Shloka 14
Damayantī’s Recognition by the Piplū Mark and Her Return to Vidarbha
ततः कर्कोटको नाग: सान्त्वयन् नलमब्रवीत् । मया तेडन्तर्हितं रूप॑ न त्वां विद्युर्जजा इति,तब कर्कोटक नागने राजा नलको सान्त्वना देते हुए कहा--'राजन्! मैंने आपके पहले रूपको इसलिये अदृश्य कर दिया है कि लोग आपको पहचान न सकें
tataḥ karkoṭako nāgaḥ sāntvayan nalam abravīt | mayā te ’ntarhitaṃ rūpaṃ na tvāṃ vidyur janā iti ||
ਤਦ ਕਰਕੋਟਕ ਨਾਗ ਨੇ ਨਲ ਨੂੰ ਧੀਰਜ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ— “ਰਾਜਨ, ਲੋਕ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਪਛਾਣ ਨਾ ਸਕਣ, ਇਸ ਲਈ ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰਾ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵਾਲਾ ਰੂਪ ਲੁਕਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ।”
ब॒हदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Compassionate help may take the form of concealment and strategic protection: when a person is vulnerable, preserving dignity and safety can be a dharmic act that enables eventual restoration.
Karkoṭaka reassures Nala that he has altered/hidden Nala’s earlier appearance so that ordinary people will not recognize him, allowing Nala to move without being identified while he is in distress.