Shloka 20
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
यथेदं व्रतमारब्धं नलस्याराधने मया । तेन सत्येन मे देवास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे,“यदि मैंने नलकी आराधनाके लिये ही यह व्रत आरम्भ किया हो तो उस सत्यके प्रभावसे देवता मुझे उनन््हींको बतला दें
yathedaṃ vratam ārabdhaṃ nalasyārādhane mayā | tena satyena me devās tam eva pradiśantu me ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “If I have undertaken this vow solely for the purpose of honoring and serving Nala, then by the power of that truth may the gods point out to me that very one (Nala).”
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates satyakriyā—the ethical and spiritual idea that a truthful declaration, grounded in sincere intent and righteous conduct, can become efficacious and invite divine guidance.
Bṛhadaśva makes a conditional truth-assertion: if his vow was truly undertaken for Nala’s devoted service, then the gods should, by that truth’s power, reveal or indicate Nala to him.