Shloka 39
Parṇāda’s Report; Bāhuka’s Counsel; Damayantī’s Strategic Svayaṃvara Message (अध्याय ६८)
एवमुक्तस्तया राजन् सुदेवो द्विजसत्तम: । सुखोपविष्ट आचष्ट दमयन्त्या यथातथम्,राजन्! राजमाताके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर वे द्विजश्रेष्ठ सुदेव सुखपूर्वक बैठकर दमयन्तीका यथार्थ वृत्तान्त बताने लगे
evam uktas tayā rājan sudevo dvijasattamaḥ | sukhopaviṣṭa ācaṣṭa damayantyā yathātatham ||
O King, thus addressed by her, Sudeva—the foremost among Brahmins—sat down at ease and began to relate, truthfully and in due order, the full account concerning Damayantī.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in speech: when asked, a learned and responsible person should present an account truthfully (yathātatham), without exaggeration or concealment, and with composed clarity.
After being questioned, Sudeva—described as an eminent Brahmin—sits down comfortably and begins narrating the true events concerning Damayantī to the king, as Bṛhadaśva continues the story.