Shloka 12
ऋतुपर्णस्य विदर्भयात्रा-निश्चयः तथा बाहुकस्य हयपरिक्षा (Ṛtuparṇa’s resolve to go to Vidarbha and Bāhuka’s examination of horses)
पिप्लुं दृष्टवा सुनन्दा च राजमाता च भारत । रुदत्यौ तां परिष्वज्य मुहूर्तमिव तस्थतु:,भारत! उस चिह्नको देखकर सुनन्दा और राजमाता दोनों रोने लगीं और दमयन्तीको हृदयसे लगाये दो घड़ीतक स्तब्ध खड़ी रहीं
piplum dṛṣṭvā sunandā ca rājamātā ca bhārata | rudatyau tāṃ pariṣvajya muhūrtam iva tasthatuḥ ||
O Bhārata, on seeing that mark, Sunandā and the queen-mother were overcome with grief. Weeping, they embraced Damayantī and stood motionless for what seemed a long moment.
युदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of compassion and familial care: recognition of a suffering person should move one to immediate empathy and protective embrace, not cold detachment.
After noticing an identifying sign, Sunandā and the queen-mother recognize Damayantī; they begin to weep, embrace her tightly, and remain stunned in silence for a while.