Shloka 21
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
स्वं चैव रूप॑ कुर्वन्तु लोकपाला महेश्वरा: । यथाहमभिजानीयां पुण्यश्लोक॑ नराधिपम्,“महेश्वर लोकपालगण अपना रूप प्रकट कर दें, जिससे मैं पुण्यश्लोक महाराज नलको पहचान सकूँ”
svaṃ caiva rūpaṃ kurvantu lokapālā maheśvarāḥ | yathāham abhijānīyāṃ puṇyaślokaṃ narādhipam ||
Bṛhadaśva berkata: “Biarlah para penjaga alam semesta dan para Maheśvara menzahirkan rupa mereka yang sebenar, supaya aku dapat mengenali dengan tepat Raja Nala, pemerintah Niṣadha yang masyhur lagi berbudi.”
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethically sound action requires clear discernment: when appearances can mislead, one should seek the truth of things (their real nature) before judging or choosing.
Bṛhadaśva requests that the divine world-guardians manifest their true forms, so he can distinguish and correctly identify King Nala, who is described as ‘puṇyaśloka’—renowned for virtue.