Shloka 6

दमयन्ती-शपथः वायोः साक्ष्यं च

Damayantī’s Oath and Vāyu’s Testimony

Devanagari script

दमयन्त्यैवमुक्ता सा जगामाथ च केशिनी

Transliteration

damayantyaivamuktā sā jagāmātha ca keśinī

Translation

Dijo Bṛhadaśva: Así interpelada por Damayantī, la mujer de cabellera suelta se marchó, llevando el mensaje y haciendo avanzar, con serena determinación, el despliegue de la búsqueda de Damayantī.

Word by Word

दमयन्त्याby Damayanti

एवम्thus

उक्ताhaving been spoken to / addressed

साshe

जगामwent

अथthen

चand

केशिनीthe long-haired one / having hair (as an epithet)

Speaker

बृहृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Damayantī

Keśinī

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness and dutiful action: once entrusted with a task, one proceeds without delay. It also reflects Damayantī’s determined pursuit of what is right and true, supported by reliable assistance.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Damayantī speaks (giving instructions or a message), Keśinī—described as the long-haired woman—departs to carry out what she has been told, marking a transition to the next action in the episode.