Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
दृष्टवन्तो न चास्माभिरदर्दष्टपूर्वस्तथाविध: । त्वं चापि रत्नं नारीणां नरेषु च नलो वर:
dṛṣṭavanto na cāsmābhir adṛṣṭapūrvas tathāvidhaḥ | tvaṃ cāpi ratnaṃ nārīṇāṃ nareṣu ca nalo varaḥ ||
قال بريهادَشْوَا: «لقد رأينا كثيرين حقًّا، ولكننا لم نرَ من قبل أحدًا على تلك الشاكلة. وأنتِ أيضًا جوهرة بين النساء؛ وبين الرجال نالا هو الأَفْضَل.»
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
True excellence is recognized as rare and exemplary: Damayantī is praised as a ‘jewel among women’ and Nala as ‘the best among men,’ highlighting ideals of virtue, worthiness, and noble character in dharmic life.
Bṛhadaśva, narrating the Nala–Damayantī episode, offers a formal commendation: he declares that such a person has never been seen before and extols Damayantī’s exceptional qualities while affirming Nala’s preeminence among men.