Shloka 273
दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure
वरयामास चैवैनं पतित्वे वरवर्णिनी । विशाल नेत्रोंवाली दमयन्तीने लजाते-लजाते नलके वस्त्रका छोर पकड़ लिया और उनके गलेमें परम सुन्दर फूलोंका हार डाल दिया। इस प्रकार वरवर्णिनी दमयन्तीने राजा नलका पतिरूपमें वरण कर लिया
varayāmāsa caivainaṃ patitve varavarṇinī | viśālanetrorvālī damayantī lajjate-lajjate nalasya vastrasya choraṃ jagrāha, tasya ca gale parama-sundara-puṣpa-hāraṃ nyadhāt | evaṃ varavarṇinī damayantī rājānaṃ nalaṃ patirūpeṇa vavre |
Bṛhadaśva berkata: Maka Damayantī yang berwajah cerah itu memilihnya sebagai suami. Bermata besar laksana teratai, dengan malu-malu dia memegang hujung kain Nala lalu mengalungkan pada lehernya karangan bunga yang amat indah. Demikianlah Damayantī yang bersinar itu, di hadapan svayaṃvara, menerima Raja Nala sebagai tuan yang dipilihnya sendiri.
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights moral agency and dharmic commitment in marriage: Damayantī makes a clear, public choice, combining modesty (lajjā) with decisiveness. The garlanding signifies responsibility and consent, not merely emotion.
During the svayaṃvara, Damayantī shyly approaches Nala, touches the edge of his garment, and places a beautiful flower garland on his neck—formal signs that she has chosen King Nala as her husband.