Shloka 26

Damayantī’s Recognition by the Piplū Mark and Her Return to Vidarbha

Devanagari script

एवं नलं च संदिश्य वासो दत्त्वा च कौरव । नागराजस्ततो राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

Transliteration

evaṁ nalaṁ ca saṁdiśya vāso dattvā ca kaurava | nāgarājas tato rājan tatraivāntaradhīyata ||

Translation

Having thus instructed Nala and also giving him garments, O Kaurava, the king of serpents then—O king—vanished from that very spot. The episode underscores the ethical force of timely counsel and compassionate aid: guidance is made effective when accompanied by practical support, and the benefactor departs without seeking recognition.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• नलम्: Nala (as object)
• नलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• संदिश्य: having instructed / having directed
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√दिश्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• वासः: a garment, clothing
• वासः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कौरव: O Kaurava (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• नागराजः: the king of serpents
• नागराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• राजन्: O king (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अन्तर्धीयत: disappeared, vanished
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर्-√धा
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular, Ātmanepada

Speaker

ब॒हदश्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nala
• Nāgarāja (king of serpents)
• Bṛhadaśva (speaker)
• Kaurava (Janamejaya, addressee)
• Garments (vāsaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Effective help combines wise counsel with concrete assistance. The Nāga-king advises Nala and also provides clothing, then departs without demanding credit—modeling selfless support and the quiet dignity of beneficence.

What is happening in the narrative?

After giving Nala instructions and handing him garments, the king of serpents disappears on the spot. The verse marks the close of the Nāga’s intervention and transitions the story back to Nala’s next course of action.