Shloka 26
Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
दमयन्ती तु यं हंसं समुपाधावदन्तिके । स मानुषीं गिरं कृत्वा दमयन्तीमथाब्रवीत्,दमयन्ती जिस हंसके निकट दौड़ रही थी, उसने उससे मानवी वाणीमें कहा --
damayantī tu yaṃ haṃsaṃ samupādhāvad antike | sa mānuṣīṃ giraṃ kṛtvā damayantīm athābravīt |
เมื่อทมยันตีวิ่งเข้าไปใกล้หงส์นั้น หงส์ก็แปลงเป็นเสียงมนุษย์แล้วกล่าวกับทมยันตีว่า—
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that guidance toward dharma can arise from unexpected sources; discernment and receptivity to wise counsel are essential when one stands at the threshold of a life-shaping decision.
Damayantī approaches a swan closely; the swan miraculously speaks in human language and begins to address her, initiating the message that will connect her with Nala and set the course of the episode.