Shloka 2
Damayantī’s Lament, Serpent-Seizure, Rescue by the Hunter, and the Curse
भयशोकसमाविष्टा राजन् भीमसुता तत: । चिन्तयामास तत् कार्य सुमहत् पार्थिवं प्रति,बृहदश्च मुनि कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर दमयन्तीने देखा कि पुण्यश्लोक महाराज नल उन्मत्तकी भाँति द्यूतक्रीडामें आसक्त हैं। वह स्वयं सावधान थी। उनकी वैसी अवस्था देख भीमकुमारी भय और शोकसे व्याकुल हो गयी और महाराजके हितके लिये किसी महत्त्वपूर्ण कार्यका चिन्तन करने लगी
Bṛhadaśva uvāca—bhayaśokasamāviṣṭā rājan bhīmasutā tataḥ | cintayāmāsa tat kāryaṁ sumahat pārthivaṁ prati ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “O king, then Bhīma’s daughter (Damayantī), overwhelmed by fear and grief, began to ponder some very weighty course of action for the good of the sovereign.”
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a moral crisis, one should not be paralyzed by emotion; fear and grief can be acknowledged, yet one must still deliberate on a responsible, welfare-oriented action—especially when the well-being of a ruler and the stability of the realm are at stake.
Bṛhadaśva narrates that Damayantī, seeing the king’s troubling condition, becomes distressed and begins to plan a significant step aimed at protecting or benefiting him.