Shloka 18
Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)
एवमेवाभिभाषणन्तो विद्रवन्ति भयात् तदा । पुनरेवाभिधास्यामि चिन्तयध्वं सुकातरा:,कोई कहता--'ऐ कायरो! मैं फिर तुमसे बात करूँगा, अभी अपनी रक्षाकी चिन्ता करो।' इस तरहकी बातें करते हुए सब लोग भयसे भाग रहे थे
evam evābhibhāṣaṇanto vidravanti bhayāt tadā | punar evābhidhāsyāmi cintayadhvaṃ sukātarāḥ ||
その時、彼らはそのような言葉を投げ交わしながら、恐れに駆られて逃げ散った。「また話してやる」と言う者があり、「今は臆病者どもよ、ただ己が身の守りだけを案じよ」と言い放つ者もあった。
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fear can collapse courage and distort speech: in moments of panic people prioritize self-protection, lash out with harsh words, and abandon steadiness. The verse implicitly contrasts fear-driven impulse with the ethical ideal of composure and responsibility.
Bṛhadaśva describes a chaotic moment where people, talking in this manner—‘I’ll speak later; for now, you cowards, look to your safety’—are simultaneously fleeing in fear.