Shloka 4
Adhyāya 73: Damayantī’s Investigation of Bāhuka
Keśinī’s Observations
दमयन्ती तु शुश्राव रथघोष॑ नलस्य तम् | यथा मेघस्य नदतो गम्भीरं जलदागमे,दमयन्तीने भी नलके रथकी वह घर्घराहट सुनी, मानो वर्षाकालमें गरजते हुए मेघोंका गम्भीर घोष सुनायी देता हो
damayantī tu śuśrāva rathaghoṣaṁ nalasya tam | yathā meghasya nadato gambhīraṁ jaladāgame ||
Damayantī oyó el retumbo del carro de Nala: hondo y resonante, como el trueno de una nube rugiente cuando se anuncia la estación de las lluvias.
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores fidelity and perseverance in adversity: Damayantī’s unwavering remembrance allows a single sensory sign—the chariot’s deep rumble—to awaken hope and recognition. Ethically, it highlights steadfast commitment and the sustaining power of trust and memory during separation.
In Bṛhadaśva’s narration of the Nala–Damayantī story, Damayantī hears the deep, thunder-like sound of Nala’s chariot. The simile to monsoon thunder conveys both the intensity of the sound and the emotional surge it triggers, foreshadowing an imminent meeting or decisive turn in their story.