Shloka 27
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
विलज्जमाना वस्त्रान्तं जग्राहायतलोचना । स्कन्ध देशेडसृजत् तस्य स्रजं परमशो भनाम्
vilajjamānā vastrāntaṁ jagrāhāyatalocanā | skandha-deśe 'sṛjat tasya srajaṁ paramaśobhanām ||
Bṛhadaśva berkata: Dengan malu yang sopan, gadis bermata bak teratai itu memegang hujung kain pakaiannya. Lalu, pada bahunya, dia mengalungkan karangan bunga yang amat indah—suatu isyarat halus penerimaan, tetap dalam batas kesantunan.
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights social-ethical restraint (lajjā) and decorum: inner feeling is expressed through culturally appropriate, non-verbal action. Modesty is not mere inhibition but a dharmic boundary that shapes how affection or acceptance is communicated.
A lotus-eyed woman, feeling shy, holds the edge of her garment and then places a splendid garland on a man’s shoulder—an emblematic gesture of favor/acceptance within the scene being narrated by Bṛhadaśva.