Shloka 19
दमयन्ती–बाहुकसंवादः
Damayantī’s Dialogue with Bāhuka; Recognition and Disclosure
सा वै यथा समादिष्टा तथा<>स्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी । दहामाना दिवा रात्रौ वस्त्रार्थेनाभिसंवृता,“उसे तुमने जिस अवस्थामें देखा था, उसी अवस्थामें वह आज भी है और तुम्हारे आगमनकी प्रतीक्षा कर रही है। आधे वस्त्रसे अपने शरीरको ढककर वह युवती दिन-रात तुम्हारी विरहाग्निमें जल रही है
sā vai yathā samādiṣṭā tathāste tvatpratīkṣiṇī | dahāmānā divā rātrau vastrārthenābhisaṃvṛtā ||
“She remains exactly as she was instructed—still waiting for you. Burning in the fire of separation day and night, the young woman keeps herself covered only for the sake of clothing, with but a half-garment.”
बाहक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast loyalty and the ethical weight of separation: sincere attachment can become a consuming inner fire, and the listener is implicitly reminded of responsibility toward one who waits and suffers.
Bāhaka reports that the woman remains exactly as previously directed, continuing to wait for the addressee; she is described as wasting away in grief, day and night, with only minimal covering.