Shloka 2
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
तच्छुत्वा पृथिवीपाला: सर्वे हच्छयपीडिता: । त्वरिता: समुपाजम्मुर्दमयन्तीम भीप्सव:,यह सुनकर सब भूपाल कामपीड़ित हो दमयन्तीको पानेकी इच्छासे तुरंत चल दिये
tac chrutvā pṛthivīpālāḥ sarve hṛcchayapīḍitāḥ | tvaritāḥ samupājagmur damayantīm abhīpsavaḥ ||
Hearing this, all the kings—tormented by the fever of desire—set out at once in haste, longing to win Damayantī.
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how desire (hṛcchaya) can overpower judgment, even in kings, prompting hurried action; it implicitly points toward the need for restraint and dharmic conduct when pursuing personal aims.
After hearing about Damayantī, the kings become love-stricken and immediately set out, eager to obtain her—preparing the narrative ground for her svayaṃvara and the ensuing tests of worthiness and choice.