Shloka 46
Adhyāya 76: Kuṇḍina-praveśaḥ, Bhīmena satkāraḥ, Ṛtuparṇa-kṣamā, Aśvahṛdaya-pratyarpanam
Nala’s Reception and Reconciliation
तथैव मलदिग्धाजुीं परिष्वज्य शुचिस्मिताम् । सुचिरं पुरुषव्याप्रस्तस्थौ शोकपरिप्लुत:,इसी प्रकार पवित्र मुसकान तथा मैलसे भरे हुए अंगोंवाली दमयन्तीको हृदयसे लगाकर पुरुषसिंह नल बहुत देरतक शोकमग्न खड़े रहे
tathaiva maladigdhāṅgīṃ pariṣvajya śucismitām | suciraṃ puruṣavyāghras tasthau śokapariplutaḥ ||
In the same way, embracing Damayantī—whose limbs were smeared with grime yet whose smile remained pure—Nala, the tiger among men, stood for a long time, overwhelmed and flooded by grief.
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Enduring love and moral recognition look beyond external degradation; yet even the virtuous can be immobilized by grief, reminding us to acknowledge sorrow while returning to right action (dharma).
Nala recognizes Damayantī despite her hardship, embraces her, and then remains standing for a long time, overcome with sorrow—marking an emotionally charged moment in their reunion after separation.