Shloka 34

दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure

Devanagari script

वृते तु नैषधे भैम्या लोकपाला महौजस:

Transliteration

vṛte tu naiṣadhe bhaimyā lokapālā mahaujasaḥ

Translation

Bṛhadaśva said: When the king of Niṣadha (Nala) had been chosen by Bhīmā’s daughter (Damayantī), the mighty guardians of the worlds—great in power—were present as witnesses to that choice.

Word by Word

• वृते: when (he) was chosen
• वृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वरणे) → वृत (क्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• नैषधे: in Nala (the king of Niṣadha)
• नैषधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैषध
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भैम्या: by Bhīmī (Damayantī)
• भैम्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैमी
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• लोकपालाः: the guardians of the worlds (Lokapālas)
• लोकपालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महौजसः: of great splendor/might
• महौजसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महौजस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

बृहदश्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Nala (Naiṣadha)
• Damayantī (Bhaimyā)
• Lokapālas (guardians of the worlds)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A righteous choice—especially in marriage and kingship—is not merely private; it is framed as a dharmic act witnessed by higher powers. The verse underscores the moral weight of choosing a worthy partner and the idea that such decisions stand before cosmic order.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the account of Nala and Damayantī, Damayantī selects Nala (the king of Niṣadha) in her svayaṃvara. The verse notes that the powerful lokapālas are present at this moment, highlighting the extraordinary, divinely observed nature of the event.