नैषधीयचरितम् — तृतीयः सर्गः

आकुञ्चिताभ्यामथ पक्षतिभ्यां
नमोविभागात्तरसावतीर्य ।
निवेशदेशाततधूतपक्षः
पपात भूमावुपभैमि हंसः ॥

Summary AI Then, the swan, descending swiftly from the sky with its wings partially folded, landed on the ground near Damayanti, shaking its wings which it had spread out upon its landing spot.

३.२

आकस्मिकः पक्षपुटाहतायाः
क्षितेस्तदा यः स्वन उच्चचार ।
द्रागन्यविन्यस्तदृशः स तस्याः
संभ्रान्तमन्तः करणं चकार ॥

Summary AI The sudden sound that then arose from the earth being struck by the flapping of its wings quickly flustered the mind of Damayanti, whose gaze had been fixed elsewhere.

३.३

नेत्राणि वैदर्भसुतासखीनां
विमुक्ततत्तद्विषयग्रहाणि ।
प्रापुस्तमेकं निरुपाख्यरूपं
ब्रह्मेव चेतांसि यतव्रतानाम् ॥

Summary AI The eyes of Damayanti's friends, having let go of their respective objects of perception, fixed upon that one swan, just as the minds of ascetics, who have controlled their vows, attain the one Brahman, whose form is indefinable.

३.४

हंसं तनौ सन्निहितं चरन्तं
मुनेर्मनोवृत्तिरिव स्विकायाम् ।
ग्रहीतुकामादरिणा शयेन
यत्नादसौ निश्चलतां जगाहे ॥

Summary AI She (Damayanti), desiring to catch the swan that was moving nearby, became motionless with great effort by crouching stealthily, just as a sage's mental faculty tries to grasp the soul present within one's own body.

३.५

तामिङ्गितैरप्यनुमाय मायाम्
अयं न भैम्या वियदुत्पपात ।
तत्पाणिमात्मोपरिपातुकं तु
मोघं वितेने प्लुतिलाघवेन ॥

Summary AI This swan, having inferred Damayanti's deceptive plan even from her gestures, did not fly up into the sky. Instead, with the agility of a leap, it rendered futile her hand which was about to fall upon it.

३.६

व्यर्थीकृतं पत्ररथेन तेन
तथाऽवसाय व्यवसायमस्याः ।
परस्परामर्पितहस्ततालं
तत्कालमालीभिरहस्यतालम् ॥

Summary AI That bird, having understood her effort, thwarted it in such a way that her friends immediately clapped their hands together and laughed heartily at her.

३.७

उच्चाटनीयः करतालिकानां
दानादिदानीं भवतीभिरेषः ।
यान्वेति मां दुह्यति मह्ममेव
सात्रेत्युपालम्भि तयालिवर्गः ॥

Summary AI Damayanti reproached her group of friends, saying, "Now, by your clapping, this swan is to be driven away. The one who follows me (you, my friend) is here harming me."

३.८

धृताल्पकोपा हसिते सखीनां
छायेव भास्वन्तमभिप्रयातुः ।
श्यामाथ हंसस्य करानवाप्तेः
मन्दाक्षलक्ष्या लगति स्म पश्चात् ॥

Summary AI Then, at her friends' laughter, Damayanti, showing slight anger and visibly embarrassed by her failure to catch the swan, followed behind it, just as a shadow follows someone walking towards the sun.

३.९

शस्ता न हंसाभिमुखी पुनस्ते
यात्रेति ताभिश्छलहस्यमाना ।
साह स्म नैवाशकुनीभवेन्मे
भाविप्रियावेदक एष हंसः ॥

Summary AI Being mockingly laughed at by her friends who said, "Your pursuit of the swan again is not auspicious," she replied, "This swan is a messenger of my future beloved; therefore, it cannot be an ill omen for me."

३.१०

हंसोऽप्यसौ हंसगतेः सुदत्याः
पुरः पुरश्चारु चलन्वमासे ।
वैलक्ष्यहेतोर्गतिमेतदीयाम्
अग्रेऽनुकृत्योपहसन्निवोच्चैः ॥

Summary AI That swan, too, shone as it gracefully walked ahead, as if to embarrass the swan-gaited beautiful lady by imitating her walk in front of her and laughing loudly.

३.११

पदे पदे भाविनि भाविनी तं
यथा करप्राप्यमवैति नूनम् ।
तथा सखेलं चलता लतासु
प्रतार्य तेनाचकृषे कृशाङ्गी ॥

Summary AI Just as Damayanti, at every next step, surely thought him to be within her hand's reach, so was the slender-bodied one playfully deceived and drawn along by the swan moving among the creepers.

३.१२

रुषा निषिद्धालिजनां यदैनां
छायाद्वितीयां कलयांचकार ।
तदा श्रमाम्भःकणभूषिताङ्गीं
स कीरवन्मानुषवागवादीत् ॥

Summary AI When he (the swan) observed her, who in her anger had forbidden her friends to follow and was accompanied only by her shadow, he then spoke to her, whose body was adorned with beads of perspiration from exertion, in a human voice like a parrot.

३.१३

अये कियद्यावदुपैषि दूरं
व्यर्थे परिश्राम्यसि वा किमित्थम् ।
उदेति ते भीरपि किं नु बाले
विलोकयन्त्या न घना वनालीः ॥

Summary AI "Oh, young lady! How far will you go? Why do you exert yourself so, in vain? Does no fear arise in you, as you look at these dense rows of forest trees?"

३.१४

वृथार्पयन्तीमपथे पदं त्वां
मरुल्ललत्पल्लवपाणिकम्पैः ।
आलीव पश्य प्रतिषेधतायं
कपोतहुंकारगिरा वनाली ॥

Summary AI "Look! This row of forest trees, like a friend, is forbidding you—who are needlessly setting foot on the wrong path—with the shaking of its sprout-like hands trembling in the wind and with its voice of cooing pigeons."

३.१५

धार्यः कथंकारमहं भवत्या
वियद्विहारी वसुधैकगत्या ।
अहो शिशुत्वं तव खण्डितं न
स्मरस्य सख्या वयसाप्यनेन ॥

Summary AI "How can I, a sky-dweller, possibly be caught by you, who can only move on the earth? Oh! Your childishness has not been dispelled even by this age of yours, which is a friend to the god of love."

३.१६

सहस्रपत्रासनपत्रहंस-
वंशस्य पत्राणि पतत्रिणः स्मः ।
अस्मादृशां चाटुरसामृतानि
स्वर्लोकलोकेतरदुर्लभानि ॥

Summary AI "We are birds who are the scions of the lineage of the swan who is the vehicle of Brahma (the one seated on a thousand-petaled lotus). The nectar of flattering words from beings like us is difficult to obtain for anyone other than the inhabitants of heaven."

३.१७

स्वर्गापगाहेममृणालिनीनां
नालामृणालाग्रभुजो भजामः ।
अन्नानुरूपां तनुरूपऋद्धिं
कार्ये निदानाद्धि गुणानधीते ॥

Summary AI "We eat the tips of the stalks and fibers of the golden lotuses of the celestial river (Ganges), and thus we possess a splendor of body and form corresponding to our food. Indeed, an effect derives its qualities from its cause."

३.१८

धातुर्नियोगादिह नैषधीयं
लीलासरः सेवितुमागतेषु ।
हैमेषु हंसेष्वहमेक एव
भ्रमामि भूलोकविलोकनोत्कः ॥

Summary AI "By the command of the Creator (Brahma), among the golden swans who have come here to enjoy Nala's pleasure-lake, I alone am wandering, eager to see the mortal world."

३.१९

विधेः कदाचिद्भ्रमणीविलासे
श्रमातुरेभ्यः स्वमहत्तरेभ्यः ।
स्कन्धस्य विश्रान्तिमदां तदादि
श्राम्यामि नाविश्रमविश्वगोऽपि ॥

Summary AI "Once, during the Creator's pleasure-travels, I offered my shoulder as a resting place to my elders who were weary from fatigue. Since then, even though I roam the universe without rest, I do not get tired."

३.२०

बन्धाय दिव्ये न तिरश्चि कश्चि-
त्पाशादिरासादितपौरुषः स्यात् ।
एकं विना मादृशि तन्नरस्य
स्वर्भोगभाग्यं विरलोदयस्य ॥

Summary AI "To bind a divine creature like me, no ordinary snare or the like would have any power. The only thing that can bind me is the fortune of enjoying heavenly pleasures, a destiny that arises very rarely for a mortal."

३.२१

इष्टेन पूर्तेन नलस्य वश्याः
स्वर्भोगमत्रापि सृजन्त्यमर्त्याः ।
महीरुहा दोहदसेकशक्ते-
राकालिकं कोरकमुद्गिरन्ति ॥

Summary AI "The gods, compelled by Nala's sacrifices and pious deeds, create heavenly pleasures for him even here on earth, just as trees, by the power of a special watering (dohada), produce buds out of season."

३.२२

सुवर्णशैलादवतीर्य तूर्णं
स्वर्वाहिनीवारिकणावकीर्णैः ।
तं वीजयामः स्मरकेलिकाले
पक्षैर्नृपं चामरबद्धसख्यैः ॥

Summary AI "Descending swiftly from the golden mountain (Meru), we fan that king during his amorous sports with our wings, which are sprinkled with droplets from the celestial river and have formed a friendship with royal chowries."

३.२३

क्रियेत चेत्साधुविभक्तिचिन्ता
व्यक्तिस्तदा सा प्रथमाभिधेया ।
या स्वौजसां साधयितुं विलासैः
तावत्क्षमानामपदं बहु स्यात् ॥

Summary AI "If one were to consider the proper application of titles, the first person to be mentioned would be he (Nala). The very title 'Kshama' (sovereign/capable) would be highly appropriate, for he is capable of accomplishing all his desires through the display of his powers."

३.२४

राजा स यज्वा विबुधव्रजत्रा
कृत्वाध्वराज्योपमयैव राज्यम् ।
भुङ्क्ते श्रितश्रोत्रियसात्कृतश्रीः
पूर्वं त्वहो शेषमशेषमन्त्यम् ॥

Summary AI "That king, a performer of sacrifices and protector of the gods, rules his kingdom as if it were a great sacrifice. Having first given his wealth to the learned Brahmins who seek his refuge, he then enjoys the entire remainder himself. Oh, how wonderful!"

३.२५

दारिद्र्यदारिद्रविणौघवर्षै
रमोघमेघव्रतमर्थिसार्थे ।
संतुष्टमिष्टानि तमिष्टदेवं
नाथन्ति के नाम न लोकनाथम् ॥

Summary AI "Who, indeed, does not ask for their desired things from that lord of the world, who is like a wish-fulfilling deity, who is always content, and who observes the vow of an unfailing cloud towards supplicants by showering torrents of wealth that destroy poverty?"

३.२६

अस्मत्किल श्रोत्रसुधां विधाय
रम्भा चिरं भामतुलां नलस्य ।
तत्रानुरक्ता तमनाप्य भेजे
तन्नामगन्धान्नलकूबरं सा ॥

Summary AI The swan says: "Indeed, the celestial nymph Rambha, having heard from us about Nala's beauty which was like nectar to her ears, fell deeply in love with him. Unable to attain Nala, she resorted to Nalakubara, simply because his name bore a faint trace of Nala's."

३.२७

स्वर्लोकमस्माभिरितः प्रयातैः
केलीषु तद्गानगुणान्निपीय ।
हा हेति गायन्यदशोचि तेन
नाम्नैव हाहा हरिगायनोऽभूत् ॥

Summary AI "The Gandharva Haha, a singer for Indra, heard from us (the swans) about the excellence of Nala's singing. Overwhelmed, he could only lament, singing 'Ha! Ha!'. Because of this constant lamentation, he became known by that very name, 'Haha'."

३.२८

शृण्वन्सदारस्तदुदारभावं
हृष्यन्मुहुर्लोम पुलोमजायाः ।
पुण्येन नालोकत लोकपालः
प्रमोदबाष्पावृतनेत्रमालः ॥

Summary AI "While Indra, the guardian of the world, listened with his wife Sachi to the accounts of Nala's noble character, he rejoiced repeatedly. His many eyes became so clouded with tears of joy that, despite his divine sight, he couldn't even see the hairs on Sachi's body standing on end from her own delight."

३.२९

सापीश्वरे शृण्वति तद्गुणौधा-
न्प्रसह्य चेतो हरतोऽर्धशम्भुः ।
अभूदपर्णाङ्गुलिरुद्धकर्णा
कदा न कण्डूयनकैतवेन ॥

Summary AI "Even Parvati, who is one half of Shiva, upon hearing the overwhelming flood of Nala's qualities that forcibly steal the heart, would invariably block her ears with her fingers on the pretext of scratching, to prevent her own heart from being swayed while Shiva listened."

३.३०

अलं सजन्धर्मविधौ विधाता
रुणद्धि मौनस्य मिषेण वाणीम् ।
तत्कण्ठमालिङ्ग्य रसस्य तृप्तां
न वेद तां वेदजडः स वक्राम् ॥

Summary AI "Brahma, having created enough scriptures, obstructs his speech (Saraswati) under the pretext of observing silence. But he, dull from his constant recitation of the Vedas, doesn't realize that Saraswati herself, captivated by the sentiment of Nala's praise, is embracing his throat and thus remains silent."

३.३१

श्रियस्तदालिङ्गनभूर्न भूता
व्रतक्षतिः कापि पतिव्रतायाः ।
समस्तभूतात्मतया न भूतं
तद्भर्तुरीर्ष्याकलुषाणुनापि ॥

Summary AI "Though Lakshmi (Shri), as the goddess of royal splendor, became the object of Nala's embrace, her vow of chastity was not harmed in any way. This is because her husband, Vishnu, being the inner self of all beings including Nala, did not feel even the slightest taint of jealousy."

३.३२

धिक्तं विधेः पाणिमजातलज्जं
निर्माति यः पर्वणि पूर्णमिन्दुम् ।
मन्ये स विज्ञः स्मृततन्मुखश्रीः
कृत्वार्धमौज्झद्धरमूर्ध्नि यस्तम् ॥

Summary AI "Shame on that shameless hand of Brahma which creates the full moon, a pale imitation of Nala's face. I consider him wise who, upon remembering the beauty of Nala's face, made the moon only half and cast it upon Shiva's head."

३.३३

निलीयते ह्रीविधुरः स्वजैत्रं
श्रुत्वा विधुस्तस्य मुखं मुखान्नः ।
सूरे समुद्रस्य कदापि पूरे
कदाचिदभ्रभ्रमदभ्रगर्भे ॥

Summary AI "The moon, having heard from our mouths that Nala's face is its conqueror, becomes distressed with shame. It constantly hides itself—sometimes in the depths of the ocean, sometimes in the heart of wandering clouds, and at other times, within the brilliance of the sun."

३.३४

संज्ञाप्य नः स्वध्वजभृत्यवर्गा-
न्दैत्यारिरत्यब्जनलास्यनुत्यै ।
तत्संकुचन्नाभिसरोजपीता-
द्धातुर्विलज्जं रमते रमायाम् ॥

Summary AI "Vishnu, having informed us—his banner-servants (swans)—that Nala's face surpasses the lotus in beauty, now shamelessly delights in Lakshmi. This is because Brahma, born from Vishnu's navel-lotus, is shamed by the defeat of his own birthplace by Nala's face, and thus feels no jealousy."

३.३५

रेखाभिरास्ये गणनादिवास्य
द्वात्रिंशता दन्तमयीभिरन्तः ।
चतुर्दशाष्टादश चात्र विद्या
द्वेधापि सन्तीति शशंस वेधाः ॥

Summary AI "It is as if the creator Brahma, by placing thirty-two teeth inside Nala's mouth, has used these lines to count and declare that within him reside both sets of knowledge—the fourteen and the eighteen traditional sciences, totaling thirty-two."

३.३६

श्रियौ नरेन्द्रस्य निरीक्ष्य तस्य
स्मरामरेन्द्रावपि न स्मरामः ।
वासेन तस्मिन्क्षमयोश्च सम्य-
ग्बुद्धौ न दध्मः खलु शेष बुद्धौ ॥

Summary AI "Having seen the twin splendors (beauty and wealth) of that king, we no longer even remember Kamadeva and Indra. And since both patience and the Earth (both called 'Kshama') reside perfectly in him, we indeed hold no high regard for the serpent Shesha, famed for his forbearance."

३.३७

विना पतत्रं विनतातनूजैः
समीरणैरीक्षणलक्षणीयैः ।
मनोभिरासीदनणुप्रमाणै-
र्न लङ्घिता दिक्कतमा तदश्वैः ॥

Summary AI "Which direction was not crossed by his horses? They were like Garuda, but without wings; like the wind, perceptible only by sight; and like the mind, possessing immeasurable speed. (Rhetorical question implying they crossed all directions)."

३.३८

संग्रामभूमीषु भवत्यरीणाम्
अस्रैर्नदीमातृकतां गतासु ।
तद्बाणधारापवनाशनानां
राजव्रजीयैरसुभिः सुभिक्षम् ॥

Summary AI "On battlefields that become irrigated by rivers of enemy blood, there is a great feast for the snakes that are his streams of arrows. Their sustenance is the very life-breaths of the defeated host of kings."

३.३९

यशो यदस्याजनि संयुगेषु
कण्डूलभावं भजता भुजेन ।
हेतोर्गुणादेव दिगापगाली
कूलंकषत्वव्यसनं तदीयम् ॥

Summary AI "The fame that was born in battles from his arm, which constantly itched for a fight, spread like a mighty river. The tendency of this river of fame to erode its banks and spread to all directions was due solely to the quality (guna) of his bowstring, which is also a pun on his virtue (guna)."

३.४०

यदि त्रिलोकी गणनापरा स्या-
त्तस्याः समाप्तिर्यदि नायुषः स्यात् ।
पारेपरार्धे गणितं यदि स्या-
द्गणेयनिःशेषगुणोऽपि स स्यात् ॥

Summary AI "If the inhabitants of all three worlds were dedicated to counting his virtues, if their own lifespans were endless, and if the science of mathematics could extend beyond the highest conceivable number (parardha), only then, perhaps, could his qualities be counted in their entirety."

३.४१

अवारितद्वारतया तिरश्चाम्
अन्तःपुरे तस्य निविश्य राज्ञः ।
गतेषु रम्येष्वधिकं विशेषम्
अध्यापयामः परमाणुमध्याः ॥

Summary AI The swans continue: "Because the doors to King Nala's inner apartments are always open, even to us animals, we freely enter. There, we teach the slender-waisted ladies of the court an even greater excellence and grace in their already charming gaits."

३.४२

पीयूषधारानधराभिरन्तः
तासां रसोदन्वति मज्जयामः ।
रम्भादिसौभाग्यरहःकथाभिः
काव्येन काव्यं सृजतादृताभिः ॥

Summary AI "We immerse those ladies in an inner ocean of sentiment with secret stories about the beauty of Rambha and other celestial nymphs. These tales, which surpass even streams of nectar, are so exquisite that they are honored even by Shukra, the poet of the gods who himself creates poetry."

३.४३

काभिर्न तत्राभिनवस्मराज्ञा-
विश्वासनिक्षेपवणिक्क्रियेऽहम् ।
जिह्रेति यन्नैव कुतोऽपि तिर्य-
क्कश्चित्तिरश्चस्त्रपते न तेन ॥

Summary AI "With which of those ladies did I not act as a trusted merchant, carrying the secret commands of the new God of Love (Nala)? And since an animal feels no shame in such matters, a human feels no shame in employing an animal as a go-between."

३.४४

वार्तापि नासत्यपि सान्यमेति
योगादरन्ध्रे हृदि यां निरुन्धे ।
विरञ्चिनानाननवादधौत-
समाधिशास्त्रश्रुतिपूर्णकर्णः ॥

Summary AI "I, whose ears are ever full with the sacred knowledge from Brahma's many mouths, confine the messages entrusted to me within my flawless heart through yogic power. Be assured that any message I hold, even if it were false, would never reach another."

३.४५

नलाश्रयेण त्रिदिवोपभोगं
तवानवाप्यं लभते बतान्या ।
कुमुद्वतीवेन्दुपरिग्रहेण
ज्योत्स्नोत्सवं दुर्लभमम्बुजिन्या ॥

Summary AI The swan addresses Damayanti directly: "Alas! Some other woman, by uniting with Nala, will obtain a heavenly bliss that is unattainable by you. It is just as the night-lotus, by its union with the moon, enjoys the festival of moonlight, a joy that is forever denied to the day-lotus."

३.४६

तन्नैषधानूढतया दुरापं
शर्म त्वयास्मत्कृतचाटुजन्म ।
रसालवन्या मधुपानुविद्धं
सौभाग्यमप्राप्तवसन्तयेव ॥

Summary AI Therefore, if you are not married to Nala, the happiness born from my flattery will be as difficult for you to obtain as the good fortune of being attended by bees is for a wild mango creeper that has not yet experienced spring.

३.४७

तस्यैव वा यास्यसि किं न हस्तं
दृष्टं मनः केन विधेः प्रविश्य ।
अजातपाणिग्रहणासि ताव-
द्रूपस्वरूपातिशयाश्रयश्च ॥

Summary AI Or why will you not go to his hand in marriage? Who has entered the mind of Fate to see its designs? For now, you are unmarried, and you are the very abode of the excellence of beauty and form.

३.४८

निशा शशाङ्कं शिवया गिरीशं
श्रिया हरिं योजयतः प्रतीतः ।
विधेरपि स्वारसिकः प्रयासः
परस्परं योग्यसमागमाय ॥

Summary AI It is well-known that even for the Creator—who unites the Moon with the Night, Shiva with Pārvatī, and Vishnu with Lakshmī—the natural effort is always towards bringing about the union of suitable pairs.

३.४९

वेलातिगस्त्रैणगुणाब्धिवेणी
न योगयोग्यासि नलेतरेण ।
संदर्भ्यते दर्भगुणेन मल्ली-
माला न मृद्वी भृशकर्कशेन ॥

Summary AI O you, who are a river from the boundless ocean of feminine virtues, you are not fit to be united with anyone other than Nala. A delicate jasmine garland is not strung with a very rough thread of kusha grass.

३.५०

विधिं वधूसृष्टिमपृच्छमेव
तद्यानयुग्यो नलकेलियोग्याम् ।
त्वन्नामवर्णा इव कर्णपीता
मयास्य संक्रीडति चक्रिचक्रे ॥

Summary AI I, who am yoked to Brahma's vehicle, asked the Creator himself about his creation of a bride fit for Nala. While his flock of swans was playing, the very letters of your name were heard by me, as if drunk by my ears.

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