Shloka 23
दमयन्ती–बाहुकसंवादः
Damayantī’s Dialogue with Bāhuka; Recognition and Disclosure
बृहृदश्च उवाच एवमुक्तस्य केशिन्या नलस्य कुरुनन्दन । ह्ृदयं व्यथितं चासीदश्रुपूर्ण च लोचने,बृहदश्च मुनि कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! केशिनीके ऐसा कहनेपर राजा नलके हृदयमें बड़ी वेदना हुई। उनकी दोनों आँखें आँसुओंसे भर गयीं
Bṛhadaśva uvāca: evam uktasya keśinyā nalasya kurunandana | hṛdayaṃ vyathitaṃ cāsīd aśrupūrṇaṃ ca locane ||
ฤๅษีบฤหทัศวะกล่าวว่า—โอ้ผู้เป็นความชื่นใจแห่งวงศ์กุรุ เมื่อเคศินีกล่าวดังนั้นแก่พระนล พระทัยของพระองค์ก็ปวดร้าวยิ่งนัก และดวงเนตรทั้งสองก็เอ่อล้นด้วยน้ำตา
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of truthful speech and its emotional consequences: even a great king like Nala is moved to visible sorrow, suggesting that sensitivity and compassion are integral to dharma, not signs of weakness.
In Bṛhadaśva’s narration to Yudhiṣṭhira, Keśinī has just spoken to Nala; her words strike him deeply, causing inner anguish and tears, marking a turning point of intense personal suffering within the Nala episode.