Shloka 73
Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)
उवाचेदं दुहितरं सुनन्दां नाम भारत | सैरन्ध्रीमभिजानीष्व सुनन्दे देवरूपिणीम्,“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
bṛhadaśva uvāca | uvācedaṃ duhitaram sunandāṃ nāma bhārata | sairandhrīm abhijānīṣva sunande devarūpiṇīm ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “O Bhārata, she spoke these words to her daughter named Sunandā: ‘Sunandā, recognize this woman as a sairandhrī (a lady-in-waiting). Regard her as one of divine form.’”
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharmic conduct in social relations: even someone introduced as a mere attendant should be treated with reverence when her dignity and virtue are evident—ethical regard is not determined solely by status.
Within Bṛhadaśva’s narration to Yudhiṣṭhira, a mother addresses her daughter Sunandā, instructing her to recognize a newly presented woman as a ‘sairandhrī’ and to regard her as divinely radiant—setting the tone for respectful reception and service.