Shloka 24
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
तथैव वेदवचन श्रूयते नित्यदा विभो । संवत्सरो महाराज पूर्णो भवति कृच्छृत:,'प्रभो! महाराज! इसी प्रकार सदा यह वैदिक वचन सुना जाता है कि कृच्छृव्रतके अनुष्ठानसे एक वर्षकी पूर्ति हो जाती है
tathaiva vedavacanaṁ śrūyate nityadā vibho | saṁvatsaro mahārāja pūrṇo bhavati kṛcchrataḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Gayon din, O makapangyarihan—O maharaja—palagi itong naririnig na pahayag ng Veda: sa pagsasagawa ng panatang Kṛcchra, ang isang buong taon ay wari’y natatapos (sa bisa ng gantimpalang espirituwal).”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse appeals to Vedic authority to emphasize the spiritual efficacy of disciplined penance: the Kṛcchra observance is said to yield merit comparable to completing a full year, underscoring the ethical value of self-restraint and expiation.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports a traditional Vedic maxim to the king he is addressing, reinforcing a point about vows and austerities—specifically that performing the Kṛcchra-vrata is regarded as powerfully meritorious, as if it ‘completes’ a year.