Shloka 64

Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)

Devanagari script

तामश्रुपरिपूर्णाक्षी विलपन्तीं तथा बहु । राजमाताब्रवीदार्ता भैमीमार्तस्वरां स्वयम्‌,भीमकुमारी दमयन्तीके नेत्रोंमें आँसू भरे हुए थे एवं वह आर्तस्वरसे बहुत विलाप कर रही थी। राजमाता स्वयं भी उसके दुःखसे दुःखी हो बोली--“कल्याणि! तुम मेरे पास रहो। तुमपर मेरा बहुत प्रेम है। भद्रे! मेरे सेवक तुम्हारे पतिकी खोज करेंगे

Transliteration

bṛhadaśva uvāca | tām aśruparipūrṇākṣī vilapantīṃ tathā bahu | rājamātābravīd ārtā bhaimīm ārta-svarāṃ svayam |

Translation

Bṛhadaśva berkata: Melihat Damayantī, putri Bhīma, dengan mata penuh air mata, meratap keras dengan suara duka, sang ibu suri—yang turut tersayat oleh kesedihan itu—berkata kepadanya dengan hati tergetar.

Word by Word

• {'aśru': 'tear', 'paripūrṇa': 'filled, brimming', 'akṣī/akṣiṇī (akṣī)': 'eyes', 'vilapantī': 'lamenting, wailing (feminine present participle)', 'tathā': 'thus, in that manner', 'bahu': 'much, greatly', 'rājamātā': 'queen-mother, the king’s mother', 'abravīt': 'said, spoke', 'ārtā': 'afflicted, distressed', 'bhaimī': 'Damayantī (daughter of Bhīma, princess of Vidarbha)', 'ārta-svara': 'a distressed voice, plaintive tone', 'svayam': 'herself'}

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Damayantī (Bhaimī)
• Queen-mother (rājamātā)
• Bhīma (as patronymic reference in 'Bhaimī')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights compassionate dharma: when someone is overwhelmed by grief, especially a dependent or vulnerable person, elders and guardians should respond with empathy and active support rather than indifference.

What is happening in the narrative?

Damayantī is weeping and lamenting intensely. The queen-mother, moved by her suffering, addresses her—setting up a response of care and practical help (including efforts to search for Damayantī’s husband).