Damayantī’s Lament, Serpent-Seizure, Rescue by the Hunter, and the Curse
ऋतुपर्ण स राजानमुपतस्थे सुदुःखित: । भृतिं चोपययौ तस्य सारथ्येन महीपते,युधिष्ठिर! वह अत्यन्त दुःखी हो राजा ऋतुपर्णकी सेवामें उपस्थित हुआ और उनका सारथि बनकर जीविका चलाने लगा
ṛtuparṇaḥ sa rājānam upatasthe suduḥkhitaḥ | bhṛtiṃ copayayau tasya sārathyena mahīpate, yudhiṣṭhira |
Глубоко сокрушённый, он явился к царю Ритупарне (Ṛtuparṇa) и поступил к нему на службу. Так, о Юдхиштхира (Yudhiṣṭhira), служа царским возничим, он поддерживал своё существование, перенося тяготы с дисциплиной и смирением как с единственным заработком.
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Even in severe distress, one may uphold dharma by accepting honest work and serving with humility. The verse highlights ethical resilience: sustaining oneself through rightful livelihood rather than through wrongdoing or despair.
A grief-stricken figure approaches King Ṛtuparṇa and enters his service. He becomes the king’s charioteer and thereby earns his maintenance, a key step in the unfolding account narrated to Yudhiṣṭhira.