Shloka 27
Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
दमयन्ति नलो नाम निषधेषु महीपतिः । अश्विनो: सदृशो रूपे न समास्तस्य मानुषा:,“राजकुमारी दमयन्ती! सुनो, निषथदेशमें नल नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक राजा हैं, जो अश्विनीकुमारोंके समान सुन्दर हैं। मनुष्योंमें तो कोई उनके समान है ही नहीं
damayantī nalo nāma niṣadheṣu mahīpatiḥ | aśvinoḥ sadṛśo rūpe na samās tasya mānuṣāḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “Princess Damayantī, listen. In the land of the Niṣadhas there is a king renowned by the name Nala. In beauty he resembles the twin Aśvins, and among human beings none is his equal.”
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of royal excellence: a king’s fame rests on extraordinary qualities recognized by society. Such praise also implies an ethical expectation—outer brilliance and renown should correspond to inner worth and dharmic conduct, especially in a ruler.
Bṛhadaśva begins introducing Nala to Damayantī, describing him as the celebrated king of Niṣadha, unmatched among humans and as handsome as the divine Aśvin twins—setting the stage for Damayantī’s interest and the unfolding Nala–Damayantī story.