Shloka 10
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
ततः संकीर्त्यमानेषु राज्ञां नामसु भारत । ददर्श भैमी पुरुषान् पज्चतुल्याकृतीनिह,भारत! तत्पश्चात् राजाओंके नाम, रूप, यश और पराक्रम आदिका परिचय दिया जाने लगा। भीमकुमारी दमयन्तीने आगे बढ़कर देखा, यहाँ तो एक जगह पाँच पुरुष एक ही आकृतिके बैठे हुए हैं
tataḥ saṅkīrtyamāneṣu rājñāṃ nāmasu bhārata | dadarśa bhaimī puruṣān pañcatulyākṛtīn iha ||
Bṛhadaśva said: Then, as the names of the kings were being proclaimed, O Bhārata, Bhīma’s daughter (Damayantī) looked ahead and saw here five men of identical appearance.
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Outer appearance can be made deceptive; dharmic choice requires viveka (discernment) and inner steadiness. Damayantī’s challenge is to recognize truth and virtue beyond mere form and public acclaim.
During the svayaṃvara proceedings, as the kings’ names are announced, Damayantī sees five men who look exactly alike—an episode setting up her test of identifying Nala among divine impersonators.