दमयन्त्याः अरण्यविहारः — Damayantī’s Passage through the Wilderness
ह्ृतराज्यं ह्ृतद्रव्यं विवस्त्र क्षुच्छूमान्वितम् । कथमुत्सृज्य गच्छेयमहं त्वां निर्जने वने
hṛtarājyaṁ hṛtadravyaṁ vivastraṁ kṣucchūmānvitam | katham utsṛjya gaccheyam ahaṁ tvāṁ nirjane vane ||
لقد سُلبتَ مُلكك وسُلبتَ مالك، وتُركتَ بلا لباس، وأُنهكتَ بالجوع والمشقة. فكيف لي أن أهجرك وأمضي، وأدعك وحيدًا في هذه الغابة المقفرة؟
बृहृदश्च उवाच
The verse foregrounds dharma as compassionate fidelity: when someone is ruined and vulnerable, abandoning them is ethically unthinkable. True righteousness is shown through steadfast support in adversity.
Bṛhadaśva speaks to a companion who has lost kingdom and wealth and is suffering in the forest, declaring that he cannot leave them alone in such a desolate place.