Shloka 26

दमयन्ती तु यं हंसं समुपाधावदन्तिके । स मानुषीं गिरं कृत्वा दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत्‌,दमयन्ती जिस हंसके निकट दौड़ रही थी, उसने उससे मानवी वाणीमें कहा --

damayantī tu yaṃ haṃsaṃ samupādhāvad antike | sa mānuṣīṃ giraṃ kṛtvā damayantīm athābravīt |

As Damayantī ran up close to the swan, it assumed a human voice and addressed her. The scene marks a turning point where a seemingly ordinary creature becomes a moral messenger, guiding her toward a fateful choice in love and dharma.

दमयन्तीDamayanti
दमयन्ती:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदमयन्ती
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
यम्whom/which
यम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
हंसम्swan
हंसम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहंस
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
समुपाधावत्ran up/ran towards
समुपाधावत्:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्+उप+आ+धाव्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular
अन्तिकेnear/at close range
अन्तिके:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तिक
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
सःhe (that one)
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मानुषीम्human
मानुषीम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमानुषी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
गिरम्speech/voice
गिरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगिर्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
कृत्वाhaving made/assuming
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active
दमयन्तीम्Damayanti (to her)
दमयन्तीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदमयन्ती
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
अब्रवीत्said/spoke
अब्रवीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

दमयन्ती
हंस

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights that guidance toward dharma can arise from unexpected sources; discernment and receptivity to wise counsel are essential when one stands at the threshold of a life-shaping decision.

Damayantī approaches a swan closely; the swan miraculously speaks in human language and begins to address her, initiating the message that will connect her with Nala and set the course of the episode.