Show/Hide Details
॥ अथ षष्ठः सर्गः ॥
६.२
भैम्या समं नाजगणद्वियोगं
स दूतधर्मे स्थिरधीरधीराः ।
पयोधिपाने मुनिरन्तरायं
दुर्वारमप्यौर्वसिवौर्वशेयः ॥
Summary AI Nala, his mind firm in his duty as an envoy, though impatient to see Damayanti, did not consider the separation from her, just as the sage Agastya, when drinking the ocean, did not consider the insurmountable obstacle of the submarine fire Aurva.
६.३
नलप्रणालीमिलदम्बुजाक्षी-
संवादपीयूषपिपासवस्ते ।
तदध्ववीक्षार्थमिवानिमेषा
देशस्य तस्याभरणीबभूवुः ॥
Summary AI The gods, eager to drink the nectar of the conversation between the lotus-eyed Damayanti and Nala (as the channel), became the ornaments of that country, gazing unblinkingly as if to watch his path.
६.५
भैमीपदस्पर्शकृतार्थरथ्या
सेयं पुरीत्युत्कलिकाकुलस्ताम् ।
नृपौ निपीय क्षणमीक्षणाभ्यां
भृशं निराश्वास सुरैः क्षताशः ॥
Summary AI Thinking, 'This is that city whose streets are blessed by the touch of Damayanti's feet,' the king (Nala), agitated with longing and his hopes dashed by the gods, drank it in with his eyes for a moment and sighed deeply.
६.८
चित्रं तदा कुण्डिनवेशिनः सा
नलस्य मूर्तिर्ववृते न दृश्या ।
बभूव तच्चित्रतरं तथापि
विश्वैकदृश्यैव यदस्य मूर्तिः ॥
Summary AI It was strange that Nala's form, upon entering Kundina, became invisible. Yet, it was even stranger that his form was still the sole object of sight for the entire world (as Damayanti's mind was fixed on him).
६.९
जनैर्विदग्धैर्भवनैश्च मुग्धैः
पदे पदे विस्मयकल्पवल्लीम् ।
तां गाहमानास्य चिरं नलस्य
दृष्टिर्ययौ राजकुलातिथित्वम् ॥
Summary AI As Nala wandered for a long time through that city, which was like a wish-fulfilling creeper of wonder at every step with its clever people and charming mansions, his gaze finally became a guest of the royal palace.
६.१०
हेलां दधौ रक्षिजनेऽस्त्रसज्जे
लीनश्चरामीति हृदा ललज्जे ।
द्रक्ष्यामि भैमीमिति संतुतोष
दूतं विचिन्त्य स्वमसौ शुशोच ॥
Summary AI He (Nala) felt contempt for the armed guards (as he was invisible). He felt ashamed in his heart, thinking, 'I am moving about hidden.' He felt joy, thinking, 'I will see Damayanti.' And he grieved, reflecting on his own status as a messenger.
६.१४
अनादिसर्गस्रजि वानुभूता
चित्रेषु वा भीमसुता नलेन ।
जातेव यद्वा जितशम्बरस्य
सा शाम्बरीशिल्पमलक्षि दिक्षु ॥
Summary AI Damayanti, as if experienced by Nala in the beginningless garland of creation or seen in pictures, or else born as the magical art of the love-god who conquered Shambara, was seen by him in all directions.
६.१५
अलीकभैमीसहदर्शनान्न
तस्यान्यकन्याप्सरसो रसाय ।
भैमीभ्रमस्यैव ततः प्रसादा-
द्भैमीभ्रमस्तेन न तास्वलम्भि ॥
Summary AI Due to seeing the false Damayantis, the other maidens and Apsaras were not a source of pleasure for him. Therefore, by the grace of that very illusion of Damayanti, he did not mistake them for Damayanti.
६.१६
भैमीनिराशे हृदि मन्मथेन
दत्तस्वहस्ताद्विरहाद्विहस्तः ।
स तामलीकामवलोक्य तत्र
क्षणादपश्यन्व्यषदद्विबुद्धः ॥
Summary AI His heart hopeless of finding Damayanti, agitated by the pangs of separation supported by the god of love, he saw a false Damayanti there for a moment. Then, upon realizing she was not the real one and not seeing her anymore, he became dejected.
६.१७
प्रियां विकल्पोपहृतां स याव-
द्दिगीशसंदेशमजल्पदल्पम् ।
अदृश्यवाग्भीषितभूरिभीरु-
भवो रवस्तावदचेतयत्तम् ॥
Summary AI Just as he began to speak a little of the message from the guardian deities to his beloved, whom he had mistaken for the real one, a noise from many timid women frightened by an invisible voice brought him back to his senses.
६.१९
अन्तःपुरे विस्तृतवागुरोऽपि
बालावलीनां वलितैर्गुणौघैः ।
न कालसारं हरिणं तदक्षि-
त्वयं प्रभुर्बद्धुमभून्मनोभूः ॥
Summary AI Even though the god of love had spread a net in the inner apartments with the multitude of charms from the movements of the rows of young women, he was not able to capture the black-spotted antelope that was Nala's pair of eyes.
६.२०
दोर्मूलमालोक्य कचं रुरुत्सोः
ततः कुचौ तावनुलेपयन्त्याः ।
नाभीमथैष श्लथवाससोऽनु
मिमील दिक्षु क्रमकृष्टचक्षुः ॥
Summary AI His eyes drawn sequentially, he first saw the armpit of a woman wishing to tie her hair, then the breasts of one anointing them, and then the navel of one whose garment was loose; after seeing these, he closed his eyes.
६.२१
मीलन्न शेकेऽभिमुखागताभ्यां
धर्तुं निपीड्य स्तनसान्तराभ्याम् ।
स्वाङ्गान्यपेतो विजगौ स पश्चा-
त्पुमङ्गसङ्गोत्पुलके पुनस्ते ॥
Summary AI He was unable to close his eyes while being held and pressed by two women who came before him with their breasts. Having moved away, he afterwards reproached those same breasts, which showed horripilation from contact with a man's body.
६.२२
निमीलनस्पष्टविलोकनाभ्यां
कदर्थितस्ताः कलयन्कटाक्षैः ।
स रागदर्शीव भृशं ललज्जे
स्वतः सतां ह्रीः परतोऽतिगुर्वी ॥
Summary AI Tormented by alternately closing his eyes and looking clearly, and observing them with side-glances, he felt greatly ashamed as if he were showing passion. Indeed, for good people, shame arising from their own actions is less than the very great shame felt before others.
६.२३
रोमाञ्चिताङ्गीमनु तत्कटाक्षैः
भ्रान्तेन कान्तेन रतेर्निदिष्टः ।
मोघः शरौघः कुसुमानि नाभू-
त्तद्धैर्यपूजां प्रति पर्यवस्यन् ॥
Summary AI The shower of arrows, directed by Rati's lover (Kama) following his wandering side-glances towards the horripilated woman, became futile. Instead of being arrows, they culminated in becoming flowers for worshipping Nala's steadfastness.
६.२४
हित्वैव वर्त्मैकमिह भ्रमन्त्याः
स्पर्शः स्त्रियाः सुत्यज इत्यवेत्य ।
चतुष्पथस्याभरणं बभूव
लोकावलोकाय सतां स दीपः ॥
Summary AI Understanding that by abandoning a single path, the touch of a wandering woman here is easily avoided, he, a lamp unto the virtuous, became an ornament of the crossroads for all people to see his exemplary conduct.
६.२५
उद्वर्तयन्त्या हृदये निपत्य
नृपस्य दृष्टिर्न्यवृतद्द्रुतैव ।
वियोगिवैरात्कुचयोर्नखाङ्कैः
अर्धेन्दुलीलैर्गलहस्ततेव ॥
Summary AI The king's gaze, having fallen upon the chest of a woman anointing her body, quickly turned back, as if thrown out by the neck by the crescent-moon-shaped nail marks on her breasts, which seemed to bear enmity towards separated lovers.
६.२६
तन्वीमुखं द्रागधिगत्य चन्द्रं
वियोगिनस्तस्य मिमीलिताभ्याम् ।
द्वयं द्रढीयः कृतमीक्षणाभ्यां
तदिन्दुता च स्वसरोजता च ॥
Summary AI His eyes, belonging to a separated lover, quickly perceived the slender woman's face as the moon and closed. By this act of closing, two things were confirmed: the moon-ness of her face (as moons cause lotuses to close) and their own lotus-ness.
६.२७
चतुष्पथे तं विनिमीलिताक्षं
चतुर्दिगेताः सुखमग्रहीष्यन् ।
संघट्ट्य तस्मिन्भृशभीनिवृता-
त्तस्ता एव तद्वर्त्म न चेददास्यन् ॥
Summary AI At the crossroads, these women approaching from four directions would have easily seized him as his eyes were closed, if they themselves, after colliding with him, had not turned back out of great shyness and thus given him a path.
६.२८
संघट्टयन्त्यास्तरसात्मभूषा-
हीराङ्कुरप्रोतदुकूलहारी ।
दिशा नितम्बं परिधाप्य तन्व्याः
तत्पापसंतापमवाप भूपः ॥
Summary AI By forcefully colliding with a slender woman, the king, whose own body caused her silk garment to be torn by the sharp diamonds of her ornaments, thereby clothing her hips with nakedness, felt the remorse for that sin.
६.२९
हतः कयाचित्पथि कन्दुकेन
संघट्ट्य भिन्नः करजैः कयापि ।
कयाचनाक्तः कुचकुङ्कुमेन
संभुक्तकल्पः स बभूव ताभिः ॥
Summary AI On the path, he was struck with a ball by one woman, scratched with fingernails by another upon collision, and smeared with saffron from the breasts of yet another. Thus, he was as if he had been carnally enjoyed by them.
६.३१
तच्छायसौन्दर्यनिपीतधैर्याः
प्रत्येकमालिङ्गदमू रतीशः ।
रतिप्रतिद्वन्द्वितमासु नूनं
नामूषु निर्णीतरतिः कथंचित् ॥
Summary AI The god of love embraced each of those women whose composure was consumed by the beauty of Nala's reflection. Certainly, even among these women who were the greatest rivals to his wife Rati, he could not somehow decide where his true pleasure lay.
६.३२
तस्माददृश्यादपि नातिबिभ्युः
तच्छायरूपाहितमोहलोलाः ।
मन्यन्त एवादृतमन्मथाज्ञाः
प्राणानपि स्वान्सुदृशस्तृणानि ॥
Summary AI The beautiful-eyed women, bewildered and agitated by the charm of his shadow-form and obeying Cupid's commands, did not fear him much even though he was invisible. Indeed, they regarded even their own lives as mere blades of grass.
६.३३
जागर्ति तच्छायदृशां पुरा यः
स्पृष्टे च तस्मिन्विससर्प कम्पः ।
द्रुते द्रुतं तत्पदशब्दभीत्या
स्वहस्तितश्चारुदृशां परं सः ॥
Summary AI The trembling that previously arose in the women who saw his shadow spread through them when he was touched. When he moved quickly, that same trembling, out of fear of his footsteps, spread even more quickly, but only from their own hands.
६.३४
उल्लास्यतां स्पृष्टनलाङ्गमङ्गं
तासां नलच्छायपिबाऽपि दृष्टिः ।
अश्मैव रत्यास्तदनर्ति पत्या
छेदेऽप्यबोधं यदहर्षि लोम ॥
Summary AI Let their bodies, which touched Nala's body, rejoice, and also their gaze, which drank in Nala's shadow. The body hair that bristled with joy danced like the stone-form of Rati, which remained unconscious even when her husband (Cupid) was destroyed.
६.३७
उल्लिख्य हंसेन दले नलिन्याः
तस्मै यथादर्शि तथैव भैमी ।
तेनाभिलिख्योपहृतस्वहारा
कस्या न दृष्टाजनि विस्मयाय ॥
Summary AI Just as Damayanti was shown to Nala sketched by the swan on a lotus leaf, so too, when he drew her and offered his own necklace to the portrait, who among the women who saw it was not filled with astonishment?
६.४५
रूपं प्रतिच्छायिकयोपनीतम्
आलोकि ताभिर्यदि नाम कामम् ।
तथापि नालोकि तदस्य रूपं
हारिद्रभङ्गाय वितीर्णभङ्गम् ॥
Summary AI Although his form, presented through reflection, was certainly seen by them, yet his true form—which could defeat the paleness of turmeric (i.e., surpass the beauty of golden-complexioned women)—was not seen.
६.४६
भवन्नदृश्यः प्रतिबिम्बदेह-
व्यूहं वितन्वन्मणिकुट्टिमेषु ।
पुरं परस्य प्रविशन्वियोगी
योगीव चित्रं स रराज राजा ॥
Summary AI That separated king (Nala), entering another's city while being invisible, wonderfully shone like a yogi. He spread a multitude of his reflected bodies on the jeweled pavements, just as a yogi can enter another's body and multiply his own.
६.४८
अम्बां प्रणत्योपनता नताङ्गी
नलेन भैमी पथि योगमाप ।
स भ्रान्तिभैमीषु न तां व्यविक्त
सा तं च नादृश्यतया ददर्श ॥
Summary AI Having bowed to her mother, the stooping Damayanti met Nala on the path. He, however, could not distinguish her from the illusory Damayantis (created by the gods), and she, due to his invisibility, could not see him.
६.५०
स्रग्वासनादृष्टजनप्रसादः
सत्येयमित्यद्भुतमाप भूपः ।
क्षिप्तामदृश्यत्वमितां च माला-
मालोक्य तां विस्मियते स्म बाला ॥
Summary AI The king, inferring the favor of the unseen Damayanti from the garland's fragrance, realized "This is the real one" and was filled with wonder. The young woman, in turn, was astonished upon seeing the garland she had thrown disappear into invisibility.
॥ इति षष्ठः सर्गः ॥

Other texts to read

रघुवंशम् कालिदासः

A Mahākāvya chronicling the illustrious lineage of the Raghu dynasty, detailing the lives, virtues, and exploits of kings such as Dilīpa, Raghu, Aja, and Rāma
कुमारसंभवम् कालिदासः

A Mahākāvya depicting the penance of Pārvatī, her union with Śiva, and the subsequent birth of the warrior-god Kārttikeya
About

Sanskrit Sahitya is a free, open-access digital library of classical Sanskrit literature with AI-powered tools and translations.

Resources
Connect