नैषधीयचरितम् — नवमः सर्गः

इतीयमक्षिभ्रुवविभ्रमेङ्गित-
स्फुटामनिच्छां विवरीतुमुत्सुका ।
तदुक्तिमात्रश्रवणेच्छयाऽशृणो-
द्दिगीशसंदेशगिरं न गौरवात् ॥

Summary AI Thus, she (Damayanti), eager to reveal her unwillingness, which was evident from the suggestive movements of her eyes and eyebrows, listened to the message-speech of the lords of the directions not out of respect, but merely from a desire to hear his (Nala's) words.

९.२

तदर्पितामश्रुतवद्विधाय तां
दिगीशसंदेशमयीं सरस्वतीम् ।
इदं तमुर्वीतलशीतलद्युतिं
जगाद वैदर्भनरेन्द्रनन्दिनी ॥

Summary AI The daughter of the king of Vidarbha (Damayanti), treating that speech full of the directional lords' messages delivered by him (Nala) as if unheard, spoke thus to him, who was like the moon on the surface of the earth.

९.३

मयाङ्ग पृष्टः कुलनामनी भवान्
अमू विमुच्यैव किमन्यदुक्तवान् ।
न मह्यमत्रोत्तरधारयस्य किं
ह्रियेऽपि सेयं भवतोऽधमर्णता ॥

Summary AI "O dear sir! I asked you for your lineage and name. Why have you said something else, completely avoiding these two? Do you not owe me an answer in this matter? This indebtedness of yours is a cause for shame as well."

९.४

अदृश्यमाना क्वचिदीक्षिता क्वचि-
न्ममानुयोगे भवतः सरस्वती ।
क्वचित्प्रकाशां क्वचिदस्फुटार्णसं
सरस्वतीं जेतुमनाः सरस्वतीम् ॥

Summary AI "In response to my question, your speech is sometimes unseen (silent) and sometimes seen (spoken). It seems as if your speech, wishing to conquer the river Sarasvati which is sometimes manifest and sometimes has unclear waters, and also the river Ganga, is behaving similarly."

९.५

गिरः श्रुता एव तव श्रवः सुधाः
श्लथा भवन्नाम्नि तु न श्रुतिस्पृहा ।
पिपासुता शान्तिमुपैति वारिजा
न जातु दुग्धान्मधुनोऽधिकादपि ॥

Summary AI "Your words, which are like nectar to the ears, have indeed been heard. However, the desire to hear your name is not diminished. The thirst born of water is never quenched by milk or even by abundant honey."

९.६

बिभर्ति वंशः कतमस्तमोपहं
भवादृशं नायकरत्नमीदृशम् ।
तमन्यसामान्यधियावमानितं
त्वया महान्तं बहु मन्तुमुत्सहे ॥

Summary AI "Which lineage bears a leader-gem like you, who dispels darkness? I am eager to hold in high esteem that great lineage which you, with the mindset of an ordinary person, have slighted."

९.७

इतीरयित्वा विरतां स तां पुनः
गिरानुजग्राहतरां नराधिपः ।
विरुत्य विश्रान्तवतीं तपात्यये
घनाघनश्चातकमण्डलीमिव ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus and paused, the king (Nala) again greatly favored her with his speech, just as a raincloud at the end of summer favors the flock of Chataka birds that has rested after crying out.

९.८

अये ममोदासितमेव जिह्वया
द्वयेऽपि तस्मिन्ननतिप्रयोजने ।
गरौ गिरः पल्लवनार्थलाघवे
मितं च सारं च वचो हि वाग्मिता ॥

Summary AI "Oh! My tongue was indeed indifferent to those two matters (lineage and name) which are not very important. For, eloquence consists of speech that is concise and meaningful, especially when elaboration of words is burdensome and brevity of meaning is desired."

९.९

वृथा कथेयं मयि वर्णपद्धतिः
कयानुपूर्व्या समकेति केति च ।
क्षमे समक्षव्यवहारमावयोः
पदे विधातुं खलु युष्मदस्मदी ॥

Summary AI "This inquiry about me—the sequence of letters in my name and what it is—is pointless. Indeed, the words 'you' and 'I' are sufficient to conduct our direct interaction."

९.१०

यदि स्वभावान्मम नोज्ज्वलं कुलं
ततस्तदुद्भावनमौचिती कुतः ।
अथावदातं तदहो विडम्बना
तथा कथा प्रेष्यतयोपसेदुषः ॥

Summary AI "If my family is not naturally illustrious, then where is the propriety in revealing it? And if it is distinguished, alas, what a mockery it is to speak of it for one who has approached you as a messenger."

९.११

इति प्रतीत्यैव मयावधीरिते
तवापि निर्बन्धरसो न शोभते ।
हरित्पतीनां प्रतिवाचिकं प्रति
श्रमो गिरां ते घटते हि संप्रति ॥

Summary AI "Since I have disregarded the question (of my name and lineage) for this very reason, your insistence is not becoming. Indeed, right now, the effort of your words is more suited towards the reply for the lords of the directions."

९.१२

तथापि निर्बन्धति तेऽथवा स्पृहाम्
इहानुरुन्धे मितया न किं गिरा ।
हिमांशुवंशस्य करीरमेव मां
निशम्य किं नासि फलेग्रहिग्रहा ॥

Summary AI "Nevertheless, you insist! Or rather, why should I not satisfy your desire here with a few words? Hearing that I am but a humble shoot of the lunar dynasty, will you not be one who grasps the essence?"

९.१३

महाजनावारपरम्परेदृशी
स्वनाम नामाददते न साधवः ।
अतोऽभिधातुं न तदुत्सहे पुनः
जनः किलाचारमुचं विगायति ॥

Summary AI "Such is the traditional conduct of great people that the virtuous do not utter their own names. Therefore, I do not venture to speak it again. Indeed, people censure one who transgresses established customs."

९.१४

अदोऽयमालप्य शिखीव शारदो
बभूव तूष्णीमहितापकारकः ।
अथास्यरागस्य दधा पदे पदे
वचांसि हंसीव विदर्भजाददे ॥

Summary AI Having said this, he (Nala), who was acting against her desire, became silent like an autumn peacock. Then, the princess of Vidarbha (Damayanti), holding his affection, began to speak her words at every step, like a swan.

९.१५

सुधांशुवंशाभरणं भवानिति
श्रुतेऽपि नापैति विशेषसंशयः ।
कियत्सु मौनं वितता कियत्सु
वाङ्महत्यहो वञ्चनचातुरी तव ॥

Summary AI "Even after hearing that you are an ornament of the lunar dynasty, my specific doubt does not disappear. In some matters there is silence, in others, extensive and great speech. Oh, how great is your skill in deception!"

९.१६

मयापि देयं प्रतिवाचिकं न ते
स्वनाम मत्कर्णसुधामकुर्वते ।
परेण पुंसा हि ममापि संकथा
कुलाबलाचारसहासनासहा ॥

Summary AI "I too shall not give a reply to you, who do not make your name nectar for my ears. Indeed, for me, even conversation with another man is as intolerable as sharing a seat, according to the customs of women from noble families."

९.१७

हृदाभिनन्द्य प्रतिबन्द्यनुत्तरः
प्रियागिरः सस्मितमाह स स्म ताम् ।
वदामि वामाक्षि परेषु मा क्षिप
स्वमीदृशं माक्षिकमाक्षिपद्वचः ॥

Summary AI He, who had no answer to her counter-arguments, welcomed her beloved words with his heart and said to her with a smile: "O beautiful-eyed one, I will speak! Do not cast upon others such words of yours that put even honey to shame."

९.१८

करोषि नेमं फलिनं मम श्रमं
दिशोऽनुगृह्णासि न कंचन प्रभुम् ।
त्वमित्थमर्हासि सुरानुपासितुं
रसामृतस्नानपवित्रया गिरा ॥

Summary AI "You do not make this effort of mine fruitful, nor do you favor any of the lords of the directions. Thus, with your speech, purified by bathing in the nectar of sentiment, you are fit to worship the gods (but not accept them as suitors)."

९.१९

सुरेषु संदेशयसीदृशीं बहुं
रसस्रवेण स्तिमितां न भारतीम् ।
मदर्पिता दर्पकतापितेषु या
प्रयाति दावार्दितदाववृष्टिताम् ॥

Summary AI "But you do not send such a message, rich and saturated with the flow of sentiment, to the gods. When delivered by me, this message would act like a forest rain on a forest fire for them, who are tormented by the fire of love."

९.२०

यथा यथेह त्वदुपेक्षयानया
निमेषमप्येष जनो विलम्बते ।
रुषा शरव्यीकरणे दिवौकसां
तथा तथाद्य त्वरते रतेः पतिः ॥

Summary AI Nala, as a messenger, tells Damayanti, 'The more this person delays here even for a moment due to this neglect of yours, the more Kamadeva, Rati's husband, now hastens in anger to make the gods his targets.'

९.२१

इयच्चिरस्यावदधन्ति मत्पथे
किमिन्द्रनेत्राण्यशनिर्न निर्ममौ ।
धिगस्तु मां सत्वरकार्यमन्थरं
स्थितः परप्रेष्यगुणोऽपि यत्र न ॥

Summary AI Nala continues his lament: 'Why are the gods (Indra's eyes) watching my path for so long? Why has the thunderbolt not been fashioned against me? Shame on me, who is slow in this urgent task, in whom not even the basic quality of a messenger is present.'

९.२२

इदं निगद्य क्षितिभर्तरि स्थिते
तयाभ्यधायि स्वगतं विदग्धया ।
अधिस्त्रि तं दूतयतां भुवः स्मरं
मनो दधत्या नयनैपुणव्यये ॥

Summary AI When the king (Nala) stood still after saying this, the clever Damayanti—who was applying her mind to the expenditure of diplomatic skill towards him, who was like a Kamadeva of the earth among messengers concerning women—spoke to herself.

९.२३

जलाधिपस्त्वामदिशन्मयि ध्रुवं
परेतराजः प्रजिधाय स स्फुटम् ।
मरुत्वतैव प्रहितोऽसि निश्चितं
नियोजितश्चोर्ध्वमुखेन तेजसा ॥

Summary AI Damayanti thinks to herself: 'Certainly, Varuna has sent you to me. That Yama has clearly dispatched you. You have definitely been sent by Indra, and you have been appointed by the upward-faced fire, Agni.'

९.२४

अथ प्रकाशं निभृतस्मिता सती
सतीकुलस्याभरणं किमप्यसौ ।
पुनस्तदाभाषणविभ्रमोन्मुखं
मुखं विदर्भाधिपसंभवा दधौ ॥

Summary AI Then, that chaste lady, Damayanti, born of the king of Vidarbha—herself an indescribable ornament to the lineage of virtuous women—with a gentle smile, openly turned her face again, eager for the charm of conversing with him.

९.२५

वृथापरीहास इति प्रगल्भता
न नेति च त्वादृशि वाग्विगर्हणा ।
भवत्यवज्ञा च भवत्यनुत्तरात्
अतः प्रदित्सुः प्रतिवाचमस्मि ते ॥

Summary AI Damayanti begins to speak: 'To say, "This is a pointless joke," would be impertinence. To say, "No, no," to one like you would be a self-reproach. And not answering at all would be disrespect. Therefore, I wish to give you a reply.'

९.२६

कथं नु तेषां कृपयापि वागसा-
वसावि मानुष्यकलाञ्छने जने ।
स्वभावभक्तिप्रवणं प्रतीश्वराः
कया न वाचा मुदमुद्गिरन्ति वा ॥

Summary AI 'How indeed was this speech of theirs uttered, even out of kindness, to a person like me, marked by mere humanity? Or rather, what words do lords not use to express their pleasure towards one who is naturally inclined to devotion?'

९.२७

अहो महेन्द्रस्य कथं मयौचिती
सुराङ्गनासंगमशोभिताभृतः ।
ह्रदस्य हंसावलिमांसलश्रियो
बलाकयेव प्रबला विडम्बना ॥

Summary AI 'Oh! How can there be any propriety in Mahendra, who enjoys the splendor of union with celestial nymphs, desiring me? This is a great mockery, like associating a lake, whose beauty is enriched by rows of swans, with a mere crane.'

९.२८

पुरः सुरीणां भण केव मानवी
न यत्र तास्तत्र तु शोभिकापि सा ।
अकाञ्चनेऽकिंचन नायिकाङ्गके
किमारकूटाभरणेन न श्रियः ॥

Summary AI 'Tell me, what is a mortal woman in the presence of celestial nymphs? However, where they are absent, she too can be considered beautiful. On a heroine's otherwise unadorned body, does not even an ornament of brass produce beauty?'

९.२९

यथा तथा नाम गिरः किरन्तु ते
श्रुती पुनर्मे बधिरे तदक्षरे ।
पृषत्किशारी कुरुतामसंगतां
कथं मनोवृत्तिमपि द्विपाधिपे ॥

Summary AI 'Let them (the gods) utter words in whatever way they please, but my ears are deaf to those syllables. How can a young doe entertain even an inappropriate inclination towards the lord of elephants?'

९.३०

अदो निगद्यैव नतास्यया तया
श्रुतौ लगित्वाभिहितालिरालपत् ।
प्रविश्य यन्मे हृदयं ह्रियाह
तद्विनिर्यदाकर्णय मन्मुखाध्वना ॥

Summary AI Having said this, with her face bent down, she leaned into her friend's ear and spoke. The friend then addressed Nala: 'Listen, through the path of my mouth, to that which is now coming out—what she, having entered my heart with shyness, has said.'

९.३१

बिभेमि चिन्तामपि कर्तुमीदृशीं
चिराय चित्तार्पितनैषधेश्वरा ।
मृणालतन्तुच्छिदुरा सतीस्थितिः
लवादपि त्रुट्यति चापलात्किल ॥

Summary AI The friend conveys Damayanti's words: 'Having for a long time enshrined the lord of Nishadha in my heart, I fear even to entertain such a thought. The vow of a chaste woman is as fragile as a lotus fiber; indeed, it breaks from even the slightest fickleness.'

९.३२

ममाशयः स्वप्नदशाज्ञयापि वा
नलं विलङ्घ्येतरमस्पृशद्यदि ।
कुतः पुनस्तत्र समस्तसाक्षिणी
निजैव बुद्धिर्विबुधैर्न पृच्छ्यते ॥

Summary AI 'If my heart, even by the command of a dream, were to transgress Nala and touch another, then why is my own conscience, the witness to everything, not questioned in this matter by the wise gods?'

९.३३

अपि स्वमस्वप्नमसूषुपन्नमी
परस्य दाराननवैतुमेव माम् ।
स्वयं दुरध्वार्णवनाविकाः कथं
स्पृशन्तु विज्ञाय हृदापि तादृशीम् ॥

Summary AI 'Perhaps these gods endured their own sleeplessness only to avoid knowing me as another's wife. Being themselves pilots on the ocean of righteousness, how can they, knowing me to be so devoted, touch me even with their heart?'

९.३४

अनुग्रहः केवलमेष मादृशे
मनुष्यजन्मन्यपि यन्मनो जने ।
स चेद्विधेयस्तदमी तमेव मे
प्रसद्य भिक्षां वितरीतुमीशताम् ॥

Summary AI 'That they have set their minds on a person like me, a mere human, is itself only a favor. If that favor is to be granted, then let these gods, being pleased, deign to grant me him (Nala) alone as a boon.'

९.३५

अपि द्रढीयः शृणु मत्प्रतिश्रुतं
स पीडयेत्पाणिमिमं न चेन्नृपः ।
हुताशनोद्बन्धनवारिकारितां
निजायुषस्तत्करवै स्ववैरिताम् ॥

Summary AI 'Also, listen to my firm promise: If that king (Nala) does not take this hand of mine, then I shall make my own life an enemy to myself, causing its end by fire, hanging, or water.'

९.३६

निषिद्धमप्याचरणीयमापदि
क्रिया सती नावति यत्र सर्वथा ।
घनाम्बुना राजपथे हि पिच्छिले
क्वचिद्बुधैरप्यपथेन गम्यते ॥

Summary AI 'In a calamity, where a proper course of action offers no protection at all, even a forbidden act must be performed. For when the main road is slippery with mud, even the wise sometimes go by a side path.'

९.३७

स्त्रिया मया वाग्मिषु तेषु शक्यते
न जातु सम्यग्वितरीतुमुत्तरम् ।
तदत्र मद्भाषितसूत्रपद्धतौ
प्रबन्धृतास्तु प्रतिबन्धृता न ते ॥

Summary AI The friend concludes: 'By me, a woman, a proper answer can never be given to those eloquent gods. Therefore, in this matter, let your skill be in composing a reply based on the thread of my (Damayanti's) statements, not in contradicting them.'

९.३८

निरस्य दूतः स्म तथा विसर्जितः
प्रियोक्तिरप्याह कदुष्णमक्षरम् ।
कुतूहलेनेव मुहुः कुहूरवं
विडम्ब्य डिम्भेन पिकः प्रकोपितः ॥

Summary AI The messenger (Nala), having been thus rejected, was dismissed. Even he, whose speech was naturally pleasant, spoke a harsh and heated word, just as a cuckoo, provoked by a child repeatedly imitating its cry out of playfulness, utters a sharp sound.

९.३९

अहो मनस्त्वामनु तेऽपि तन्वते
त्वमप्यमीभ्यो विमुखीति कौतुकम् ।
क्व वा निधिर्निर्धनमेति किंच तं
स वाक्कवाटं घटयन्निरस्यते ॥

Summary AI Nala speaks: 'Oh, what a strange thing! They (the gods) direct their desire towards you, and you are averse to them. Does a treasure ever go to a poor person? And if it does, is it rejected by him closing the door of his speech (by refusing it)?'

९.४०

सहाखिलस्त्रीषु वहेऽवहेलया
महेन्द्ररागाद्गुरुमादरं त्वयि ।
त्वमीदृशि श्रेयसि संमुखेऽपि तं
पराङ्मुखी चन्द्रमुखि न्यवीवृतः ॥

Summary AI O moon-faced one! Indra, due to his great love, treats all other women with contempt but holds great respect for you. Yet, even when such a great fortune is before you, you, turning your face away, have rejected him.

९.४१

दिवौकसं कामयते न मानवी
नवीनमश्रावि तवाननादिदम् ।
कथं न वा दुर्ग्रहदोष एष ते
हितेन सम्यग्गुरुणापि शाम्यते ॥

Summary AI 'A human woman does not desire a celestial being'—this unprecedented statement has been heard from your mouth. Otherwise, why is this fault of your stubbornness not being pacified even by sound and weighty beneficial advice?

९.४२

अनुग्रहादेव दिवौकसां नरो
निरस्य मानुष्यकमेति दिव्यताम् ।
अयोविकारे स्वरितत्वमिष्यते
कुतोऽयसां सिद्धरसस्पृशामपि ॥

Summary AI A mortal attains divinity only by the grace of the celestials, having cast off their human state. How can iron be turned into gold unless it is touched by the philosopher's stone? (Implying, you should accept the grace of the gods to attain a higher state).

९.४३

हरिं परित्यज्य नलाभिलाषुका
न लज्जसे वा विदुषिब्रुवा कथम् ।
उपेक्षितेक्षोः करभाच्छमीरतात्
उरुं वदे त्वां करभोरु भोरिति ॥

Summary AI O you with thighs like an elephant's trunk! How is it that you, calling yourself wise, are not ashamed of desiring Nala after abandoning Indra? I would call you a 'fool', just as an elephant that ignores sugarcane for the bitter Shami tree is foolish.

९.४४

विहाय हा सर्वसुपर्वनायकं
त्वया धृतः किं नरसाधिमभ्रमः ।
मुखं विमुच्य श्वसितस्य धारया
वृथैव नासापथधावनश्रमः ॥

Summary AI Alas! Having abandoned the leader of all gods, why do you hold this delusion about the excellence of a mere man? It is like the stream of breath making the useless effort of running through the nostrils when it could easily exit through the mouth.

९.४५

तपोऽनले जुह्वति सूरयस्तनुः
दिवे फलायान्यजनुर्भविष्णवे ।
करे पुनः कर्षति सैव विह्वला
बलादिव त्वां बलसे न बालिशे ॥

Summary AI O foolish one! Sages sacrifice their bodies in the fire of austerity for the fruit of heaven, to be attained in a future birth. But when that very heaven personified pulls you by the hand as if by force, you, being agitated, do not consent.

९.४६

यदि स्वमुद्बन्धुमना विना नलं
भवेर्भवन्तीं हरिरन्तरिक्षगाम् ।
दिविस्थितानां प्रथितः पतिस्ततो
हरिष्यति न्याय्यमुपेक्षते हि कः ॥

Summary AI If you are inclined to kill yourself without Nala, then Indra, the famous lord of the celestials, will seize you as you ascend to the heavens after death. Indeed, who disregards what is rightfully theirs?

९.४७

निवेक्ष्यसे यद्यनले नलोज्झिता
सुरे तदस्मिन्महती दया कृता ।
चिरादनेनार्थनयापि दुर्लभं
स्वयं त्वयैवाङ्ग यदङ्गमर्प्यते ॥

Summary AI O dear one! If, having given up Nala, you enter the fire, then great kindness will have been shown to this god, Agni. For that body of yours, which was difficult for him to obtain for so long even with entreaties, is being offered by you yourself.

९.४८

जितं जितं तत्खलु पाशपाणिना
विना नलं वारि यदि प्रवेक्ष्यसि ।
तदा त्वदाख्यान्बहिरप्यसूनसौ
पयःपतिर्वक्षसि वक्ष्यतेतराम् ॥

Summary AI If you enter the water without Nala, then indeed it is a great victory for Varuna, the one with the noose. Then that lord of waters will bear your life breaths, which will be outside your body but still named after you, upon his chest with great affection.

९.४९

करिष्यसे यद्यत एव दूषणात्
उपायमन्यं विदुषी स्वमृत्यवे ।
प्रियातिथिः स्वेन गृहागता कथं
न धर्मराजं चरितार्थयिष्यसि ॥

Summary AI O wise lady (ironic)! If, due to this very fault of rejecting us, you employ some other means for your own death, how will you not gratify Yama, having come to his home of your own accord as a dear guest?

९.५०

निषेधवेषो विधिरेष तेऽथवा
तवैव युक्ता खलु वाचि वक्रता ।
विजृम्भितं यस्य किल ध्वनेरिदं
विदग्धनारीवदनं तदाकरः ॥

Summary AI Or perhaps this refusal of yours is actually an acceptance in disguise. Indeed, indirectness in speech is fitting for you. The mouth of a clever woman is, after all, the very source of that poetic suggestion (Dhvani) of which this is a manifestation.

Other texts to read

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