Shloka 5
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
तां राजसमितिं पुण्यां नागैभोंगवर्तीमिव । सम्पूर्णा पुरुषव्याघ्रैव्यप्रि्गिरिगुहामिव,व्याप्रोंसे भरी हुई पर्वतकी गुफा तथा नागोंसे सुशोभित भोगवती पुरीकी भाँति वह पुण्यमयी राजसभा नरश्रेष्ठ भूपालोंसे भरी दिखायी देती थी
tāṁ rājasamitiṁ puṇyāṁ nāgair bhogavatīm iva | sampūrṇāṁ puruṣavyāghrair vyāghrair giriguhām iva ||
ആ പുണ്യമയ രാജസഭ പുരുഷവ്യാഘ്രന്മാരായ നരശ്രേഷ്ഠ നൃപന്മാരാൽ പൂർണ്ണമായി നിറഞ്ഞതായി തോന്നി—നാഗങ്ങളാൽ ശോഭിതമായ ഭോഗവതീപുരിപോലെയും, വ്യാഘ്രങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞ പർവ്വതഗുഹപോലെയും।
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of a well-ordered kingship: a royal court becomes ‘puṇya’ (auspicious) when it is filled with worthy, courageous, and eminent leaders. Ethical governance is implied through the presence of the best men around the throne, suggesting strength guided by dignity and order.
Bṛhadaśva is describing the appearance of a royal assembly. He uses vivid similes: the court is as splendid as Bhogavatī adorned with nāgas, and as densely occupied as a mountain cave filled with tigers—emphasizing the concentration of powerful kings and heroes.