Shloka 19
Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
स ददर्श ततो हंसान् जातरूपपरिष्कृतान् | वने विचरतां तेषामेकं जग्राह पक्षिणम्,इतनेहीमें उनकी दृष्टि कुछ हंसोंपर पड़ी, जो सुवर्णमय पंखोंसे विभूषित थे। वे उसी उपवनमें विचर रहे थे। राजाने उनमेंसे एक हंसको पकड़ लिया
sa dadarśa tato haṁsān jātarūpa-pariṣkṛtān | vane vicaratāṁ teṣām ekaṁ jagrāha pakṣiṇam ||
ثم رأى بجعاتٍ كأن أجسادها مُزَيَّنة بذهبٍ مصقول. وبينما كانت تجوس في غيضة الغابة، قبض الملك على طائرٍ واحدٍ من بينها.
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a small act driven by desire—such as seizing a harmless creature—can become the starting point for a moral test. The verse hints at the dharmic tension between royal power (the ability to take) and ethical restraint (the duty to protect and act with self-control).
Bṛhadaśva narrates that the king notices swans shining as if adorned with gold while they roam in the forest. He catches one of them, initiating the next development in the story, typically involving dialogue or a lesson arising from this capture.