Shloka 18
नलस्य दमयन्त्युत्सर्गः
Nala’s Abandonment of Damayantī in the Lodging Hall
नायमस्तीति दु:खार्ता व्रीडिता जग्मुरालयान् । तथा तदभवद् दूत॑ पुष्करस्य नलस्य च । युधिष्ठिर बहून् मासान् पुण्यश्लोकस्त्वजीयत
nāyam astīti duḥkhārtā vrīḍitā jagmur ālayān | tathā tad abhavad dūta puṣkarasya nalasya ca | yudhiṣṭhira bahūn māsān puṇyaślokas tv ajīyata
Thinking, “He is not here,” they were stricken with sorrow and, ashamed, returned to their dwellings. And so it turned out, O messenger, for both Puṣkara and Nala: for many months, O Yudhiṣṭhira, the famed (Nala) remained unconquered.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how reputation and steadfastness endure through adversity: despite attempts and the surrounding shame and disappointment, the ‘puṇyaśloka’ (renowned) figure remains unconquered for a long time, suggesting the ethical ideal of resilience and the sustaining power of virtuous fame.
Bṛhadaśva continues the Nala episode, describing how people, believing ‘he is not here,’ return home in grief and embarrassment; he then reports to the ‘messenger’ that events unfolded thus for both Puṣkara and Nala, and tells Yudhiṣṭhira that Nala remained undefeated for many months.