Nala the King

English

My dear friend, I choose you of all my messengers

English
My dear friend, I choose you of all my messengers,
to convey my message of love to the lady my heart harbours.
Are you giving this promise just to please me?
Or will you really do the deed that you say it would be?
 
Many have told me the stories of the lady who blushes like a lotus
Now lust is filling my heart, making it weak and porous
While I had no mate to confide and my life’spath turned treacherous
I got you-it is the play of god in all his kindness.
 

This garden is so very deserted

English

Sloka:

Restless Nala grew over Narada’s word,

And hurt his mind was with arrows of the love-lord,

Assigning the reins of the kingdom to the nobles

He left his self in isolation in the palace gardens.

 

(Nala in contemplation):

This garden is so very deserted,

That is its only quality making me feel light-hearted.

But the gods to me no more look so benign,

Neither is the lord of lust with his fish-ensign.

 

The objects in the garden only sharpen my woe,

I just heard Damayanti is surpassed by no maiden

English
Narrator: 
Thus hearing from Narada about Damayanti,
And also remembering the words of the people praising her purity,
Nala lost his heart to her and lost its calm
And he was left thoughtful of her charm.
 
(Nala in contemplation):
 
I just heard Damayanti is surpassed by no maiden in this earth and in the heaven,
So I hear from sage Narada’s mien.
 
I keep hearing about her virtue,

Oh! Narada, I bow to you and seek your blessing

English
Sloka:
Pleased with the noble way king Nala ruled his kingdom, Venerable Rishi Narada paid him a visit with all his divine wisdom.
 
Nala:
Oh! Narada, I bow to you and seek your blessing.
Thanks to your visit, my humble dwelling has been purified and made pristine,
Are you coming from the abode of Vishnu, or from the realms of the divine?  
My heart is now filled with joy much like how the night Lily feels on the full moon rise.