Shloka 72

Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)

Devanagari script

सर्वमेतत्‌ करिष्यामि दिष्ट्या ते व्रतमीदृशम्‌ । एवमुक्‍क्त्वा ततो भैमीं राजमाता विशाम्पते,“बेटी! मैं यह सब करूँगी। सौभाग्यकी बात है कि तुम्हारा व्रत ऐसा उत्तम है।” राजा युधिष्ठि! दमयन्तीसे ऐसा कहकर राजमाता अपनी पुत्री सुनन्दासे बोली--“सुनन्दे! इस सैरन्ध्रीको तुम देवीस्वरूपा समझो

Transliteration

sarvam etat kariṣyāmi diṣṭyā te vratam īdṛśam | evam uktvā tato bhaimīṃ rājamātā viśāmpate |

Translation

“I will do all this. It is indeed fortunate that your vow is of such an excellent kind.” Having spoken thus to Bhīmī (Damayantī), the king’s mother then addressed her own daughter Sunandā: “Sunandā, regard this Sairandhrī as divine in form.”

Word by Word

• {'sarvam': 'all, everything', 'etat': 'this (all that has been mentioned)', 'kariṣyāmi': 'I shall do, I will accomplish', 'diṣṭyā': 'by good fortune

• it is fortunate', 'te': 'your (to you)', 'vratam': 'vow

• disciplined resolve', 'īdṛśam': 'such

• of this kind', 'evam': 'thus', 'uktvā': 'having said', 'tataḥ': 'then

• thereafter', 'bhaimīm': 'Bhīmī, i.e., Damayantī (daughter of Bhīma of Vidarbha)', 'rājamātā': 'the king’s mother

• queen-mother', 'viśāmpate': 'O lord of the people (address to Yudhiṣṭhira)', 'sairandhrī': 'a female attendant/maid (here: Damayantī in disguise)', 'devī-svarūpā': 'having the form of a goddess

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Damayantī (Bhīmī)
• Rājamātā (queen-mother)
• Sunandā
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Viśāmpati)
• Sairandhrī (Damayantī in disguise)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of a sincere vow (vrata) and the duty of elders to support righteous resolve. It also teaches reverence toward the vulnerable or unknown—treating a seemingly ordinary attendant with the honor due to the divine.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva narrates that the queen-mother reassures Damayantī (called Bhīmī) that she will help fulfill her request and praises her vow. She then instructs her daughter Sunandā to treat the Sairandhrī (Damayantī in disguise) as goddess-like, indicating respect and careful protection within the palace.