Shloka 13
Damayantī’s Recognition by the Piplū Mark and Her Return to Vidarbha
स दृष्टवा विस्मितस्तस्थावात्मानं विकृतं नलः । स्वरूपधारिणं नागं ददर्श स महीपति:,अपने रूपको इस प्रकार विकृत (गौरवर्णसे श्यामवर्ण) हुआ देख राजा नलको बड़ा विस्मय हुआ। उन्होंने अपने पूर्वस्वरूपको धारण करके खड़े हुए कर्कोटक नागको देखा
sa dṛṣṭvā vismitas tasthāv ātmānaṁ vikṛtaṁ nalaḥ | svarūpadhāriṇaṁ nāgaṁ dadarśa sa mahīpatiḥ ||
فلما رأى نَلَ (Nala) نفسَه وقد تبدّلَت هيئتُهُ وقفَ مدهوشًا. ثم أبصرَ ذلكَ سيّدُ الأرضِ الناغا كَرْكوطَكَ (Karkoṭaka) قائمًا هناك، وقد اتخذَ صورتَهُ الحقيقية.
ब॒हदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that external appearance can be altered by circumstances and higher agencies, but wisdom lies in perceiving true identity (svarūpa) beyond superficial change; it also frames astonishment as a natural response when one confronts sudden reversals of fortune.
Nala sees that his own form has become changed and stands in amazement; he then notices the serpent Karkoṭaka present before him, standing in (or having resumed) his true form.