Shloka 51
Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)
उन्मत्तवेषा कल्याणी श्रीरिवायतलोचना । सा जन वारयित्वा त॑ं प्रासादतलमुत्तमम्,“इसका वेष तो उन्मत्तके समान है, परंतु यह विशाल नेत्रोंवाली युवती कल्याणमयी लक्ष्मीके समान जान पड़ती है।” धाय उन सब लोगोंको हटाकर उसे उत्तम राजमहलकी अट्टालिकापर चढ़ा ले आयी। राजन! तत्पश्चात् विस्मित होकर राजमाताने दमयन्तीसे पूछा --अहो! तुम इस प्रकार दुःखसे दबी होनेपर भी इतना सुन्दर रूप कैसे धारण करती हो?
Bṛhadaśva uvāca — Unmattaveṣā kalyāṇī śrīr ivāyatalocanā | sā janān vārayitvā taṁ prāsādatalaṁ uttamam ||
Disse Bṛhadāśva: “Embora suas vestes parecessem as de uma louca, esta jovem auspiciosa, de olhos longos e amplos, mostrava-se como a própria Śrī (Lakṣmī).” A ama afastou o povo e a conduziu ao mais nobre terraço do palácio real. Então a rainha-mãe, maravilhada, perguntou a Damayantī: “Ai! Mesmo esmagada por tal sofrimento, como ainda sustentas tamanha beleza?”
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Outer distress and social misrecognition do not erase inner virtue; true nobility and auspiciousness can shine even when one is overwhelmed by suffering, inviting compassion and ethical attention rather than contempt.
Damayantī, appearing in a dishevelled, ‘madwoman-like’ guise, is nevertheless perceived as Lakṣmī-like in beauty. The attendant clears the crowd and brings her to the palace terrace, where the astonished queen-mother questions how Damayantī can remain so beautiful despite intense hardship.