Shloka 5

दमयन्तीस्वयंवरः — देववेषधारणं, सत्यप्रार्थना, नलवरणम्

Damayantī’s Svayaṃvara: Divine Disguises, Truth-Vow, and Choosing Nala

Devanagari script

तामस्वस्थां तदाकारां सख्यस्ता जज्ञुरिज्धितै: ततो विदर्भपतये दमयन्त्या: सखीजन:

Transliteration

tām asvasthāṁ tad-ākārāṁ sakhyas tā jajñur ijjhitaiḥ | tato vidarbha-pataye damayantyāḥ sakhī-janaḥ ||

Translation

അവളെ അസ്വസ്ഥയായി, രൂപം മാറിയ നിലയിൽ കണ്ട സഖിമാർ പരിചിതമായ ലക്ഷണങ്ങളാൽ എല്ലാം തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞു. തുടർന്ന് ദമയന്തിയുടെ സഖിമാർ വിദർഭാധിപനോട് ആ കാര്യം അറിയിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अस्वस्थाम्: unwell, distressed
• अस्वस्थाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्वस्थ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तदाकाराम्: of that appearance/form
• तदाकाराम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तदाकार
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सख्यः: female friends
• सख्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• ताः: they (those women)
• ताः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• जज्ञुः: knew, recognized
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ऋद्धितैः: by (their) prosperities/marks of prosperity
• ऋद्धितैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋद्धित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• विदर्भपतये: to the lord/king of Vidarbha
• विदर्भपतये: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदर्भपति
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• दमयन्त्याः: of Damayantī
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमयन्ती
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• सखीजनः: the group of (her) female friends
• सखीजनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखीजन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Damayantī
• Vidarbha (kingdom)
• Vidarbha-pati (king of Vidarbha)
• Damayantī’s sakhīs (female companions)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights responsible care: those close to a person should notice distress, recognize it even when outward appearance changes, and promptly inform the rightful guardian/authority so protection and support can be arranged—an ethical duty grounded in compassion and social responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Damayantī is found in a weakened, altered condition. Her companions identify her through familiar signs and then report the situation to the king of Vidarbha, initiating the next step of assistance and response from her family and court.