Shloka 20
दमयन्त्या वणिजां सार्थगमनम्, हस्तियूथविप्लवः, चेदिराजपुरप्रवेशश्च
Damayantī joins a caravan; elephant-herd catastrophe; entry into Cedi
ततो निवृत्तहदय: पुनरागम्य तां सभाम् | दमयन्तीं तदा दृष्टवा रुरोद निषधाधिप:,कुछ दूर जानेपर उनके हृदयका विचार पलट गया और वे पुनः उसी सभाभवनमें लौट आये। वहाँ उस समय दमयन्तीको देखकर निषधनरेश नल फूट-फूटकर रोने लगे
tato nivṛttahṛdayaḥ punar āgamya tāṃ sabhām | damayantīṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā ruroda niṣadhādhipaḥ ||
やがて心が翻り、彼は再びその集会殿へ戻った。そこでダマヤンティーを目にすると、ニシャダの主ナラは堪えきれず泣き崩れた――義務と自制が求められるその場所で、悲嘆と悔恨が彼を呑み込んだのである。
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral psychology of repentance: when the heart turns back from a mistaken course, true feeling surfaces. Even a king, expected to embody steadiness and restraint in the sabhā, is shown as human—grief and remorse arise when one confronts the person harmed or lost, urging a return toward dharma and responsibility.
Bṛhadaśva narrates that Nala, after moving away, has a change of heart and returns to the assembly hall. There he sees Damayantī, and the sight overwhelms him; the king of Niṣadha begins to weep openly.