Shloka 27
दमयन्त्या वणिजां सार्थगमनम्, हस्तियूथविप्लवः, चेदिराजपुरप्रवेशश्च
Damayantī joins a caravan; elephant-herd catastrophe; entry into Cedi
द्विधेव हृदयं तस्य दुःखितस्याभवत् तदा | दोलेव मुहुरायाति याति चैव सभां प्रति,उस समय दु:ःखी राजा नलका हृदय मानो दुविधामें पड़ गया था। जैसे झूला बार-बार नीचे-ऊपर आता-जाता रहता है, उसी प्रकार उनका हृदय कभी बाहर जाता, कभी सभाभवनमें लौट आता था
dvidheva hṛdayaṁ tasya duḥkhitasyābhavat tadā | doleva muhur āyāti yāti caiva sabhāṁ prati ||
Then, as he sat in sorrow, his heart became as though split in two. Like a swing that repeatedly rises and falls, his mind kept wavering—now moving outward, now turning back again toward the assembly hall—torn between opposing impulses and unable to settle on a single course.
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-psychological reality that grief and attachment can fracture resolve, producing oscillation and indecision. It implicitly urges steadiness of mind and clarity of purpose—qualities essential for righteous action (dharma) and responsible kingship.
Bṛhadaśva describes the sorrowful king Nala’s inner turmoil: his heart wavers back and forth like a swing, repeatedly shifting between conflicting impulses, symbolized by moving away and then returning toward the assembly hall.