Shloka 25
दमयन्त्या वणिजां सार्थगमनम्, हस्तियूथविप्लवः, चेदिराजपुरप्रवेशश्च
Damayantī joins a caravan; elephant-herd catastrophe; entry into Cedi
एवमुकक्त्वा प्रियां भार्या रूपेणाप्रतिमां भुवि | कलिनापद्वतज्ञानो नल: प्रातिष्ठदुद्यत:,इस भूतलपर रूप-सौन्दर्यमें जिसकी समानता करनेवाली दूसरी कोई स्त्री नहीं थी, उसी अपनी प्यारी पत्नी दमयन्तीके प्रति इस प्रकार कहकर राजा नल वहाँसे उठे और चल दिये। उस समय कलिने इनकी विवेकशक्ति हर ली थी
evam uktvā priyāṁ bhāryāṁ rūpeṇāpratimāṁ bhuvi | kalināpahṛta-jñāno nalaḥ prātiṣṭhad udyataḥ ||
Having spoken thus to his beloved wife—Damayantī, whose beauty on earth was without equal—King Nala rose up and set out. At that moment, his discernment had been stolen by Kali, and under that delusion he departed.
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma can operate through loss of discernment: when the mind is overpowered by a corrupting force (here personified as Kali), even a righteous person may act against duty and affection. Ethical vigilance and self-mastery are implied as safeguards for dharma.
After speaking to his beloved and incomparable wife Damayantī, King Nala rises and departs. The narrator notes that Kali has seized Nala’s judgment at this moment, foreshadowing the harmful consequences of his ensuing actions.