Shloka 2

Devanagari script

तच्छुत्वा पृथिवीपाला: सर्वे हच्छयपीडिता: । त्वरिता: समुपाजम्मुर्दमयन्तीम भीप्सव:,यह सुनकर सब भूपाल कामपीड़ित हो दमयन्तीको पानेकी इच्छासे तुरंत चल दिये

Transliteration

tac chrutvā pṛthivīpālāḥ sarve hṛcchayapīḍitāḥ | tvaritāḥ samupājagmur damayantīm abhīpsavaḥ ||

Translation

Hearing this, all the kings—tormented by the fever of desire—set out at once in haste, longing to win Damayantī. The verse underscores how unchecked passion can drive even rulers into impulsive pursuit, setting the stage for a contest where self-control and rightful conduct will be tested.

Word by Word

तत्that (news/statement)

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

पृथिवीपालाःkings (protectors of the earth)

सर्वेall

हर्षयपीडिताःafflicted by desire/passion (lit. tormented by 'harṣaya')

त्वरिताःhastened, in haste

समुपाजग्मुःthey went/approached

दमयन्तीम्Damayantī

अभीप्सवःdesiring (to obtain)

Speaker

बृहदश्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

pṛthivīpālāḥ (kings)

Damayantī

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

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 desire (hṛcchaya) can overpower judgment, even in kings, prompting hurried action; it implicitly points toward the need for restraint and dharmic conduct when pursuing personal aims.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing about Damayantī, the kings become love-stricken and immediately set out, eager to obtain her—preparing the narrative ground for her svayaṃvara and the ensuing tests of worthiness and choice.