Shloka 33
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
अरालपक्ष्मनयनां तथा मधुरभाषिणीम् | लक्षयित्वा मृगव्याध: कामस्य वशमीयिवान्,स्थूल नितम्ब और स्तनोंवाली विदर्भकुमारीने आधे वस्त्रसे ही अपने अंगोंको ढँक रखा था। पूर्ण चन्द्रमाके समान मनोहर मुखवाली दमयन्तीका एक-एक अंग सुकुमार एवं निर्दोष था। उसकी आँखें तिरछी बरौनियोंसे सुशोभित थीं और वह बड़े मधुर स्वरमें बोल रही थी। इन सब बातोंकी ओर लक्ष्य करके वह व्याध कामके अधीन हो गया
arālapakṣmanayanāṁ tathā madhurabhāṣiṇīm | lakṣayitvā mṛgavyādhaḥ kāmasya vaśam īyivān |
Bṛhadaśva said: Seeing her—Damayantī—whose eyes were adorned with gracefully curved eyelashes and whose speech was sweet, the hunter, observing these charms, fell under the sway of desire.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral risk of unguarded perception: when the mind dwells on attractive features, desire can seize control. It implicitly recommends restraint and mindful awareness so that one’s conduct remains aligned with dharma rather than impulse.
Bṛhadaśva narrates that a hunter, after noticing Damayantī’s beautiful eyes and sweet speech, becomes overpowered by desire. The moment sets up a tension between appearance-driven attraction and the ethical consequences that may follow.