Shloka 7
Damayantī’s Lament, Serpent-Seizure, Rescue by the Hunter, and the Curse
तब वे सब मन्त्री राजा नलका आदेश जानकर “हमारा अहोभाग्य है', ऐसा कहते हुए नलके पास आये ।। तास्तु सर्वा: प्रकृतयो द्वितीयं समुपस्थिता: । न्यवेदयद् भीमसुता न च तत् प्रत्यनन्दत,वे सारी (मन्त्री आदि) प्रकृतियाँ दूसरी बार राजद्वारपर उपस्थित हुईं। दमयन्तीने इसकी सूचना महाराज नलको दी, परन्तु उन्होंने इस बातका अभिनन्दन नहीं किया
tāstu sarvāḥ prakṛtayo dvitīyaṃ samupasthitāḥ | nyavedayad bhīmasutā na ca tat pratyānandata ||
Then all the king’s subjects and officials (the prakṛtis) presented themselves at the palace gate a second time. Damayantī, Bhīma’s daughter, informed King Nala of their renewed attendance; yet Nala did not welcome or approve the report—revealing his inward distress and reluctance to resume royal duties despite the people’s loyalty.
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between personal anguish and public duty: even when the polity (prakṛtis) remains loyal and ready to serve, a ruler burdened by inner turmoil may fail to respond appropriately. It implicitly points to the ethical ideal that kingship requires steadiness and responsiveness to the people.
The kingdom’s constituents—ministers and leading subjects—come again to the royal gate. Damayantī reports their presence to Nala, but Nala does not greet the news with approval, indicating his reluctance or inability to re-engage with royal responsibilities at that moment.