Shloka 10
Parṇāda’s Report; Bāhuka’s Counsel; Damayantī’s Strategic Svayaṃvara Message (अध्याय ६८)
युदेव उवाच यथेयं मे पुरा दृष्टा तथारूपेयमज़ना । कृतार्थो<स्म्यद्य दृष्टवेमां लोककान्तामिव श्रियम्,सुदेव मन-ही-मन बोले--मैंने पहले जिस रूपमें इस कल्याणमयी राजकन्याको देखा है, वैसी ही यह आज भी है। लोककमनीय लक्ष्मीकी भाँति इस भीमकुमारीको देखकर आज मैं कृतार्थ हो गया हूँ
yudeva uvāca | yatheyaṃ me purā dṛṣṭā tathārūpeyam ajñā | kṛtārtho 'smy adya dṛṣṭvemāṃ lokakāntām iva śriyam |
Yudeva disse: “Assim como vi esta donzela outrora, assim ela aparece ainda hoje, na mesma forma. Hoje sinto-me realizado ao vê-la—como se contemplasse a própria Śrī (Fortuna), amada do mundo.” No contexto, o orador exprime admiração reverente pela presença auspiciosa da princesa, entendendo a beleza não como mero desejo, mas como sinal de śubha (bom agouro) e motivo de gratidão e contenção dentro do dharma.
युदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models a dharmic way of responding to beauty and auspiciousness: admiration is expressed as gratitude and reverence (seeing her as Śrī-like), not as possessiveness. Fulfillment (kṛtārthatā) is framed as the satisfaction of a rightful encounter rather than indulgence.
The speaker recognizes a maiden he had seen before and notes that she appears unchanged. He declares himself fulfilled upon seeing her again, comparing her to Śrī (Lakṣmī), the world-beloved embodiment of prosperity and auspicious splendor.