Shloka 18

दमयन्ती-शपथः वायोः साक्ष्यं च

Damayantī’s Oath and Vāyu’s Testimony

Devanagari script

बृहृदश्चव उवाच दमयन्ती तु तच्छुत्वा पुण्यश्लोकस्य चेष्टितम्‌ । अमन्यत नल प्राप्तं कर्मचेष्टाभिसूचितम्‌,बृहदश्व मुनि कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! दमयन्तीने पुण्यश्लोक महाराज नलकी-सी बाहुककी सारी चेष्टाओंको सुनकर मन-ही-मन यह निश्चय कर लिया कि महाराज नल ही आये हैं। अपने कार्यों और चेष्टाओंद्वारा वे पहचान लिये गये हैं

Transliteration

bṛhadaśva uvāca: damayantī tu tac chrutvā puṇyaślokasya ceṣṭitam | amanyata nala prāptaṃ karmaceṣṭābhisūcitam ||

Translation

Dijo Bṛhadaśva: «Al oír la conducta y los ademanes del ilustre rey (Nala), Damayantī concluyó en su fuero interno que Nala había llegado en verdad. Por sus hechos y por sus acciones características, lo reconoció».

Word by Word

• {'bṛhadaśva uvāca': 'Bṛhadaśva said', 'damayantī': 'Damayantī (princess of Vidarbha, wife of Nala)', 'tu': 'indeed

• then', 'tac chrutvā (tat śrutvā)': 'having heard that', 'puṇyaślokasya': 'of the famed/virtuous one

• of one whose renown is meritorious (epithet of a noble king, here Nala)', 'ceṣṭitam': 'conduct

• mannerisms', 'amanyata': 'she thought

• she judged', 'nala': 'Nala (king of Niṣadha)', 'prāptam': 'arrived

• come', 'karma': 'deed

• work', 'ceṣṭā': 'gesture

• characteristic movement', 'abhisūcitam': 'indicated

Speaker

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Damayantī
• Nala (Puṇyaśloka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True identity is revealed through consistent conduct: character and habitual actions can disclose what words or disguises conceal. The verse also highlights steadfast loyalty—Damayantī’s discernment is grounded in intimate knowledge and faithful attention.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva narrates that Damayantī hears a description of the famed king Nala’s distinctive behavior (associated with his disguised presence) and, from these signs, becomes convinced internally that Nala has come and is being indicated by his deeds and mannerisms.