Shloka 41

Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)

Devanagari script

मन्ये स्वयंवरकृते लोकपाला: समागता:,“मैं समझती हूँ, स्वयंवरके लिये जो लोकपाल देवगण पधारे थे, नलके कारण मैंने उनका तिरस्कार कर दिया था। अवश्य उन्हीं देवताओंके प्रभावसे आज मुझे वियोगका कष्ट प्राप्त हुआ है।” इस प्रकार दुःखसे आतुर हुई सुन्दरी पतिव्रता दमयन्तीने उस समय अनेक प्रकारसे विलाप एवं प्रलाप किये

Transliteration

manye svayaṃvarakṛte lokapālāḥ samāgatāḥ | nalakāraṇād ahaṃ tān avamanyam avamānayāṃ cakāra | avaśyaṃ teṣāṃ devānāṃ prabhāvena adya me viyogaduḥkhaṃ prāptam iti | evaṃ duḥkhāturā sundarī pativratā damayantī tadā nānāvidhaṃ vilāpaṃ pralāpaṃ ca cakāra |

Translation

Bṛhadaśva said: “I think the guardian deities of the worlds had come for the svayaṃvara; yet, because of Nala, I slighted them. Surely, by the power of those very gods, I have now been made to suffer the pain of separation.” Thus, tormented by grief, the beautiful and faithful Damayantī at that time lamented and bewailed in many ways.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'manye', 'definition': 'I think

• I consider'}, {'term': 'svayaṃvara', 'definition': 'a maiden’s self-choice ceremony for selecting a husband'}, {'term': 'svayaṃvarakṛte', 'definition': 'for the purpose of the svayaṃvara'}, {'term': 'lokapāla', 'definition': 'guardian of the world(s)

• often the directional deities (e.g., Indra, Yama, Varuṇa, Kubera)'}, {'term': 'samāgata', 'definition': 'arrived

• assembled'}, {'term': 'nala-kāraṇāt', 'definition': 'because of Nala

• on account of Nala'}, {'term': 'avamāna / avamanyate', 'definition': 'disrespect

• to slight, to treat with contempt'}, {'term': 'prabhāva', 'definition': 'power, influence, effective force'}, {'term': 'viyoga', 'definition': 'separation (especially from a beloved)'}, {'term': 'duḥkha', 'definition': 'sorrow, suffering'}, {'term': 'pativratā', 'definition': 'a wife devoted to her husband

• one who maintains conjugal fidelity as a vow'}, {'term': 'vilāpa', 'definition': 'lamentation, wailing'}, {'term': 'pralāpa', 'definition': 'incoherent grief-speech

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Damayantī
• Nala
• Lokapālas (guardian deities of the worlds)
• Svayaṃvara

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights moral causality and reverence: Damayantī interprets her present suffering as a consequence of having slighted divine guardians at the svayaṃvara out of single-minded attachment to Nala. It underscores the ethical ideal of honoring worthy beings (especially deities and guests) and the Mahābhārata theme that actions—intentional or negligent—can bear painful results.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bṛhadaśva’s narration of the Nala–Damayantī episode, Damayantī, separated from Nala, reflects on the past svayaṃvara where the lokapālas had appeared. She believes she offended them by choosing Nala and now suffers separation by their power. Overwhelmed, she breaks into varied lamentations.