Shloka 31
दमयन्तीस्वयंवरः — देववेषधारणं, सत्यप्रार्थना, नलवरणम्
Damayantī’s Svayaṃvara: Divine Disguises, Truth-Vow, and Choosing Nala
भो भो निषधराजेन्द्र नल सत्यव्रतो भवान् | अस्माकं कुरु साहाय्यं दूतो भव नरोत्तम,“निषधदेशके महाराज नरश्रेष्ठ नल! आप सत्य-व्रती हैं, हमलोगोंकी सहायता कीजिये। हमारे दूत बन जाइये”
bho bho niṣadharājendra nala satyavrato bhavān | asmākaṃ kuru sāhāyyaṃ dūto bhava narottama ||
Nārada berkata: “Wahai raja terunggul Niṣadha, Nala—yang teguh berpegang pada kebenaran—sudilah membantu kami. Wahai insan terbaik, jadilah utusan kami.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma grounded in satya (truth): a truly righteous person is trusted with delicate duties like diplomacy and is called upon to use integrity in service of others.
Nārada addresses King Nala with honorifics, praising his truthfulness, and requests that he help by acting as an envoy (dūta), implying a mission requiring reliability and moral credibility.