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Shloka 23

Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas

Adhyāya 53

विदर्भनगरीं गत्वा दमयन्त्यास्तदान्तिके । निपेतुस्ते गरुत्मन्त: सा ददर्श च तान्‌ खगान्‌,तब विदर्भनगरीमें जाकर वे सभी हंस दमयन्तीके निकट उतरे। दमयन्तीने भी उन अद्भुत पक्षियोंकों देखा

vidarbha-nagarīṁ gatvā damayantyās tadāntike | nipetus te garutmantaḥ sā dadarśa ca tān khagān ||

ヴィダルバの都に着くと、その俊翼の鳥たちはダマヤンティーのそばへ舞い降りた。ダマヤンティーもまた、その不思議な鳥たちを目にした。

विदर्भनगरीम्to the city of Vidarbha
विदर्भनगरीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविदर्भनगरी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
गत्वाhaving gone
गत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
Formक्त्वा, Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for absolutive)
दमयन्त्याःof Damayantī
दमयन्त्याः:
TypeNoun
Rootदमयन्ती
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
अन्तिकेnear (in the vicinity)
अन्तिके:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तिक
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
निपेतुःthey alighted/fell down
निपेतुः:
TypeVerb
Rootनि-पत्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
तेthey/those
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
गरुत्मन्तःwinged ones; birds
गरुत्मन्तः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगरुत्मन्त्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
साshe
सा:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
ददर्शshe saw
ददर्श:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
तान्those (them)
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
खगान्birds
खगान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootखग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

V
Vidarbha
V
Vidarbha-nagarī (city of Vidarbha)
D
Damayantī
K
khagāḥ (birds/haṁsāḥ as per narrative context)

Educational Q&A

The verse reflects the epic motif that timely signs and messengers can support dharmic outcomes: events move toward a rightful union and decision-making, with nature and circumstance serving as instruments that guide human choice without negating responsibility.

The birds (contextually the swans) reach Vidarbha and alight near Damayantī; she notices them. This sets up the next development in the Nala–Damayantī episode, where the birds function as a narrative link and catalyst.