Shloka 11

Damayantī’s Lament, Serpent-Seizure, Rescue by the Hunter, and the Curse

Devanagari script

बृहत्सेना तु सा श्रुत्वा दमयन्त्या: प्रभाषितम्‌ । वा्ष्णेयमानयामास पुरुषैराप्तकारिभि:,बृहत्सेनाने दमयन्तीकी बात सुनकर विश्वसनीय पुरुषोंद्वारा वाष्णेयको बुलाया। तब अनिन्द्य स्वभाववाली और देश-कालको जाननेवाली भीमकुमारी दमयन्तीने वार्ष्णेयको मधुर वाणीमें सान्त्वना देते हुए यह समयोचित बात कही--

Transliteration

Bṛhatsenā tu sā śrutvā Damayantyāḥ prabhāṣitam | Vārṣṇeyam ānayāmāsa puruṣair āptakāribhiḥ ||

Translation

Mendengar ucapan Damayantī, Bṛhatsenā pun menyuruh orang-orang tepercaya untuk menjemput Vārṣṇeya dan membawanya menghadap.

Word by Word

बृहत्सेनाBṛhatsenā (name of a woman)

तुbut/indeed

साshe

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

दमयन्त्याःof Damayantī

प्रभाषितम्spoken words/speech

वार्ष्णेयम्Vārṣṇeya (name of a man; descendant of Vṛṣṇi)

आनयामासbrought/caused to be brought

पुरुषैःby men

आप्तकारिभिःby trustworthy/reliable (men)

Speaker

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhatsenā

Damayantī

Vārṣṇeya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical communication and practical wisdom: one should act through trustworthy agents and speak with sweetness and consolation, choosing words appropriate to time and place (deśa-kāla).

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing Damayantī’s words, Bṛhatsenā arranges for Vārṣṇeya to be brought by reliable men. Damayantī then addresses Vārṣṇeya gently, offering reassurance and speaking in a manner suited to the situation.