नैषधीयचरितम् — चतुर्थः सर्गः

अथ नलस्य गुणं गुणमात्मभूः
सुरभि तस्य यशः कुसुमं धनुः ।
श्रुतिपथोपगतं सुमनस्तया
तमिषुमाशु विधाय जिगाय ताम् ॥

Summary AI Then Kama, using Nala's virtue as his bowstring and his fragrant fame as the flower for his bow, fashioned Nala himself—who had entered her ears—into an arrow by virtue of his noble mind, and swiftly conquered her.

४.२

यदतनुज्वरभाक्तनुते स्म सा
प्रियकथासरसीरसमज्जनम् ।
सपदि तस्य चिरान्तरतापिनी
परिणतिर्विषमा समपद्यत ॥

Summary AI The immersion that she, afflicted with the fever of love, took in the delightful lake of her beloved's story, soon resulted in an adverse consequence that caused torment after a long while.

४.३

ध्रुवमधीतवतीयमधीरतां
दयितदूतपतद्गतवेगतः ।
स्थितिविरोधकरीं द्व्यणुकोदरी
तदुदितः स हि यो यदनन्तरः ॥

Summary AI This slender-waisted lady certainly learned a composure-destroying restlessness from the speed of her beloved's departing bird-messenger. For, as in physics, that which immediately follows another is said to be caused by it.

४.४

अतितमां समपादि जडाशयं
स्मितलवस्मरणेऽपि तदाननम् ।
अजनि पङ्गुरपाङ्गनिजाङ्गण-
भ्रमिकणेऽपि तदीक्षणखञ्जनः ॥

Summary AI Her face became utterly listless even at the memory of a slight smile. The wagtail bird of her glance grew lame, unable even to flit slightly in the courtyard of the corner of her eye.

४.५

किमु तदन्तरुभौ भिषजौ दिवः
स्मरनलौ विशतः स्म विगाहितुम् ।
तदभिकेन चिकित्सितुमाशु तां
मखभुजामधिपेन नियोजितौ ॥

Summary AI Was it that the two celestial physicians, Kama and Nala, commissioned by Indra (the lord of gods who also desired her) to quickly treat her, were entering deep inside her to diagnose her condition?

४.६

कुसुमचापजतापसमाकुलं
कमलकोमलमैक्ष्यत तन्मुखम् ।
अहरहर्वहदभ्यधिकाधिकां
रविरुचिग्लपितस्य विधोर्विधाम् ॥

Summary AI Her lotus-soft face, distressed by the fever of love, was seen day by day bearing an ever-increasing resemblance to the condition of the moon when it is made pale and withered by the rays of the sun.

४.७

तरुणतातरणिद्युतिनिर्मित-
द्रढिम तत्कुचकुम्भयुगं तदा ।
अनलसंगतितापमुपैतु नो
कुसुमचापकुलालविलासजम् ॥

Summary AI May that pair of pot-like breasts, whose firmness was crafted by the radiant sun of her youth, not suffer the heat of contact with fire—a fate born from the playful craft of the potter Kama (i.e., may she not die of love-sickness and be cremated).

४.८

अधृत यद्विरहोष्मणि मज्जितं
मनसिजेन तदूरुयुगं तदा ।
स्पृशति तत्कदनं कदलीतरुः
यदि मरूज्वलदूषरदूषितः ॥

Summary AI Her pair of thighs, immersed by Kama in the heat of separation, endured a suffering that a plantain tree could only equal if it were scorched to an ashen color by a desert fire.

४.९

स्मरशराहतिनिर्मितसंज्वरं
करयुगं हसति स्म दमस्वसुः ।
अनपिधानपतत्तपनातपं
तपनिपीतसरःसरसीरुहम् ॥

Summary AI Damayanti's pair of hands, feverish from the strike of Kama's arrows, surpassed in their suffering the plight of a lotus in a sun-scorched lake, exposed to the relentless, uncovered heat of the sun.

४.१०

मदनतापभरेण विदीर्य नो
यदुदपाति हृदा दमनस्वसुः ।
निबिडपीनकुचद्वययन्त्रणा
तमपराधमधात्प्रतिबध्नती ॥

Summary AI That Damayanti's heart did not burst apart from the intense heat of love was an offense. The pressure from her firm, full breasts, by preventing it from bursting, is said to have committed that offense.

४.११

निविशते यदि शूकशिखा पदे
सृजति सा कियतीमिव न व्यथाम् ।
मृदुतनोर्वितनोतु कथं न ताम्
अवनिभृत्तु निविश्य हृदि स्थितः ॥

Summary AI If the tip of a bristle entering the foot causes so much pain, how could the king (Nala), having entered and settled in the heart of the delicate-bodied Damayanti, not cause her immense agony?

४.१२

मनसि सन्तमिव प्रियमीक्षितुं
नयनयोः स्पृहयान्तरुपेतयोः ।
ग्रहणशक्तिरभूदिदमीययोः
अपि न संमुखवास्तुनि वस्तुनि ॥

Summary AI As if to see the beloved who was in her mind, her eyes, filled with longing, turned inward. Consequently, they lost their power to perceive even objects placed directly in front of them.

४.१३

हृदि दमस्वसुरश्रुझरप्लुते
प्रतिफलद्विरहात्तमुखानतेः ।
हृदयभाजमराजत चुम्बितुं
नलमुपेत्य किलागमि तन्मुखम् ॥

Summary AI With her face bent down in sorrow from separation, Damayanti's reflection appeared in her heart, which was flooded with tears. It seemed as if her own face had come there to kiss the image of Nala residing within her heart.

४.१४

सुहृदमग्निमुदञ्चयितुं स्मरं
मनसि गन्धवहेन मृगीदृशः ।
अकलि निःश्वसितेन विनिर्गमा-
नुमितनिह्नुतवेशनमायिता ॥

Summary AI The wind, a friend to the fire of love, secretly entered the mind of the deer-eyed Damayanti to kindle it further. Its concealed entry was inferred only by its exit in the form of her hot sighs.

४.१५

विरहपाण्डिमरागतमोमषी-
शितिमतन्निजपीतिमवर्णकैः ।
दश दिशः खलु तद्दृगकल्पय-
ल्लिपिकरी नलरूपकचित्रिताः ॥

Summary AI Her eye, acting like a female painter, used various colors—the paleness of separation, the redness of her eyes, the darkness of despair, the black ink of her pupils, and the yellow tinge of her body—to paint all ten directions with the image of Nala.

४.१६

स्मरकृतां हृदयस्य मुहुर्दशां
बहु वदन्निव निःश्वसितानिलः ।
व्यधित वाससि कम्पमदः श्रिते
त्रसति कः सति नाश्रयबाधने ॥

Summary AI The wind of her sigh, as if repeatedly telling the sad story of her heart's condition caused by Cupid, made the garment she wore tremble. Indeed, who does not tremble when their very support is afflicted?

४.१७

करपदाननलोचननामभिः
शदतलैः सुतनोर्विरहज्वरे ।
रविमहो बहुपीतचरं चिराद्
अनिशतापमिषादुदसृज्यत ॥

Summary AI In the fever of her separation, the lotuses of her hands, feet, face, and eyes, which had for a long time absorbed much of the sun's light, now released it on the pretext of her constant burning fever.

४.१८

उदयति स्म तदद्भुतमालिभिः
धरणिभृद्भुवि तत्र विमृश्य यत् ।
अनुमितोऽपि च बाष्पनिरीक्षणा-
द्द्व्यविभिचचार न तापकरो नलः ॥

Summary AI Her friends, observing the princess, were struck by a wonder they pondered over: although Nala's presence was only inferred from her tearful gaze, the heat he caused in her was undeniably real and never wavered.

४.१९

हृदि विदर्भभुवः प्रहरञ्शरै
रतिपतिर्निषधाधिपतेः कृते ।
कृततदन्तरगस्वदृढव्यधैः
फलदनीतिरमूर्च्छदलं खलु ॥

Summary AI For the sake of Nala, Cupid struck Damayanti's heart with his arrows. His policy of striking deep and firm proved fruitful, as her passion grew so intensely that she nearly fainted.

४.२०

विधुरमानि तया यदि भानुमा-
न्कथमहो स तु तद्धृदयं तथा ।
अपि वियोगभरास्फुटनस्फुटी-
कृतदृषत्त्वमजिज्वलदंशुभिः ॥

Summary AI If she considered even the cool moon to be painful, oh, how then did the actual sun so intensely burn her heart with its rays—a heart whose stoniness was proven by the very fact that it hadn't already burst from the weight of her sorrow?

४.२१

हृदयदत्तसरोरुहया तया
क्व सदृगस्तु वियोगनिमग्नया ।
प्रियधनुः परिरभ्य हृदा रतिः
किमनुमर्तुमशेत चितार्चिषि ॥

Summary AI How can anyone compare to her, who, immersed in separation, placed a lotus on her heart for relief? Did even Rati, after embracing her beloved Cupid's bow to her heart, lie down in the flames of his pyre to follow him in death? (The poet suggests Damayanti's suffering is unparalleled).

४.२२

अनलभावमियं स्वनिवासिनो
न विरहस्य रहस्यमबुध्यत ।
प्रशमनाय विधाय तृणान्यसू-
ञ्ज्वलति तत्र यदुज्झितुमैहत ॥

Summary AI She did not understand the secret fiery nature of the separation residing within her. For, she desired to quench that burning fire by throwing her life-breaths into it, treating them like mere straw, which would only fuel the flames further.

४.२३

प्रकृतिरेतु गुणः स न योषितां
कथमिमां हृदयं मृदु नाम यत् ।
तदिषुभिः कुसुमैरपि दुन्वता
सुविवृतं विबुधेन मनोभुवा ॥

Summary AI The so-called quality of women having a soft heart is not their true nature. This fact was well-revealed by the wise Cupid, who tormented her with arrows that were merely flowers, proving her heart to be exceptionally delicate.

४.२४

रिपुतरा भवनादविनिर्यतीं
विधुरुचिर्गृहजालबिलैर्नु ताम् ।
इतरथात्मनिवारणशङ्कया
ज्वरयितुं विशवेशधराविशत् ॥

Summary AI The moonlight, acting more hostile than an enemy, sought to torment Damayanti, who remained inside her palace. Fearing it would otherwise be blocked, it entered through the lattice windows, as if disguised as poison, to inflict its fever upon her.

४.२५

हृदि विदर्भभुवोऽश्रुभृति स्फुटं
विनमदास्यतया प्रतिबिम्बितम् ।
मुखदृगोष्ठमरोपि मनोभुवा
तदुपमाकुसुमान्यखिलाः शराः ॥

Summary AI Seeing the clear reflection of her face, eyes, and lips in her tear-filled heart, Cupid mistook them for his arrows—the lotus (face), the blue lotus (eyes), and the bandhuka flower (lips)—and planted them all there as his weapons.

४.२६

विरहपाण्डुकपोलतले विधुः
व्यधित भीमभुवः प्रतिबिम्बितः ।
अनुपलक्ष्यसितांशुतया मुखं
निजसखं सुखमङ्कमृगार्पणात् ॥

Summary AI The moon, reflected on Damayanti's cheek made pale by separation, made its friend, her face, happy. Because her cheek was so pale, the moon's white rays were not discernible, making it seem as if the moon had offered its own dark spot (the deer) to her face, thus pleasing it.

४.२७

विरहतापिनि चन्दनपांशुभिः
वपुषि सार्पितपाण्डिममण्डना ।
विषधराभबिसाभरणा दधे
रतिपतिं प्रति शंभुविभीषिकाम् ॥

Summary AI On her body, burning with separation, she was adorned with the paleness of applied sandalwood paste and wore ornaments of lotus stalks that resembled snakes. In this state, she presented a frightening appearance to Cupid, resembling Lord Shiva (who is smeared with ash and adorned with snakes).

४.२८

विनिहितं परितापिनि चन्दनं
हृदि तया धृतबुद्बुदमाबभौ ।
उपनमन्सुहृदं हृदयेशयं
विधुरिवाङ्कगतोडुपरिग्रहः ॥

Summary AI The sandalwood paste placed by her on her burning heart began to bubble from the heat. It shone like the moon (also white and cool) that has gathered stars (the bubbles) into its lap while approaching its friend, Nala, the lord residing in her heart.

४.२९

स्मरहुताशनदीपितया तया
बहु मुहुः सरसं सरसीरुहम् ।
श्रयितुमर्धपथे कृतमन्तरा
श्वसितनिर्मितमर्मरमुज्झितम् ॥

Summary AI Inflamed by the fire of love, she repeatedly tried to place a fresh lotus on her chest for relief. However, halfway there, she would abandon it, as the lotus, withered by her hot sighs, would make a dry, rustling sound.

४.३०

प्रियकरग्रहमेवमवाप्स्यति
स्तनयुगं तव ताम्यति किं न्विति ।
जगदतुर्निहिते हृदि नीरजे
दवधुकुड्मलनेन पृथुस्तनीम् ॥

Summary AI Two lotuses, placed on Damayanti's heart to cool her fever, seemed to speak to the large-breasted lady with their bud-like eyes, saying: 'Your breasts will soon obtain the grasp of your beloved's hand; why then do you languish?'

४.३१

त्वदितरो न हृदापि मया धृतः
पतिरितीव नलं हृदयेशयम् ।
स्मरहविर्भुजि बोधयति स्म सा
विरहपाण्डुतया निजशुद्धताम् ॥

Summary AI Through the paleness caused by separation, she seemed to be informing Nala, who dwelt in her heart, of her purity in the fire of love, as if declaring, 'No husband other than you has been held by me, even in my heart.'

४.३२

विरहतप्ततदङ्गनिवेशिता
कमलिनी निमिषद्दलमुष्टिभिः ।
किमपनेतुमचेष्टत किं परा-
भवितुमैहत तद्दवथुं पृथुम् ॥

Summary AI Did the lotus plant, placed on her body burning with the fever of separation, try to remove that great fever with its closing petals like fists, or did it attempt to defeat it?

४.३३

इयमनङ्गशरावलिपन्नग-
क्षतविसारिवियोगविषावशा ।
शशिकलेव खरांशुकरार्दिता
करुणनीरनिधौ निदधौ न कम् ॥

Summary AI Helpless due to the spreading poison of separation, inflicted by the bites of Cupid's serpent-like arrows, and resembling a digit of the moon tormented by the sun's rays, whom did this Damayanti not plunge into an ocean of compassion?

४.३४

ज्वलति मन्मथवेदनया निजे
हृदि तयार्द्रमृणाललतार्पिता ।
स्वजयिनोस्त्रपया सविधस्थयोः
मलिनतामभजद्भुजयोर्भृशम् ॥

Summary AI While her own heart was burning with the pain of love, the wet lotus-stalk placed by her (on her chest) became exceedingly dark, as if from shame, in the presence of her two arms which stood nearby and surpassed it in beauty and coolness.

४.३५

पिकलतेश्रुतिकम्पिनि शैवलं
हृदि तया निहितं विचलद्बभौ ।
सतततद्गतहृच्छयकेतुना
हृतमिव स्वतनूघनघर्षिणा ॥

Summary AI On her heart, which trembled upon hearing the cuckoo's song, the moving moss placed by her shone as if it were being carried away by the banner of Cupid—conceived as smoke—which is always directed at her and rubs against its own cloud-like body.

४.३६

न खलु मोहवशेन तदाननं
नलमनः शशिकान्तमबोधि तत् ।
इतरथा शशिनोऽभ्युदये ततः
कथमसुस्रुवदश्रुमयं पयः ॥

Summary AI Indeed, the moonstone of Nala's mind did not perceive her face due to delusion. Otherwise, at the rising of that moon (her face), how could water consisting of tears have oozed from it (his mind-stone)?

४.३७

रतिपतेर्विजयास्त्रमिषुर्यथा
जयति भीमसुतापि तथैव सा ।
स्वविशिखानिव पञ्चतया ततो
नियतमैहत योजयितुं स ताम् ॥

Summary AI Just as Cupid's arrow, his weapon of victory, conquers, so too did Bhima's daughter conquer. Therefore, he (Cupid) certainly desired to unite her with death (the state of five elements), just like his own five arrows.

४.३८

शशिमयं दहनास्त्रमुदित्वरं
मनसिजस्य विमृश्य वियोगिनी ।
झटिति वारुणमश्रुमिषादसौ
तदुचितं प्रतिशस्त्रमुपाददे ॥

Summary AI She, the separated woman, considering the rising moon to be Cupid's fire-weapon, quickly took up a suitable counter-weapon on the pretext of her tears: the water-weapon of Varuna.

४.३९

अतनुना नवमम्बुदमाम्बुदं
सुतनुरस्त्रमुदस्तमवेक्ष्य सा ।
उचितमायतनिःश्वसितच्छला-
च्छ्वसनशस्त्रममुञ्चदमुं प्रति ॥

Summary AI That beautiful woman, seeing the new cloud as the water-weapon hurled by Cupid, released an appropriate counter-weapon towards him on the pretext of a long sigh: the wind-weapon.

४.४०

रतिपतिग्रहितानिलहेतितां
प्रतियती सुदती मलयानिले ।
तदुरुतापभयात्तमृणालिका-
मयमियं भुजगास्त्रमिवादित ॥

Summary AI This beautiful woman, countering the Malaya breeze which she perceived as the wind-weapon wielded by Cupid, took up a snake-weapon made of lotus stalks, as if out of fear of the breeze's great heat.

४.४१

न्यधित तद्धृदि शल्यमिव द्वयं
विरहितां च तथापि च जीवितम् ।
किमथ तत्र निहत्य निखातवा-
न्रतिपतिः स्तनबिल्वयुगेन तत् ॥

Summary AI The contradictory pair of 'separation' and 'still being alive' was placed in her heart like a dart. Or perhaps, did Cupid, after striking it there, bury that dart deep with her two Bilva-fruit-like breasts?

४.४२

अतिशरव्ययता मदनेन तां
निखिलपुष्पमयस्वरशरव्ययात् ।
स्फुटमकारि फलान्यपि मुञ्चता
तदुरसि स्तनतालयुगार्पणम् ॥

Summary AI Having exhausted all his flower-arrows on her, Cupid began shooting fruits as well. This excessive expenditure of ammunition was made clear by the offering of the pair of palm-fruit-like breasts on her chest.

४.४३

अथ मुहुर्बहुनिन्दितचन्द्रया
स्तुतविधुंतुदया च तया मुहुः ।
पतितया स्मरतापमये गदे
निजगदेऽश्रुविमिश्रमुखी सखी ॥

Summary AI Then, by Damayanti—who had fallen into the sickness of love-fever, who repeatedly censured the moon and repeatedly praised Rahu (the moon-eater)—her friend, whose own face was tear-streaked, was addressed.

४.४४

नरसुराब्जभुवामिव यावता
भवति यस्य युगं यदनेहसा ।
विरहिणामपि तद्गतवद्युव-
क्षणमितं न कथं गणितागमे ॥

Summary AI Just as humans, gods, and Brahma each have their own measure of time for what constitutes a Yuga, why is it not stated in the science of calculation that for separated lovers, a Yuga that has passed is measured as but a brief moment?

४.४५

जनुरधत्त सती स्मरतापिता
हिमवतो न तु तन्महिमादृता ।
ज्वलति भालतले लिखितः सती-
विरह एव हरस्य न लोचनम् ॥

Summary AI Sati, tormented by Cupid, was reborn from Himavat not because she was drawn by his glory, but for another reason. Indeed, on Shiva's forehead, it is the fire of separation from Sati, written there by fate, that burns, not his third eye.

४.४६

दहनजा न पृथुर्दवथुव्यथा
विरहजैव पृथुर्यदि नेदृशम् ।
दहनमाशु विशन्ति कथं स्त्रियः
प्रियमपासुमुपासितुमुद्धुराः ॥

Summary AI The pain of burning born from fire is not great; only the pain born of separation is great. If this were not so, how could women, eager to follow their lifeless beloved, quickly enter the fire?

४.४७

हृदि लुठन्ति कला नितराममू-
र्विरहिणीवधपङ्ककलङ्किताः ।
कुमुदसख्यकृतस्तु बहिष्कृताः
सखि विलोकय दुर्विनयं विधोः ॥

Summary AI O friend, behold the misconduct of the moon! These rays, stained with the mud of murdering separated women, writhe painfully inside my heart, while their good deeds—making friends with the water-lilies—remain merely external.

४.४८

अयि विधुं परिपृच्छ गुरोः कुतः
स्फुटमशिक्ष्यत दाहवदान्यता ।
ग्लपितशंभुगलाद्गरलात्त्वया
किमु दधौ जड वा वडवानलात् ॥

Summary AI O friend, ask that dull moon: 'From which teacher was this generosity in burning so clearly learned? Was it from the poison that scorched Shiva's throat, or was it from the submarine fire?'

४.४९

अयमयोगिवधूवधपातकैः
भ्रमिमवाप्य दिवः खलु पात्यते ।
शितिनिशादृषदि स्फुटदुत्पत-
त्कणगणाधिकतारकिताम्बरः ॥

Summary AI This moon, having become giddy with the sins of murdering separated women, is indeed made to fall from the sky. As it is ground on the grindstone of the dark night, it makes the sky appear even more starry with the host of sparks that fly up from it.

४.५०

त्वमभिधेहि विधुं सखि मद्गिरा
किमिदमीदृगधिक्रियते त्वया ।
न गणितं यदि जन्म पयोनिधौ
हरशिरःस्थितिभूरपि विस्मृता ॥

Summary AI Damayanti tells her friend, "Friend, speak to the moon on my behalf: 'Why are you doing such a thing? If you disregard your birth from the ocean, have you also forgotten your place on Shiva's head?'"

Other texts to read

भट्टिकाव्यम् भट्टिः

योगवासिष्ठम् वाल्मीकिः

About

Resources