Shloka 26
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
सा समीक्ष्य तु तान् देवान् पुण्यश्लोक॑ च भारत | नैषधं वरयामास भैमी धर्मेण पाण्डव,भरतकुलभूषण पाण्डुनन्दन! राजकुमारी दमयन्तीने उन देवताओं तथा पुण्यश्लोक नलकी ओर पुनः दृष्टिपात करके धर्मके अनुसार निषधराज नलका ही वरण किया
sā samīkṣya tu tān devān puṇyaślokam ca bhārata | naiṣadhaṃ varayāmāsa bhaimī dharmeṇa pāṇḍava ||
O Bhārata, after looking again at those gods and at Puṇyaśloka Nala, Bhīmī (Damayantī) chose the king of Niṣadha in accordance with dharma—affirming her rightful, ethical choice despite divine presence and temptation.
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when confronted by dazzling power and divine alternatives, one should act according to dharma—upholding truthfulness, rightful commitment, and ethical discernment rather than being swayed by fear or allure.
At Damayantī’s svayaṃvara, the gods appear alongside Nala. After carefully looking at the deities and at Nala again, Damayantī publicly chooses Nala—the king of Niṣadha—explicitly grounding her decision in dharma.