Shloka 43
Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)
एवमादीनि दु:खार्ता सा विलप्य वराड़ना । प्रलापानि तदा तानि दमयन्ती पतिव्रता,“मैं समझती हूँ, स्वयंवरके लिये जो लोकपाल देवगण पधारे थे, नलके कारण मैंने उनका तिरस्कार कर दिया था। अवश्य उन्हीं देवताओंके प्रभावसे आज मुझे वियोगका कष्ट प्राप्त हुआ है।” इस प्रकार दुःखसे आतुर हुई सुन्दरी पतिव्रता दमयन्तीने उस समय अनेक प्रकारसे विलाप एवं प्रलाप किये
evamādīni duḥkhārtā sā vilapya varāṅganā | pralāpāni tadā tāni damayantī pativratā ||
悲嘆に責め立てられた高貴なるダマヤンティーは、妻としての貞節を堅く守りつつ、さまざまに嘆き悲しんだ。彼女は胸を裂く叫びをこう吐露した。「スヴァヤンヴァラの折、ナラのために、そこへ来臨した世界の守護神ローカパーラたちを、わたしは退けてしまったのだと思う。まさしくその神々の威力によって、いまわたしは別離の苦しみを受けているのだ。」このように、憂いに呑まれた徳高きダマヤンティーは、その時、さまざまな嘆きをあふれさせた。
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intense attachment and choices made under passion can later be interpreted through an ethical lens: Damayantī reads her present suffering as a consequence of having slighted divine guests at the svayaṃvara. It underscores reverence toward dharmic order (including gods and guests) and the moral tendency to seek meaning and accountability amid suffering.
After being separated from Nala, Damayantī—overcome with grief—utters many lamentations. She specifically recalls the svayaṃvara, where she chose Nala and thereby rejected the lokapāla deities who had appeared; she fears that their offended power has brought about her present pain of separation.