exceedingly teased by the bride's attendants with their glances. Elsewhere, he fed those who had come with the groom's procession with courtesans as beautiful as celestial Apsaras.
१६.५०
मुखेन तेत्रोपविशत्वसाविति
प्रयाच्य सृष्टानुमतिं खलाहसत् ।
वराङ्गभागः स्वमुखं मतोऽधुना
स हि स्फुटं येन किलोपविश्यते ॥
Summary AI A mischievous woman, having requested and received permission by saying, "Let her sit here facing you," laughed. For now, the best part of the body (the face) is considered one's own mouth, by which, indeed, one is clearly 'entered' (a pun on sitting and eating).
॥ इति षोडशः सर्गः ॥

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