Shloka 43
Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)
एवमादीनि दु:खार्ता सा विलप्य वराड़ना । प्रलापानि तदा तानि दमयन्ती पतिव्रता,“मैं समझती हूँ, स्वयंवरके लिये जो लोकपाल देवगण पधारे थे, नलके कारण मैंने उनका तिरस्कार कर दिया था। अवश्य उन्हीं देवताओंके प्रभावसे आज मुझे वियोगका कष्ट प्राप्त हुआ है।” इस प्रकार दुःखसे आतुर हुई सुन्दरी पतिव्रता दमयन्तीने उस समय अनेक प्रकारसे विलाप एवं प्रलाप किये
evamādīni duḥkhārtā sā vilapya varāṅganā | pralāpāni tadā tāni damayantī pativratā ||
Afligida pela dor, a nobre Damayantī—firme na fidelidade de esposa—lamentou de muitas maneiras. Proferiu clamores angustiados como: “Creio que, no svayaṃvara, por causa de Nala, desprezei os deuses guardiões dos mundos (Lokapālas) que ali vieram. Certamente, pelo poder desses mesmos deuses, fui agora feita sofrer a dor da separação.” Assim, submersa em tristeza, a virtuosa Damayantī derramou então variadas lamentações.
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intense attachment and choices made under passion can later be interpreted through an ethical lens: Damayantī reads her present suffering as a consequence of having slighted divine guests at the svayaṃvara. It underscores reverence toward dharmic order (including gods and guests) and the moral tendency to seek meaning and accountability amid suffering.
After being separated from Nala, Damayantī—overcome with grief—utters many lamentations. She specifically recalls the svayaṃvara, where she chose Nala and thereby rejected the lokapāla deities who had appeared; she fears that their offended power has brought about her present pain of separation.