Shloka 5
दमयन्ती-शपथः वायोः साक्ष्यं च
Damayantī’s Oath and Vāyu’s Testimony
एतत् सर्व समीक्ष्य त्वं चरितं मे निवेदय । निमित्तं यत् त्वया दृष्टं बाहुके दैवमानुषम्
etad sarva samīkṣya tvaṃ caritaṃ me nivedaya | nimittaṃ yat tvayā dṛṣṭaṃ bāhuke daivamānuṣam ||
“ಇವೆಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿ ಅವನ ನಡೆನುಡಿಯ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ವರ್ತಮಾನವನ್ನು ನನಗೆ ತಿಳಿಸು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಬಾಹುಕನಲ್ಲಿ ನೀನು ಕಂಡ ನಿಮಿತ್ತ (ಲಕ್ಷಣ) ದೈವಿಕವೇ ಅಥವಾ ಮಾನವೀಯವೇ—ಅದನ್ನೂ ಹೇಳು.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights careful discernment (samīkṣā) and responsible interpretation: one should examine events thoroughly and distinguish whether a sign arises from divine destiny (daiva) or human action (mānuṣa), since ethical judgment depends on understanding causes.
Bṛhadaśva asks his interlocutor to recount the entire episode and specifically to explain an omen noticed in Bāhuka, seeking clarity on whether it is a divine portent or something produced by human circumstances.