Shloka 12
कलेर्द्वापरस्य च नले प्रति कोपः
Kali and Dvāpara’s Resolve Against Nala
ददर्श तत्र वैदर्भी सखीगणसमावृताम् | देदीप्यमानां वपुषा श्रिया च वरवर्णिनीम्,वहाँ उन्होंने देखा, सखियोंसे घिरी हुई परम सुन्दरी विदर्भराजकुमारी दमयन्ती अपने सुन्दर शरीर और दिव्य कान्तिसे अत्यन्त उद्धासित हो रही है
dadārśa tatra vaidarbhī sakhīgaṇasamāvṛtām | dedīpyamānāṁ vapuṣā śriyā ca varavarṇinīm |
There he beheld the princess of Vidarbha, Damayantī—surrounded by her circle of companions—radiant in form and resplendent with auspicious beauty, her excellent complexion shining forth. The scene underscores how true nobility is recognized not merely by birth, but by the manifest signs of inner excellence and fortune that inspire reverence in others.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the traditional Indic linkage between outer radiance and inner auspiciousness (śrī): excellence is perceived through signs of grace, dignity, and the esteem of one’s community (here, the companions who surround her). It subtly frames Damayantī as worthy of honour and a fitting partner in a dharmic narrative.
Bṛhadaśva describes a moment of sight: Damayantī, the Vidarbha princess, is seen amid her companions, shining with beauty and auspicious splendour—setting the stage for the unfolding Nala–Damayantī episode and the recognition of her exceptional stature.