Shloka 12
दमयन्त्या वणिजां सार्थगमनम्, हस्तियूथविप्लवः, चेदिराजपुरप्रवेशश्च
Damayantī joins a caravan; elephant-herd catastrophe; entry into Cedi
मयि नि:संशयं दुःखमियं प्राप्स्यत्यनुव्रता । उत्सगें संशय: स्यात् तु विन्देतापि सुखं क्वचित्,“मेरे पास रहकर तो यह पतित्रता नारी निश्चय ही केवल दुःख भोगेगी। यद्यपि इसे त्याग देनेपर एक संशय बना रहेगा तो भी यह सम्भव है कि इसे कभी सुख मिल जाय'
mayi niḥsaṁśayaṁ duḥkham iyaṁ prāpsyaty anuvratā | utsarge saṁśayaḥ syāt tu vindetāpi sukhaṁ kvacit ||
Bṛhadaśva sprach: „Bleibt sie bei mir, wird diese hingebungsvolle, treue Gattin ohne Zweifel nur Leid erlangen. Verlasse ich sie, so bleibt zwar eine Ungewissheit; doch ist es möglich, dass sie irgendwo und irgendwann Glück findet.“
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical dilemma: keeping a devoted dependent close may guarantee her suffering, while letting her go carries uncertainty but may open the possibility of her welfare. It highlights responsibility weighed against outcomes, and the painful choices sometimes required by dharma.
Bṛhadaśva reflects aloud on the fate of a faithful wife connected to him. He reasons that her staying with him will certainly bring her hardship, whereas abandoning her is morally uncertain yet could allow her to find happiness elsewhere.