Shloka 11
Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
अथ तां वयसि प्राप्ते दासीनां समलंकृताम् । शतं शतं सखीनां च पर्युपासच्छचीमिव,जब उसने युवावस्थामें प्रवेश किया, उस समय सौ दासियाँ और सौ सखियाँ वस्त्राभूषणोंसे अलंकृत हो सदा उसकी सेवामें उपस्थित रहती थीं। मानो देवांगनाएँ शचीकी उपासना करती हों
atha tāṁ vayasi prāpte dāsīnāṁ samalaṅkṛtām | śataṁ śataṁ sakhīnāṁ ca paryupāsacchacīm iva ||
ثم لما بلغت سنَّ الصِّبا، كانت مئةٌ من الجواري—مُزَيَّناتٍ مُهَيَّآتٍ على أكمل هيئة—ومثلُهن مئةٌ من الصواحب يلازمن خدمتها وحراستها على الدوام، كأنّ حورَ السماء يقفن في خدمة شَچي (Śacī) نفسها.
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of honoring and safeguarding a young woman of noble status through constant, respectful attendance and proper decorum, using the exalted comparison to Śacī to emphasize dignity and reverence.
Bṛhadaśva describes that once she reached youth, she was continuously served by a large retinue—one hundred maidservants and one hundred companions—adorned and present at all times, likened to divine attendants serving Śacī.