Shloka 9

दमयन्ती–बाहुकसंवादः

Damayantī’s Dialogue with Bāhuka; Recognition and Disclosure

Devanagari script

श्र॒ुत्वैतत्‌ प्रस्थितो राजा शतयोजनयायिश्रि: । हयैर्वातजवैर्मुख्यैरहमस्य च सारथि:,यह सुनकर राजा हवाके समान वेगवाले और सौ योजनतक दौड़नेवाले अच्छे घोड़ोंसे जुते हुए रथपर सवार हो विदर्भदेशके लिये प्रस्थित हो गये। इस यात्रामें मैं ही इनका सारथि था

Transliteration

śrutvैतat prasthito rājā śatayojanayāyiśriḥ | hayair vātajavair mukhyair aham asya ca sārathiḥ ||

Translation

فلما سمع ذلك، انطلق الملك في الحال، وركب عربةً موثوقةً بخيولٍ ممتازةٍ سريعةٍ كالريح، مشهورةٍ بأنها تقطع مئة يوجانا. وفي تلك الرحلة كنتُ أنا نفسي سائقه ومُسَيِّرَ عربته.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• एतत्: this (matter)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रस्थितः: departed / set out
• प्रस्थितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शतयोजनयायि-श्रीः: having the splendor/quality of going a hundred yojanas (i.e., with horses capable of a hundred-yojana run)
• शतयोजनयायि-श्रीः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शतयोजनयायिन् + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हयैः: with horses
• हयैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वातजवैः: with wind-speed (very swift)
• वातजवैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वातजव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मुख्यैः: excellent / choice
• मुख्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• अस्य: of him / his
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• सारथिः: charioteer
• सारथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

बाहुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bāhuka
• rājā (king)
• ratha (chariot)
• haya (horses)
• Vidarbha (Vidarbha-deśa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma through prompt action and faithful service: a ruler acts decisively after hearing counsel, while the attendant (Bāhuka) fulfills his duty as charioteer with steadiness and humility.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the relevant message, the king departs for Vidarbha in a chariot drawn by elite, wind-fast horses reputed to cover a hundred yojanas; Bāhuka states that he was the king’s charioteer on this journey.