Shloka 22

दमयन्ती-शपथः वायोः साक्ष्यं च

Damayantī’s Oath and Vāyu’s Testimony

Devanagari script

दमयन्त्यै तत: प्रादात्‌ केशिनी कुरुनन्दन । सो चिता नलसिद्धस्य मांसस्य बहुश: पुरा,कुरुनन्दन! केशिनीने वह फलोंका गूदा दमयन्तीको दे दिया। उसे पहले अनेक बार नलके द्वारा उबाले हुए फलोंके गूदेके स्वादका अनुभव था

Transliteration

damayantyai tataḥ prādāt keśinī kurunandana | so citā nalasiddhasya māṁsasya bahuśaḥ purā ||

Translation

ブリハダシュヴァは語った。ついでケーシニーはそれをダマヤンティーに渡した、クル族の最勝者よ。彼女は以前から幾度も、ナラの技で煮上げられたその調理の味を口にしており、その風味をよく知っていたからである。（ゆえに、その馴染み深い味によって、ダマヤンティーはナラの手業を見分け、真実へと導かれた。）

Word by Word

दमयन्त्यैto Damayantī

ततःthen; thereafter

प्रादात्gave

केशिनीKeśinī (a woman/attendant named Keśinī)

कुरुनन्दनO delight of the Kurus (address)

साshe

चand

अचिताunnoticed; without thinking/recognizing

नलसिद्धस्यprepared by Nala; accomplished by Nala

मांसस्यof meat; of flesh (food)

बहुशःmany times; repeatedly

पुराformerly; earlier

Speaker

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Damayantī

Keśinī

Nala

Kurunandana (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Familiar signs of virtue and skill can serve as truthful indicators: Damayantī’s recognition of Nala’s distinctive preparation becomes an ethical means to move from doubt toward certainty without rash accusation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Keśinī gives Damayantī a prepared food item; because Damayantī had previously tasted dishes made by Nala many times, the familiar taste helps her infer Nala’s presence and involvement, advancing the plot toward recognition and reunion.