Shloka 71

Devanagari script

कुशलं वो महाभागा: स्वधर्माचरणेषु च | तैरुक्ता कुशलं भद्रे सर्वत्रेति यशस्विनि,उस समय सुन्दर अंगोंवाली दमयन्तीने उनसे कहा--“भगवन्‌! निष्पाप महाभागगण! यहाँ तप, अन्निहोत्र, धर्म, मृग और पक्षियोंके पालन तथा अपने धर्मके आचरण आदि विषयोंमें आपलोग सकुशल हैं न?' तब उन महात्माओंने कहा--“भद्रे! यशस्विनि! सर्वत्र कुशल है

Transliteration

bṛhadaśva uvāca | kuśalaṃ vo mahābhāgāḥ svadharmācaraṇeṣu ca | tair uktā kuśalaṃ bhadre sarvatreti yaśasvini ||

Translation

Bṛhadaśva said: “O fortunate ones, are you well—especially in the practice of your own dharma?” Addressed thus, those great-souled ascetics replied to the illustrious lady: “O gentle one, we are well in every respect.” The exchange frames well-being not merely as physical safety but as steadiness in religious duty and disciplined conduct.

Word by Word

• {'bṛhadaśva uvāca': 'Bṛhadaśva said', 'kuśalam': 'well-being

• auspicious condition', 'vo': 'of you (plural)', 'mahābhāgāḥ': 'highly fortunate

• venerable (plural)', 'svadharma': 'one’s own prescribed duty

• personal dharma according to station and circumstance', 'ācaraṇeṣu': 'in practices

• in observances (locative plural)', 'ca': 'and', 'taiḥ': 'by them (instrumental plural)', 'uktā': 'having been addressed

• spoken to', 'bhadre': 'O gentle lady

• auspicious one (vocative)', 'sarvatra': 'everywhere

• in all respects', 'iti': 'thus', 'yaśasvini': 'O illustrious/famed lady (vocative)'}

Speaker

बृहृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Damayantī
• ascetics (ṛṣis/tapasvins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True ‘well-being’ (kuśala) is measured by steadfastness in svadharma—right conduct and disciplined observance—rather than by comfort alone.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bṛhadaśva’s narration, Damayantī respectfully inquires after the ascetics’ welfare, specifically regarding their religious duties; they respond that they are well in every way.