Shloka 28
Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
कन्दर्प इव रूपेण मूर्तिमानभवत् स्वयम् । तस्य वै यदि भार्या त्वं भवेथा वरवर्णिनि
kandarpa iva rūpeṇa mūrtimān abhavat svayam | tasya vai yadi bhāryā tvaṃ bhavethā varavarṇini ||
“அழகில் அவன் சாட்சாத் கந்தர்ப்பன் (காமதேவன்) உடலெடுத்ததுபோல் தோன்றுகிறான். ஓ அழகிய நிறமுடையவளே, நீ அவனுடைய மனைவியாகினால்…”
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary beauty can resemble divine allure and become a powerful force in human choices, especially regarding marriage; it implicitly warns that attraction and desire can strongly influence decisions and must be approached with discernment.
Bṛhadaśva describes a man whose appearance is so captivating that he seems like Kāma incarnate, and he addresses a woman (varavarṇinī), introducing the possibility of her becoming that man’s wife—setting up a situation where beauty and marital choice become central.