Shloka 24
Adhyāya 76: Kuṇḍina-praveśaḥ, Bhīmena satkāraḥ, Ṛtuparṇa-kṣamā, Aśvahṛdaya-pratyarpanam
Nala’s Reception and Reconciliation
स्वैरवृत्ता यथाकाममनुरूपमिवात्मन: । श्रुत्वैव चैवं त्वरितो भाड़ासुरिरुपस्थित:,“दमयन्ती स्वेच्छाचारिणी है और अपनी रुचिके अनुसार किसी अनुरूप पतिका वरण कर सकती है', यह सुनकर ही राजा ऋतुपर्ण बड़ी उतावलीके साथ यहाँ उपस्थित हुए हैं!
svairavṛttā yathākāmam anurūpam ivātmanaḥ | śrutvaiva caivaṃ tvarito bhāḍāsurir upasthitaḥ ||
Dijo Bṛhadaśva: «Al oír que Damayantī es libre de obrar según su propia voluntad y puede escoger un esposo conforme a su gusto, Bhāḍāsuri (el rey Ṛtupārṇa) se presentó aquí de inmediato, con gran premura».
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights personal agency in marriage choice (svaira-vṛtti) and how public reports about a person’s freedom and intent can rapidly influence others’ actions—raising ethical questions about haste, motive, and the social power of reputation.
Bṛhadaśva explains that as soon as King Ṛtupārṇa heard the message that Damayantī could choose a suitable husband according to her own wish, he hurriedly came to the place, eager to respond to that news.