Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
तथैवासीद्ू विदर्भेषु भीमो भीमपराक्रम: । शूर: सर्वगुणैर्युक्त: प्रजाकाम: स चाप्रज:
tathaivāsīd vidarbheṣu bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ | śūraḥ sarvaguṇair yuktaḥ prajākāmaḥ sa cāprajaḥ ||
«وكذلك كان الأمر في ڤيدربها: كان هناك رجل يُدعى بِهيما، شديدَ البأس مُرهبَ السطوة—شجاعًا جامعًا لكل فضيلة. كان يتوق إلى الذرية، غير أنه ظل بلا أولاد.»
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Even a virtuous and heroic ruler may face the painful lack of progeny; the verse highlights the human vulnerability of kings and the ethical weight placed on lineage and responsibility toward the future.
Bṛhadaśva introduces the situation in Vidarbha by describing a valiant, virtuous man named Bhīma who desires children but remains childless, setting the background for the ensuing story.