Shloka 19

Damayantī’s Lament, Serpent-Seizure, Rescue by the Hunter, and the Curse

Devanagari script

नलस्य दयितानश्वान्‌ योजयित्वा मनोजवान्‌ | इदमारोप्य मिथुन कुण्डिनं यातुमरहसि,“तुम महाराजके प्रिय, मनके समान वेगशाली अश्वोंको रथमें जोतकर उसपर इन दोनों बच्चोंको बिठा लो और कुण्डिनपुरको चले जाओ”

Transliteration

bṛhadaśva uvāca | nalasya dayitān aśvān yojayitvā manojavān | idam āropya mithunaṃ kuṇḍinaṃ yātum arhasi |

Translation

Bṛhadaśva said: “Yoke Nala’s beloved horses—swift as the mind—to the chariot. Having seated this pair of children upon it, you should set out for Kuṇḍina.” The instruction underscores urgent, responsible action: protect the vulnerable and ensure their safe passage by the best means available.

Word by Word

नलस्यof Nala

दयितान्beloved, dear

अश्वान्horses

योजयित्वाhaving yoked/harnessed

मनोजवान्swift as the mind

इदम्this (one/thing)

आरोप्यhaving placed/caused to mount

मिथुनम्the pair (the two together)

कुण्डिनम्to Kuṇḍina (city)

यातुम्to go

अर्हसिyou should/are fit to

Speaker

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Nala

Kuṇḍina

horses

chariot

the pair of children (mithuna)

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?

Act promptly and wisely to safeguard those who depend on you; dharma here is expressed as practical compassion—using the best resources (swift horses, a chariot) to ensure the children’s safety.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva gives a directive to harness Nala’s swift horses, place the two children on the chariot, and proceed to Kuṇḍina—an urgent arrangement for their secure travel.