Shloka 37
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
दमयन्ती तु दुःखार्ता पतिराज्यविनाकृता । अतीतवाक्पथे काले शशापैनं रुषान्विता,पति तथा राज्य दोनोंसे वंचित होनेके कारण दमयन्ती अत्यन्त दुःखसे आतुर हो रही थी। इधर व्याधकी कुचेष्टा वाणीद्वारा रोकनेपर रुक सके, ऐसी प्रतीत नहीं होती थी। तब (उस व्याधपर अत्यन्त रुष्ट हो) उसने उसे शाप दे दिया--
Damayantī tu duḥkhārtā patirājyavinākṛtā | atītavākpathe kāle śaśāpa enaṁ ruṣānvitā ||
Damayantī, atormentada pela dor—privada tanto do marido quanto da dignidade real—viu que passara o momento em que as palavras poderiam conter o que se intentava. Tomada de ira, lançou então uma maldição sobre o caçador.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
When wrongdoing persists beyond the reach of reasoned speech, consequences become inevitable; the verse highlights both the moral weight of harassment/injustice and the grave power of a righteous person’s curse when patience is exhausted.
Damayantī, suffering from separation from her husband and loss of royal security, realizes that verbal restraint is no longer effective; in anger she utters a curse against the offending man, marking a turning point from endurance to retributive speech.