Shloka 28
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
मुखत: पाटयामास शस्त्रेण निशितेन च । निर्विचेष्ट भुजड़ं तं विशस्यथ मृगजीवन:,उस विशाल नयनोंवाली युवतीको अजगरके द्वारा उस प्रकार निगली जाती हुई देख व्याधने बड़ी उतावलीके साथ वेगसे दौड़कर तीखे शस्त्रसे शीघ्र ही उस अजगरका मुख फाड़ दिया। वह अजगर छटपटाकर चेष्टारहित हो गया। मृगोंको मारकर जीविका चलानेवाले उस व्याधने सर्पके टुकड़े-टुकड़े करके दमयन्तीको छुड़ाया। फिर जलसे उसके सर्पग्रस्त शरीरको धोकर उसे आश्वासन दे उसके लिये भोजनकी व्यवस्था कर दी। भारत! जब वह भोजन कर चुकी, तब व्याधने उससे पूछा---
mukhataḥ pāṭayāmāsa śastreṇa niśitena ca | nirviceṣṭa-bhujaṅgaṃ taṃ viśasyātha mṛgajīvanaḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva said: The hunter, living by killing deer, rushed forward in great haste and with a keen weapon split open the python’s mouth. The serpent writhed and then became motionless. Cutting the snake into pieces, the hunter freed Damayantī. He then washed her body, still affected by the serpent’s contact, reassured her, and arranged food for her. When she had eaten, the hunter questioned her. The episode highlights swift, compassionate intervention to protect the vulnerable, even by one whose livelihood is otherwise violent, showing that immediate rescue and humane care are dharmic acts in a crisis.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
In an emergency, dharma expresses itself as prompt protection and compassionate care: stopping harm, reassuring the distressed, and providing basic needs. Even someone associated with violence (a hunter) can act righteously when motivated by rescue and humane responsibility.
A hunter sees Damayantī being swallowed by a python, runs to her, splits the serpent’s mouth with a sharp weapon, cuts the snake apart, frees her, washes and comforts her, provides food, and then begins to question her after she has eaten.