Shloka 30
Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
दृष्टवन्तो न चास्माभिरदर्दष्टपूर्वस्तथाविध: । त्वं चापि रत्नं नारीणां नरेषु च नलो वर:
dṛṣṭavanto na cāsmābhir adṛṣṭapūrvas tathāvidhaḥ | tvaṃ cāpi ratnaṃ nārīṇāṃ nareṣu ca nalo varaḥ ||
“आम्ही अनेकांना पाहिले आहे; पण तसला कोणी यापूर्वी कधी पाहिला नाही. आणि तूही स्त्रियांमध्ये रत्न आहेस; पुरुषांमध्ये नल श्रेष्ठ आहे.”
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True excellence is recognized as rare and exemplary: Damayantī is praised as a ‘jewel among women’ and Nala as ‘the best among men,’ highlighting ideals of virtue, worthiness, and noble character in dharmic life.
Bṛhadaśva, narrating the Nala–Damayantī episode, offers a formal commendation: he declares that such a person has never been seen before and extols Damayantī’s exceptional qualities while affirming Nala’s preeminence among men.