Nalacharitham First Day

English

I will tell the king about the desires you hold dear

English
I will tell the king about the desires you hold dear
The king too will be pleased to hear.
But if you were to fall in love with another
You may receive the king’s displeasure.
 
Your father may get you married to another man.
You may also begin to like him; that is human.
Many times people talk without purpose.
You may later feel I too was capricious.
Our lives may come in harm’s way
Is your mind firm on Nala? Now you must say.

 

Whatever your heart feels- let these be revealed

English
Whatever your heart feels- let these be revealed.
Oh! Willowy-bodied, only then you will feel fulfilled.
The good should join the good, not lesser
For you there is surely no suitor any better.
 
He is stronger than the lord of cloud
and of high standing, virtuous and bold.
Gold and jewel are made for each other
Your match with Nala is similar.
 
As Vishnu is for Rema and night is for the moon,

Oh! Majestic swan, what am I to tell?

English
Oh! Majestic swan, what am I to tell?
Women of high rank do not feel,
It right to let their hearts reveal.
(Their secret desires)
 
Time and again my mind is on Nala-the much praised king,
his reputation and deeds cause my ears to pleasingly ring.
On thinking of his manliness, the love-lord’s arrows sting
my heart and makes me feel frail and a weakling.

 

Confide in me happily, let your feelings unfurl

English

Sloka:-
The sweet-voiced maiden, the crown among women,
her mind now swinging open slowly to the swan,
yet knowing that her mind is not fully open
the swan attempted to know her feelings for Nalan.
 
Swan:-
Confide in me happily, let your feelings unfurl,
Oh! King Bheema’s darling girl.
Trust me more than the trust you carry
For your pals; tell me without shyness and worry. 
 
Oh! The crowned one among the bright-eyed women
Oh! Sister of Dama, sweet maiden,
To which man your heart had been given

I saw you so very close

English
I saw you so very close
and I heard your playful voice
You are Brahma’s vehicle of choice
Oh! Sweet voiced and of nice poise
 
Is it Lord Brahma who sent you here?
Is it Nala’s land the place you hold dear?
If that be so oh! Swan of such glow
With love and respect, to you I bow.
 
Dear vehicle of Brahma, please narrate
the tales of king Nala in words not ornate.
With your words my sorrow may mitigate

Oh! The most charming of all maidens

English
Sloka:-
Each step she takes gets the swan in hand’s reach
Each step she takes gently, walking without stretch
Each step Damayanti and the swan took, the farther they went
From her friends, seeing this, the swan said thus in amusement.
 
Oh! The most charming of all maidens!
What are your intentions?
How are you planning to catch me?
I can fly off to the sky easily.
 
Youth has blossomed on you, yet you behave like a child

That is a swan with beauty so soothing, oh! Dear

English
That is a swan with beauty so soothing, oh! Dear
Never have I seen it before nor have I heard ever.
It is golden-plumed and has a sweet sound to match it
It seems he would be friendly if I were to catch it.
 
I wish I could touch it with my hands, friends dear.
If I could get hold of him I could play with him without fear.
It is not vicious, seems like a gentle soul; stay clear
-my friends, I will go to him, you don’t come near.

 

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