Shloka 20
दमयन्त्या वणिजां सार्थगमनम्, हस्तियूथविप्लवः, चेदिराजपुरप्रवेशश्च
Damayantī joins a caravan; elephant-herd catastrophe; entry into Cedi
ततो निवृत्तहदय: पुनरागम्य तां सभाम् | दमयन्तीं तदा दृष्टवा रुरोद निषधाधिप:,कुछ दूर जानेपर उनके हृदयका विचार पलट गया और वे पुनः उसी सभाभवनमें लौट आये। वहाँ उस समय दमयन्तीको देखकर निषधनरेश नल फूट-फूटकर रोने लगे
tato nivṛttahṛdayaḥ punar āgamya tāṃ sabhām | damayantīṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā ruroda niṣadhādhipaḥ ||
Then, his resolve turning back, he returned again to that assembly hall. There, on seeing Damayantī, the lord of Niṣadha (King Nala) broke down and wept—his grief and remorse overcoming him in the very place where duty and restraint were expected.
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral psychology of repentance: when the heart turns back from a mistaken course, true feeling surfaces. Even a king, expected to embody steadiness and restraint in the sabhā, is shown as human—grief and remorse arise when one confronts the person harmed or lost, urging a return toward dharma and responsibility.
Bṛhadaśva narrates that Nala, after moving away, has a change of heart and returns to the assembly hall. There he sees Damayantī, and the sight overwhelms him; the king of Niṣadha begins to weep openly.