Shloka 28
दमयन्तीस्वयंवरः — देववेषधारणं, सत्यप्रार्थना, नलवरणम्
Damayantī’s Svayaṃvara: Divine Disguises, Truth-Vow, and Choosing Nala
अथ देवा: पथि नल ददृशुर्भूतले स्थितम् । साक्षादिव स्थितं मूर्त्या मन्मथं रूपसम्पदा,उस समय देवताओंने पृथ्वीपर मार्गमें खड़े हुए राजा नलको देखा। रूप-सम्पत्तिकी दृष्टिसे वे साक्षात् मूर्तिमान् कामदेव-से जान पड़ते थे
atha devāḥ pathi nalaṁ dadṛśur bhūtale sthitam | sākṣād iva sthitaṁ mūrtyā manmathaṁ rūpasampadā ||
Then the gods saw King Nala standing on the road upon the earth. By the splendor of his beauty and presence, he appeared as if he were Manmatha (Kāma) himself, embodied before their eyes.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner worth and royal dignity can manifest outwardly as radiance and beauty; even divine beings recognize excellence when it is grounded in noble character, suggesting that true splendor is not merely sensual but ethically resonant.
Nārada narrates that the gods, traveling along the way, notice King Nala standing on the earth; his striking appearance makes him seem like the embodied god of love, Manmatha.