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Shloka 12

Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas

Adhyāya 53

तत्र सम राजते भैमी सर्वाभरणभूषिता । सखीमध्येडनवद्याजी विद्युत्सौदामनी यथा,अनिन्द्द सुन्दर अंगोंवाली भीमकुमारी दमयन्ती सब प्रकारके आभूषणोंसे विभूषित हो सखियोंकी मण्डलीमें वैसी ही शोभा पाती थी, जैसे मेघमालाके बीच विद्युत्‌ प्रकाशित हो रही हो

tatra sma rājate bhaimī sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā | sakhīmadhye 'navadyāṅgī vidyutsaudāmanī yathā ||

وهناك كانت بهِيمي (دمينتي) متحلّيةً بكل صنوف الحُليّ، تتلألأ بين صواحبها؛ وأعضاؤها التي لا عيب فيها تشعّ كبرقٍ يلمع في قلب كتلةٍ من السحاب.

तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
सम्well, greatly (intensifier)
सम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्
राजतेshines, is splendid
राजते:
TypeVerb
Rootराज्
FormLat, Atmanepada, 3, singular, present
भैमीBhīmī (Damayantī, daughter of Bhīma/Bhīmakā)
भैमी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभैमी
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
सर्वall
सर्व:
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
Formneuter, instrumental, plural
आभरणornaments
आभरण:
TypeNoun
Rootआभरण
Formneuter, instrumental, plural
भूषिताadorned
भूषिता:
TypeAdjective
Rootभूष्
Formpast passive participle (kta), feminine, nominative, singular
सखीof (her) female friends
सखी:
TypeNoun
Rootसखी
Formfeminine, genitive, plural
मध्येin the midst
मध्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमध्य
अनवद्याङ्गीshe whose limbs are faultless
अनवद्याङ्गी:
TypeAdjective
Rootअनवद्याङ्गी
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
विद्युत्lightning
विद्युत्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविद्युत्
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
सौदामनीbelonging to lightning; lightning-like
सौदामनी:
TypeAdjective
Rootसौदामनी
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
यथाas, like
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

D
Damayantī (Bhaimī)
S
sakhīs (female companions)
Ā
ābharaṇas (ornaments)
V
vidyut (lightning)
M
megha (clouds, implied by the simile)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how inner excellence and auspicious presence naturally manifest outwardly: Damayantī’s radiance stands out among her peers like lightning among clouds, implying that genuine merit and dignity are self-evident.

Bṛhadaśva describes Damayantī in her youthful, courtly setting: richly ornamented, she is seen among her companions, distinguished by exceptional beauty and brilliance through a vivid lightning-in-clouds simile.