Shloka 8
दमयन्ती–बाहुकसंवादः
Damayantī’s Dialogue with Bāhuka; Recognition and Disclosure
बाहुक उवाच श्रुत: स्वयंवसे राज्ञा कोसलेन महात्मना । द्वितीयो दमयन्त्या वै भविता श्व इति द्विजात्,बाहुक बोला--महात्मा कोसलराजने एक ब्राह्मणके मुखसे सुना था कि कल दमयन्तीका द्वितीय स्वयंवर होनेवाला है
bāhuka uvāca | śrutaḥ svayaṃvare rājñā kosalena mahātmanā | dvitīyo damayantyā vai bhavitā śva iti dvijāt ||
Bāhuka said: “I heard from a twice-born Brahmin, as reported by the great-souled king of Kosala, that tomorrow Damayantī will hold a second svayaṃvara.”
बाहुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights reliance on credible testimony (śruti/āgama as report) and the ethical weight of public announcements in matters like marriage; decisions and actions are framed as grounded in trustworthy sources rather than rumor.
Bāhuka reports that he has learned—via a Brahmin and the king of Kosala—that Damayantī is to hold a second svayaṃvara the next day, signaling an imminent event that will drive the next actions in the Nala–Damayantī episode.