Adhyāya 76: Kuṇḍina-praveśaḥ, Bhīmena satkāraḥ, Ṛtuparṇa-kṣamā, Aśvahṛdaya-pratyarpanam
Nala’s Reception and Reconciliation
दमयन्त्या ब्रुवन्त्यास्तु सर्वमेतदरिंदम । शोकजं वारि नेत्राभ्यामसुखं प्रास्रवद् बहु,शत्रुदमन युधिष्ठिर! दमयन्ती जब ये सब बातें कह रही थी, उस समय नलके नेत्रोंसे शोकजनित दुःखपूर्ण आँसुओंकी अजस््र धारा बहती जा रही थी
bṛhadaśva uvāca | damayantyā bruvantyās tu sarvam etad ariṃdama | śokajaṃ vāri netrābhyām asukhaṃ prāsravad bahu ||
बृहदश्व म्हणाले—शत्रुदमन युधिष्ठिरा! दमयंती ही सर्व गोष्टी बोलत असता नलाच्या डोळ्यांतून शोकजन्य, दुःखमय अश्रूंची मोठी धारा अखंड वाहत होती।
बृहदश्चव उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical power of truthful speech and the inevitability of emotional accountability: when one confronts the consequences of one’s actions—especially toward a devoted spouse—grief and remorse naturally arise, reminding even great rulers of their human vulnerability and the need to return to dharma.
Bṛhadaśva narrates to Yudhiṣṭhira that while Damayantī is recounting everything she has endured and saying her piece, Nala is overcome; tears born of sorrow stream continuously from his eyes.