Shloka 14
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
मुहुरुत्पतते बाला मुहुः पतति विह्वला । मुहुरालीयते भीता मुहुः क्रोशति रोदिति,दमयन्ती बार-बार उठती और बार-बार विह्नल होकर गिर पड़ती थी। वह कभी भयभीत होकर छिपती और कभी जोर-जोरसे रोने-चिल्लाने लगती थी
muhur utpatate bālā muhuḥ patati vihvalā | muhur ālīyate bhītā muhuḥ krośati roditī ||
قال بريهادَشْفا: «كانت الفتاة تنهض وثّابةً مرة بعد مرة، ثم تسقط مرة بعد مرة وهي مذهولة مضطربة. تارةً، إذا استبدّ بها الخوف، اختبأت؛ وتارةً تصرخ صراخًا عاليًا وتبكي.»
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical call to compassion: intense fear and grief can make a person restless and unstable, and such suffering—especially born of separation and insecurity—should be met with empathy and protection rather than blame.
Bṛhadaśva describes Damayantī’s repeated panic reactions—rising, falling, hiding, crying out, and weeping—depicting her acute distress during her ordeal in the wilderness after being separated from her husband Nala.