Shloka 116
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
तां दृष्टवा तत्र मनुजा: केचिद् भीताः: प्रदुद्रुवुः । केचिच्चिन्तापरा जग्मु: केचित् तत्र विचुक्रुशु:,वहाँ दमयन्तीको सहसा देखकर कितने ही मनुष्य भयसे भाग खड़े हुए। कोई-कोई भारी चिन्तामें पड़ गये और कुछ लोग तो चीखने-चिल्लाने लगे
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra manujāḥ kecid bhītāḥ pradudruvuḥ | kecic cintāparā jagmuḥ kecit tatra vicukruśuḥ ||
Seeing her there all at once, some of the people were seized with fear and ran away. Others, overwhelmed with anxious concern, went off in troubled thought, while some cried out loudly on the spot—so startling was the sight before them.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how human beings respond differently to sudden distressing sights—fear, anxious concern, or loud lamentation—inviting reflection on steadiness of mind and compassionate discernment rather than panic.
Bṛhadaśva describes the immediate public reaction when Damayantī is suddenly seen in a shocking condition: some flee in fear, some become deeply worried and withdraw, and others cry out loudly at the scene.