Shloka 15
Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)
एवं प्रकारैर्बहुभिर्देवेनाक्रम्य हस्तिभि: । राजन् विनिहतं सर्व समृद्ध सार्थमण्डलम्,राजन्! इस प्रकार दैववश बहुतेरे जंगली हाथियोंने आक्रमण करके (प्रायः) उस सम्पूर्ण समृद्धिशाली व्यापारियोंके समुदायको नष्ट कर दिया
evaṃ prakārair bahubhir devenākramya hastibhiḥ | rājan vinihataṃ sarvaṃ samṛddha-sārtha-maṇḍalam ||
Disse Bṛhadaśva: “Ó Rei, de muitos modos assim, pela força do destino, elefantes selvagens atacaram; e assim foi destruída toda a próspera companhia de mercadores da caravana.”
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the overwhelming power of daiva (fate/dispensation) in worldly affairs: even a thriving, well-equipped merchant caravan can be suddenly ruined by unforeseen forces, urging humility and detachment in the face of prosperity.
Bṛhadaśva narrates to the king that, through various circumstances driven by fate, wild elephants attacked and (nearly) annihilated the entire wealthy merchant caravan-company.