Shloka 9
Adhyāya 76: Kuṇḍina-praveśaḥ, Bhīmena satkāraḥ, Ṛtuparṇa-kṣamā, Aśvahṛdaya-pratyarpanam
Nala’s Reception and Reconciliation
ततः काषायवसना जटिला मलपड्किनी । दमयन्ती महाराज बाहुकं वाक्यमत्रवीत्,महाराज! तदनन्तर मलिन वस्त्र पहने, जटा धारण किये, मैल और पंकसे मलिन दमयन्तीने बाहुकसे पूछा--
tataḥ kāṣāyavasanā jaṭilā malapaṅkinī | damayantī mahārāja bāhukaṃ vākyam abravīt ||
Dann — o König — sprach Damayantī, in schmutzige safranfarbene Gewänder gehüllt, das Haar zu verfilzten Strähnen (Jatā) verworren und der Leib mit Staub und Schlamm beschmiert, zu Bāhuka.
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness in dharma under extreme adversity: Damayantī’s outward ruin does not diminish her inner dignity and commitment to truth, loyalty, and purposeful speech.
Damayantī, reduced to a distressed and unkempt state from wandering and suffering, approaches and speaks to Bāhuka—who is actually Nala in disguise—initiating a crucial exchange that advances recognition and reunion.