Shloka 38
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
अपां पतिरपां भावं यत्र वाउ्छति नैषध: । स्रजश्नोत्तमगन्धाद्या: सर्वे च मिथुन ददुः,जलके स्वामी वरुणने नलकी इच्छाके अनुसार जल प्रकट होनेका वर दिया और यह भी कहा कि "तुम्हारी पुष्पमालाएँ सदा उत्तम गन्धसे सम्पन्न होंगी।/ इस प्रकार सब देवताओंने दो-दो वर दिये
apāṁ patir apāṁ bhāvaṁ yatra vāñchati naiṣadhaḥ | srajaś cottamagandhādyāḥ sarve ca mithunaṁ daduḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “Varuṇa, lord of the waters, granted the Naiṣadha (Nala) this boon: that water would appear wherever he wished. He also declared that Nala’s garlands would always be endowed with the finest fragrance. Thus, each of the gods bestowed two boons upon him.”
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Divine gifts are portrayed as supporting righteous kingship and personal excellence: boons are not mere power, but aids that uphold dignity, auspiciousness, and the capacity to act effectively in dharmic life.
Bṛhadaśva recounts how Varuṇa grants Nala two boons—instant access to water wherever he wishes and ever-fragrant garlands—while noting that all the gods similarly give two boons each.