Shloka 18
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
एवं तु विलपन्ती सा राज्ञो भार्या महात्मन: । अन्वेषमाणा भार्तरं बने श्वापदसेविते,इस प्रकार विलाप करती तथा हिंख्र जन्तुओंसे भरे हुए वनमें अपने पतिको ढूँढ़ती हुई महामना राजा नलकी पत्नी भीमकुमारी दमयन्ती उन्मत्त हुई रोती-बिलखती और “हा राजन! हा महाराज” ऐसा बार-बार कहती हुई इधर-उधर दौड़ने लगी
evaṃ tu vilapantī sā rājño bhāryā mahātmanaḥ | anveṣamāṇā bhartāraṃ vane śvāpadasevite ||
Thus lamenting, the noble wife of the great-souled king, searching for her husband in a forest haunted by wild beasts, wandered in anguish—crying and weeping as she ran here and there, again and again calling, “O king! O great king!” The scene proclaims steadfast wifely fidelity and the moral endurance demanded by adversity.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic steadfastness under distress: Damayantī’s unwavering commitment to her husband and her endurance in danger illustrate moral resilience and fidelity even when circumstances become terrifying and uncertain.
Damayantī, separated from King Nala, is shown wandering in a wild-beast-haunted forest, crying and searching for him, repeatedly calling out to him as she runs about in grief.