Shloka 1
Kāmyake Arjuna-viyogaḥ — The Pandavas’ despondency in Kāmyaka during Arjuna’s absence
हि आय ० (0) है 2 एकोनाशीतितमो< ध्याय: राजा नलके आख्यानके कीर्तनका महत्त्व, बृहदश्व मुनिका युधिषछ्तटिरको आश्वासन देना तथा द्यूतविद्या और अश्वविद्याका रहस्य बताकर जाना बृहदश्च उवाच प्रशान्ते तु पुरे हृष्टे सम्प्रवृत्ते महोत्सवे । महत्या सेनया राजा दमयन्तीमुपानयत्,बृहदश्च मुनि कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! जब नगरमें शान्ति छा गयी और सब लोग प्रसन्न हो गये, सर्वत्र महान् उत्सव होने लगा, उस समय राजा नल विशाल सेनाके साथ जाकर दमयन्तीको विदर्भदेशसे बुला लाये
bṛhadaśva uvāca | praśānte tu pure hṛṣṭe sampravṛtte mahotsave | mahatyā senayā rājā damayantīm upānayat |
Bṛhadaśva said: “O Yudhiṣṭhira, when peace had settled over the city and the people were joyful, and a great festival was underway everywhere, King Nala, accompanied by a large army, went and brought Damayantī from the land of Vidarbha.”
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ideal of restored order: when a realm becomes peaceful and the people are joyful, auspicious social rites—here the bringing of Damayantī for marriage—can proceed properly. It implicitly links good kingship with public tranquility and the timely performance of dharmic life-stages.
In Bṛhadaśva’s narration to Yudhiṣṭhira, the setting shifts to a moment of civic calm and celebration. King Nala, with a substantial retinue, goes to Vidarbha and brings Damayantī, marking the formal movement toward their union within a public, festive context.