Shloka 23
दमयन्ती-शपथः वायोः साक्ष्यं च
Damayantī’s Oath and Vāyu’s Testimony
प्राश्य मत्वा नल॑ सूंत प्राक्रोशद् भृशदु:खिता । वैक्लव्यं परम॑ गत्वा प्रक्षाल्य च मुखं ततः,उसे खाकर वह पूर्णरूपसे इस निश्चयपर पहुँच गयी कि बाहुक सारथि वास्तवमें राजा नल हैं। फिर तो वह अत्यन्त दुखी होकर विलाप करने लगी। उस समय उसकी व्याकुलता बहुत बढ़ गयी। भारत! फिर उसने मुँह धोकर केशिनीके साथ अपने बच्चोंको बाहुकके पास भेजा। बाहुकरूपी राजा नलने इन्द्रसेना और उसके भाई इन्द्रसेनको पहचान लिया और दौड़कर दोनों बच्चोंको छातीसे लगाकर गोदमें ले लिया। देवकुमारोंके समान उन दोनों सुन्दर बालकोंको पाकर निषधराज नल अत्यन्त दुःखमग्न हो जोर-जोरसे रोने लगे। उन्होंने बार-बार अपने मनोविकार दिखाये और सहसा दोनों बच्चोंको छोड़कर केशिनीसे इस प्रकार कहा--
bṛhadaśva uvāca | prāśya matvā nalaṃ sūta prākrośad bhṛśa-duḥkhitā | vaiklavyaṃ paramaṃ gatvā prakṣālya ca mukhaṃ tataḥ |
Bṛhadaśva said: Having eaten, she became fully convinced that the charioteer Bāhuka was in truth King Nala. Overwhelmed by intense sorrow, she cried out in lamentation. When her agitation reached its height, she washed her face and then sent her children, accompanied by Keśinī, to Bāhuka. Nala, in the guise of Bāhuka, recognized Indrasenā and her brother Indrasena; he ran to them, pressed them to his breast, and lifted them onto his lap. On seeing those beautiful children, like sons of the gods, the king of Niṣadha was seized by grief and wept aloud. After repeatedly betraying the turmoil of his heart, he suddenly released the children and spoke to Keśinī.
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical weight of truth and identity within relationships: recognition of one’s own (especially children) pierces through disguise, and intense emotion arises from separation caused by fate and past actions. It also suggests a dharmic ideal of self-control—Nala’s heart surges with grief, yet the narrative frames this as a moment where inner turmoil must be faced and then directed toward right action.
After a meal, Damayantī becomes certain that the charioteer Bāhuka is actually her husband Nala. Overcome with grief, she laments, composes herself by washing her face, and sends the children with Keśinī to him. Nala recognizes the children, embraces them and weeps, then abruptly restrains himself and turns to speak with Keśinī.