Shloka 20
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
यथेदं व्रतमारब्धं नलस्याराधने मया । तेन सत्येन मे देवास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे,“यदि मैंने नलकी आराधनाके लिये ही यह व्रत आरम्भ किया हो तो उस सत्यके प्रभावसे देवता मुझे उनन््हींको बतला दें
yathedaṃ vratam ārabdhaṃ nalasyārādhane mayā | tena satyena me devās tam eva pradiśantu me ||
Bṛhadaśva sprach: „Wenn ich dieses Gelübde einzig begonnen habe, um Nala zu verehren und ihm zu dienen, dann mögen die Götter mir kraft dieser Wahrheit eben ihn (Nala) weisen.“
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates satyakriyā—the ethical and spiritual idea that a truthful declaration, grounded in sincere intent and righteous conduct, can become efficacious and invite divine guidance.
Bṛhadaśva makes a conditional truth-assertion: if his vow was truly undertaken for Nala’s devoted service, then the gods should, by that truth’s power, reveal or indicate Nala to him.