Shloka 8
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
दमयन्ती ततो रजझ्ुूं प्रविवेश शुभानना । मुष्णन्ती प्रभया राज्ञां चक्षूंषि च मनांसि च,तदनन्तर अपनी प्रभासे राजाओंके नयनोंको लुभाती और चित्तको चुराती हुई सुन्दर मुखवाली दमयन्तीने रंगभूमिमें प्रवेश किया
damayantī tato raṅgaṃ praviveśa śubhānanā | muṣṇantī prabhayā rājñāṃ cakṣūṃṣi ca manāṃsi ca ||
Then Damayantī, the fair-faced lady, entered the arena. By the radiance of her beauty she captivated the kings—stealing away both their eyes and their hearts—so that their attention and desire were drawn wholly toward her.
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sensory beauty can seize attention and disturb inner steadiness; it implicitly points to the ethical need for self-mastery (indriya-nigraha) and discernment so that the mind is not carried away merely by appearance.
In the svayaṃvara setting, Damayantī enters the public arena. Her splendor immediately captivates the assembled kings, who become absorbed in looking at her and thinking of her.