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 ||
Wika ni Bṛhadaśva: “Marami na kaming nakita, ngunit kailanma’y wala pang tulad niya. At ikaw man ay hiyas sa mga babae; sa mga lalaki naman, si Nala ang pinakadakila.”
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
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.