Shloka 29
दमयन्त्या वणिजां सार्थगमनम्, हस्तियूथविप्लवः, चेदिराजपुरप्रवेशश्च
Damayantī joins a caravan; elephant-herd catastrophe; entry into Cedi
नष्टात्मा कलिना स्पृष्टस्तत् तद् विगणयन् नृपः । जगामैकां वने शून्ये भार्यामुत्सृज्य दु:खित:,कलियुगके स्पर्शसे उनकी बुद्धि भ्रष्ट हो गयी थी; अतः वे अत्यन्त दुःखी हो विभिन्न बातोंका विचार करते हुए उस सूने वनमें अपनी पत्नीको अकेली छोड़कर चल दिये
bṛhadaśva uvāca |
naṣṭātmā kalinā spṛṣṭas tat tad vigaṇayan nṛpaḥ |
jagāmaikāṃ vane śūnye bhāryām utsṛjya duḥkhitaḥ ||
കലിയുടെ സ്പർശം മൂലം രാജാവിന്റെ ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണവും വിവേകവും നശിച്ചു. അത്യന്തം ദുഃഖിതനായി പല ചിന്തകളിൽ മുങ്ങി, ഭാര്യയെ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് ആ ശൂന്യവനത്തിലൂടെ അവൻ ഒറ്റയ്ക്കായി പോയി.
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
When one is overpowered by Kali—symbolizing vice, discord, and loss of discernment—self-mastery collapses and adharma-like actions follow. The verse highlights the ethical danger of a mind clouded by destructive influences: grief and confusion can drive a person to betray duties, even toward one’s spouse.
In Bṛhadaśva’s narration of Nala’s story, the king—his mind corrupted by Kali—wanders in a deserted forest. In his distress and confused deliberation, he leaves his wife behind and goes away alone, marking a tragic turning point in their ordeal.