Shloka 396
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
दमयन्त्याश्व मुदिता: प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम् । इस प्रकार राजा नलको वरदान देकर वे देवता-लोग स्वर्गलोकको चले गये। स्वयंवरमें आये हुए राजा भी विस्मयविमुग्ध हो नल और दमयन्तीके विवाहोत्सवका-सा अनुभव करते हुए प्रसन्नतापूर्वक जैसे आये थे, वैसे लौट गये
bṛhadaśva uvāca | damayantyāś ca muditāḥ pratijagmur yathāgatam |
Bṛhadaśva said: Rejoicing for Damayantī, they departed and returned by the very way they had come. Having granted their boon, the gods went back to heaven; and the kings assembled for the svayaṃvara, astonished and delighted, withdrew as they had arrived—feeling as though they had witnessed a true wedding-festival of Nala and Damayantī.
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a union is aligned with dharma and affirmed by higher authority, rivalry subsides: even competing kings accept the outcome, and the community returns to order without conflict.
After granting a boon, the gods depart to Svarga. The assembled kings, amazed by what has occurred at the svayaṃvara, also return home as they came, feeling they have witnessed a joyous wedding celebration of Nala and Damayantī.