Adhyāya 76: Kuṇḍina-praveśaḥ, Bhīmena satkāraḥ, Ṛtuparṇa-kṣamā, Aśvahṛdaya-pratyarpanam
Nala’s Reception and Reconciliation
तदद्भुतमयं दृष्टवा नलो राजाथ भारत | दमयन्त्यां विशड्कां तामुपाकर्षदरिंदम:,युधिष्ठि!! यह अद्भुत दृश्य देखकर शत्रुसूदन राजा नलने दमयन्तीके विरुद्ध होनेवाली शंकाको त्याग दिया
tad adbhutamayaṃ dṛṣṭvā nalo rājātha bhārata | damayantyāṃ viśaṅkāṃ tāṃ upākarṣad arindamaḥ ||
Wahai Bhārata, apabila Raja Nala—penunduk musuh—menyaksikan pemandangan yang menakjubkan itu, baginda pun menarik diri dan membuang syak wasangka yang pernah dipendam terhadap Damayantī. Di hadapan bukti yang nyata, baginda memilih keadilan mengatasi keraguan, lalu memulihkan kembali kepercayaan yang hampir retak.
बृहदश्चव उवाच
When confronted with convincing truth, one should abandon baseless suspicion—especially toward the innocent. Ethical discernment requires revising one’s judgment in light of evidence, preserving justice and trust.
Bṛhadaśva narrates to Yudhiṣṭhira that Nala witnesses an extraordinary sign or event, and as a result he withdraws the doubt he had begun to feel toward Damayantī, restoring confidence in her.