Shloka 12

Damayantī’s Lament, Serpent-Seizure, Rescue by the Hunter, and the Curse

Devanagari script

वाष्णेयं तु ततो भैमी सान्त्वयऊ“लक्ष्णया गिरा । उवाच देशकातलज्ञा प्राप्तकालमनिन्दिता,बृहत्सेनाने दमयन्तीकी बात सुनकर विश्वसनीय पुरुषोंद्वारा वाष्णेयको बुलाया। तब अनिन्द्य स्वभाववाली और देश-कालको जाननेवाली भीमकुमारी दमयन्तीने वार्ष्णेयको मधुर वाणीमें सान्त्वना देते हुए यह समयोचित बात कही--

Transliteration

vārṣṇeyaṁ tu tato bhaimī sāntvayāl lakṣṇayā girā | uvāca deśa-kāla-jñā prāpta-kālam aninditā ||

Translation

Kemudian Bhīmī (Damayantī) menegur Vārṣṇeya dengan suara yang lembut dan menenteramkan. Tanpa cela pada budi pekerti serta arif menimbang tempat dan waktu, baginda bertutur kata yang tepat pada saatnya—memberi penghiburan sambil dengan bijaksana mengarah langkah dan tindakan menurut adab yang wajar.

Word by Word

वार्ष्णेयम्Vārṣṇeya (messenger/descendant of Vṛṣṇi), as object

तुbut/indeed

ततःthen/from there/thereafter

भैमीBhīmī (Damayantī, daughter of Bhīma)

सान्त्वयन्comforting/conciliating

लक्षणयाwith (a) gentle/indicative manner (lakaṣaṇā)

गिराwith speech/words

उवाचsaid/spoke

देशकालज्ञाknowing place and time

प्राप्तकालम्timely/appropriate to the occasion

अनिन्दिताblameless/irreproachable

Speaker

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Damayantī (Bhaimī)

Vārṣṇeya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Right speech is ethical action: one should comfort others with gentle, well-chosen words and speak in a way that fits the time and circumstance (deśa-kāla), combining compassion with practical wisdom.

What is happening in the narrative?

Damayantī summons and addresses Vārṣṇeya. She consoles him with sweet, tactful speech and begins to state what should be done next, indicating her alertness to the demands of the moment.