Shloka 13
अक्षद्यूतप्रवेशः — Kali’s Entry and the Initiation of the Dice-Contest
नैषधेनैवमुक्ता सा दमयन्ती वचो<ब्रवीत् । समाप्लुताभ्यां नेत्राभ्यां शोकजेनाथ वारिणा,तदनन्तर निषधराज नलके ऐसा कहनेपर दमयन्ती शोकाश्रुओंसे भरे हुए नेत्रोंद्वारा देखती हुई इस प्रकार बोली--
bṛhadaśva uvāca |
naiṣadhenaivam uktā sā damayantī vaco 'bravīt |
samāplutābhyāṃ netrābhyāṃ śokajenātha vāriṇā ||
Así interpelada por el rey de Niṣadha (Nala), Damayantī respondió. Sus ojos estaban anegados por lágrimas nacidas del dolor; y mirando a través de ellas, pronunció estas palabras—
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of suffering borne with dignity: Damayantī’s grief is acknowledged without diminishing her agency. It frames truthful speech and steadfastness (dharma in adversity) as emerging even amid intense sorrow.
In Bṛhadaśva’s narration of the Nala–Damayantī episode, Nala (the king of Niṣadha) has spoken to Damayantī. Overcome with grief, her eyes filled with tears, she looks on and begins her reply, marking a pivotal moment of emotional and moral confrontation.