Shloka 15
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
अतीव शोकसंततप्ता मुहुर्नि:श्वस्य विद्नला । उवाच भैमी नि:श्वस्य रुदत्यथ पतिव्रता,अत्यन्त शोकसंतप्त हो बार-बार लंबी साँसें खींचती हुई व्याकुल पतिव्रता दमयन्ती दीर्घ नि:श्वास लेकर रोती हुई बोली--
atīva śokasantaptā muhur niḥśvasya vidnalā | uvāca bhaimī niḥśvasya rudaty atha pativratā ||
Consumida por un dolor inmenso, exhalaba una y otra vez hondos suspiros, mientras se le desmoronaban las fuerzas y el dominio de sí. Entonces Bhīmī —firme en el dharma de la esposa fiel (pativratā)— habló, tras tomar de nuevo un largo aliento, entre lágrimas.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness in dharma—especially pativratā-dharma—showing that even when overwhelmed by grief, one may continue to uphold fidelity, restraint, and moral resolve rather than collapsing into despair alone.
In Bṛhadaśva’s narration of the Nala–Damayantī episode, Damayantī (Bhīmī) is depicted as intensely grief-stricken, repeatedly sighing and weeping; after this emotional build-up, she begins to speak.