Shloka 6

दमयन्तीस्वयंवरः — देववेषधारणं, सत्यप्रार्थना, नलवरणम्

Damayantī’s Svayaṃvara: Divine Disguises, Truth-Vow, and Choosing Nala

Devanagari script

न्यवेदयत्‌ तामस्वस्थां दमयन्तीं नरेश्वरे । तच्छुत्वा नृपतिर्भीमो दमयन्तीं सखीगणात्‌

Transliteration

nyavedayat tāmasvasthāṃ damayantīṃ nareśvare | tac chrutvā nṛpatir bhīmo damayantīṃ sakhīgaṇāt

Translation

Bṛhadaśva reported to the king that Damayantī had fallen into a dark and distressed condition. Hearing this, the mighty King Bhīma, overcome with concern, sought Damayantī among her circle of companions.

Word by Word

• न्यवेदयत्: reported, informed
• Type: Verb
• Root: निवेदय् (√विद् with ni- + causative)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अस्वस्थाम्: unwell, distressed
• अस्वस्थाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्वस्थ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दमयन्तीम्: Damayantī
• दमयन्तीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमयन्ती
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• नरेश्वरे: to/at the king (lord of men)
• नरेश्वरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तत्: that (news/statement)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमः: Bhīma
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दमयन्तीम्: Damayantī
• दमयन्तीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमयन्ती
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सखीगणात्: from the group of (her) friends
• सखीगणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखीगण
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Damayantī
• the king (nareśvara/nṛpati, described as bhīma)
• sakhīgaṇa (Damayantī’s companions)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s strength is shown not only in power but in attentive care: when informed of another’s suffering, he responds with concern and seeks to understand the situation directly, reflecting compassion and responsible kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva informs the king that Damayantī is in a troubled, unhealthy state. The king, described as mighty, reacts upon hearing this and turns to Damayantī’s companions to reach or inquire after her.