Shloka 13
Damayantī’s Lament, Serpent-Seizure, Rescue by the Hunter, and the Curse
जानीषे त्वं यथा राजा सम्यग वृत्त: सदा त्वयि | तस्य त्वं विषमस्थस्य साहाय्यं कर्तुमहसि,'सूत! तुम जानते हो कि महाराज तुम्हारे प्रति कैसा अच्छा बर्ताव करते थे। आज वे विषम संकटमें पड़ गये हैं, अतः तुम्हें भी उनकी सहायता करनी चाहिये
bṛhadaśva uvāca | jānīṣe tvaṃ yathā rājā samyag vṛttaḥ sadā tvayi | tasya tvaṃ viṣamasthasya sāhāyyaṃ kartum arhasi |
Bṛhadaśva said: “You know well how the king has always behaved rightly and kindly toward you. Now that he has fallen into a difficult crisis, it is fitting that you, too, should render him help.”
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches reciprocity grounded in dharma: when someone—especially a benefactor like a king—has consistently acted rightly toward you, you have an ethical obligation to support him when he is in distress.
Bṛhadaśva addresses a sūta, reminding him of the king’s past good conduct toward him and urging him to provide assistance now that the king is caught in a difficult predicament.