Shloka 2

Devanagari script

ततश्रिन्तापरा दीना विवर्णवदना कृशा | बभूव दमयन्ती तु निः:श्वासपरमा तदा,तदनन्तर उसके मनमें सदा चिन्ता बनी रहती थी। स्वभावमें दैन्य आ गया। चेहरेका रंग फीका पड़ गया और दमयन्ती दिन-दिन दुबली होने लगी। उस समय वह प्राय: लंबी साँसें खींचती रहती थी

Transliteration

tataś cintāparā dīnā vivarṇavadanā kṛśā | babhūva damayantī tu niḥśvāsaparamā tadā ||

Translation

Then Damayantī became wholly absorbed in anxious thought. She grew despondent; her face lost its color, and she became thin. At that time she was continually drawing deep, heavy sighs—an outward sign of the inner suffering caused by separation and uncertainty.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

चिन्ता-पराःabsorbed in worry

दीनाwretched, miserable

विवर्ण-वदनाhaving a pale face

कृशाthin, emaciated

बभूवbecame

दमयन्तीDamayantī

तुbut, indeed

निःश्वास-परमाgiven over chiefly to sighing

तदाat that time

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Damayantī

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

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 how inner turmoil manifests outwardly—worry, grief, and uncertainty can erode vitality. Ethically, it invites compassion toward those in distress and underscores the need for steadiness and support when dharma is tested by suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bṛhadaśva’s narration of the Nala–Damayantī story, Damayantī is shown after the onset of separation and hardship: she becomes constantly anxious, loses her complexion, grows thin, and repeatedly sighs, indicating deep emotional pain.