Shloka 4

दमयन्त्याः व्याकुलता — स्वयंवरसंनिपातः — देवदूतयाचनम्

Damayantī’s Distress, Proclamation of the Svayaṃvara, and the Gods’ Request

Devanagari script

'सूत! मैं बीते हुए द्यूतजनित घोर अन्यायका स्मरण करके दिन तथा रातमें क्षणभर भी शान्ति नहीं पाता ।। तेषामसहावीर्याणां शौर्य धैर्य धृतिं पराम्‌ । अन्योन्यमनुरागं च भ्रातृणामतिमानुषम्‌,“मैं देखता हूँ, पाण्डवोंके पराक्रम असह्ा हैं। उनमें शौर्य, धैर्य तथा उत्तम धारणाशक्ति है। उन सब भाइयोंमें परस्पर अलौकिक प्रेम है

Transliteration

sūta! ahaṃ bhūtapūrvaṃ dyūtajanitaṃ ghoraṃ anyāyaṃ smṛtvā divā ca rātrau ca kṣaṇam api śāntiṃ na labhe || teṣām asahavīryāṇāṃ śaurya-dhairya-dhṛtiṃ parām | anyonyam anurāgaṃ ca bhrātṝṇām atimānuṣam ||

Translation

“O Sūta, remembering the dreadful injustice that arose from the gambling match, I find no peace even for a moment, by day or by night. I see that the Pāṇḍavas’ prowess is irresistible: in them are supreme valor, steadfast courage, and sustaining resolve; and among those brothers there is a mutual affection that is beyond the ordinary.”

Word by Word

• {'sūta': 'charioteer

• also a bard/narrator addressed as ‘Sūta’', 'bhūtapūrva': 'that which has happened before

• past', 'dyūta': 'gambling

• dice-game', 'janita': 'produced

• arising from', 'ghora': 'terrible

• dreadful', 'anyāya': 'injustice

• unrighteous act', 'smṛtvā': 'having remembered', 'divā': 'by day', 'rātrau': 'by night', 'kṣaṇam api': 'even for a moment', 'śānti': 'peace

• calm', 'na labhe': 'I do not obtain

• I do not find', 'teṣām': 'of them (i.e., of the Pāṇḍavas)', 'asaha-vīrya': 'irresistible/unyielding strength

• power that cannot be borne or checked', 'śaurya': 'heroism

• valor', 'dhairya': 'steadfastness

• composure', 'dhṛti': 'firm resolve

• sustaining fortitude', 'parā': 'supreme

• highest', 'anyonyam': 'mutual

• one another', 'anurāga': 'affection

• deep attachment', 'bhrātṝṇām': 'of the brothers', 'atimānuṣa': 'superhuman

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Pāṇḍavas
• the brothers (Pāṇḍava brothers)
• dyūta (the dice-game)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Unrighteous acts—here, the injustice born of the dice-game—leave a lasting moral disturbance, while true strength is shown not only in martial power but in steadfast courage, inner resolve, and unwavering mutual loyalty among the righteous.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker addresses Sūta and recalls the earlier dice-game that led to grievous injustice against the Pāṇḍavas. The remembrance brings sleepless unrest, and the speaker emphasizes the Pāṇḍavas’ irresistible prowess and their extraordinary brotherly affection.