Shloka 30
Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
दृष्टवन्तो न चास्माभिरदर्दष्टपूर्वस्तथाविध: । त्वं चापि रत्नं नारीणां नरेषु च नलो वर:
dṛṣṭavanto na cāsmābhir adṛṣṭapūrvas tathāvidhaḥ | tvaṃ cāpi ratnaṃ nārīṇāṃ nareṣu ca nalo varaḥ ||
“நாங்கள் பலரை கண்டோம்; ஆனால் அத்தகைய ஒருவரை முன்பு ஒருபோதும் கண்டதில்லை. நீயும் பெண்களில் ஒரு மணிமகள்; ஆண்களில் நலனே சிறந்தவன்.”
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True excellence is recognized as rare and exemplary: Damayantī is praised as a ‘jewel among women’ and Nala as ‘the best among men,’ highlighting ideals of virtue, worthiness, and noble character in dharmic life.
Bṛhadaśva, narrating the Nala–Damayantī episode, offers a formal commendation: he declares that such a person has never been seen before and extols Damayantī’s exceptional qualities while affirming Nala’s preeminence among men.