Shloka 12
Damayantī’s Recognition by the Piplū Mark and Her Return to Vidarbha
ततः संख्यातुमारब्धमदशदू दशमे पदे । तस्य दष्टस्य तद् रूप॑ क्षिप्रमन््तरधीयत,तब राजा नलने अपने पग गिनने आरम्भ किये। पग गिनते-गिनते जब राजा नलने “दश' कहा, तब नागने उन्हें डँस लिया। उसके डँसते ही उनका पहला रूप तत्काल अन्तर्हित (होकर श्यामवर्ण) हो गया
tataḥ saṅkhyātum ārabdham adaśadū daśame pade | tasya daṣṭasya tad rūpaṃ kṣipram antaradhīyata |
そして彼が歩みを数え始めると、十歩目で蛇が彼を噛んだ。噛まれたその瞬間、かつての姿はたちまち視界から消え去った——呪いの力と積もり積もった報いが、今まさに熟して現れたことを告げる、急転にして不吉な変化であった。
ब॒हदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how karmic consequences and curses can manifest suddenly, altering one’s condition in an instant; it invites reflection on vigilance, humility, and endurance when fate turns adverse.
As Nala starts counting his steps, a serpent bites him at the tenth step, and immediately his earlier appearance disappears—marking the onset of a drastic change in his outward form and circumstances.