Shloka 22
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
सा ग्रस्यमाना ग्राहेण शोकेन च परिप्लुता । नात्मानं शोचति तथा यथा शोचति नैषधम्,शोकमें डूबी हुई वैदर्भीको अजगर निगल रहा था, तो भी वह अपने लिये उतना शोक नहीं कर रही थी, जितना शोक उसे निषधनरेश नलके लिये था
sā grasyamānā grāheṇa śokena ca pariplutā | nātmānaṃ śocati tathā yathā śocati naiṣadham ||
Бṛhadaśva сказал: Хотя царевна Видарбхи была схвачена змеем и утопала в скорби, она не так горевала о себе, как о Нале, царе Нишадхи. Этот стих прославляет непоколебимую преданность и самоотверженную заботу о супруге даже среди личной угрозы.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores selfless devotion and steadfastness: even in immediate danger, Damayantī’s primary concern is for her husband Nala, illustrating the ideal of loyal, compassionate commitment (pativratā-bhāva) and endurance in adversity.
In Bṛhadaśva’s narration of the Nala–Damayantī episode, Damayantī is caught by a great serpent (ajagara). Despite being seized and overwhelmed with grief, she laments not for her own life but chiefly for Nala, from whom she has been separated.