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Shloka 20

दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure

यथेदं व्रतमारब्धं नलस्याराधने मया । तेन सत्येन मे देवास्तमेव प्रदिशन्तु मे,“यदि मैंने नलकी आराधनाके लिये ही यह व्रत आरम्भ किया हो तो उस सत्यके प्रभावसे देवता मुझे उनन्‍्हींको बतला दें

yathedaṃ vratam ārabdhaṃ nalasyārādhane mayā | tena satyena me devās tam eva pradiśantu me ||

หากข้าพเจ้าเริ่มปฏิญาณนี้เพื่อบูชาและรับใช้พระนลเท่านั้น ด้วยอานุภาพแห่งสัจจะนั้น ขอเหล่าเทวะจงชี้พระนลผู้นั้นแก่ข้าพเจ้า

यथाas, in the manner that
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
व्रतम्vow, observance
व्रतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootव्रत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आरब्धम्begun, undertaken
आरब्धम्:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-रभ्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative, Singular
नलस्यof Nala
नलस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootनल
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
आराधनेin worship/propitiation
आराधने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआराधन
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
मयाby me
मया:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormInstrumental, Singular
तेनby that
तेन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
सत्येनby (the power of) truth
सत्येन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसत्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
मेto me
मे:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormDative, Singular
देवाःthe gods
देवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
प्रदिशन्तुmay they point out/indicate
प्रदिशन्तु:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-दिश्
FormImperative, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
मेto me
मे:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormDative, Singular

बृहदश्व उवाच

बृहदश्व (Bṛhadaśva)
नल (Nala)
देवाः (the gods)

Educational Q&A

The verse illustrates satyakriyā—the ethical and spiritual idea that a truthful declaration, grounded in sincere intent and righteous conduct, can become efficacious and invite divine guidance.

Bṛhadaśva makes a conditional truth-assertion: if his vow was truly undertaken for Nala’s devoted service, then the gods should, by that truth’s power, reveal or indicate Nala to him.