Shloka 11
दमयन्तीस्वयंवरः — देववेषधारणं, सत्यप्रार्थना, नलवरणम्
Damayantī’s Svayaṃvara: Divine Disguises, Truth-Vow, and Choosing Nala
हस्त्यश्वरथघोषेण पूरयन्तो वसुन्धराम् । विचित्रमाल्याभरणैर्बलैर्दश्यै: स्वलंकृतै:,दमयन्तीका स्वयंवर होने जा रहा है, यह सुनकर सभी नरेश विदर्भराज भीमके आदेशसे हाथी, घोड़ों तथा रथोंकी तुमुल ध्वनिसे पृथ्वीको गुँजाते हुए उनकी राजधानीमें गये। उस समय उनके साथ विचित्र माला एवं आभूषणोंसे विभूषित बहुत-से सैनिक देखे जा रहे थे
bṛhadaśva uvāca | hasty-aśva-ratha-ghoṣeṇa pūrayantaḥ vasundharām | vicitra-mālyābharaṇair balair dṛśyaiḥ su-alaṅkṛtaiḥ ||
Wika ni Bṛhadaśva: Sa utos ni Haring Bhīma, nang kumalat ang balitang gaganapin ang svayaṃvara ni Damayantī, maraming hari ang naglakbay patungo sa kabisera ng Vidarbha. Sa dagundong ng mga elepante, kabayo, at mga karwahe, pinayanig nila ang lupa; at nakita silang may kasamang mga hukbong mararangya ang bihis, pinalamutian ng sari-saring kuwintas ng bulaklak at mga alahas—larawan ng kapangyarihang maharlika na nagtitipon para sa hayag na ritwal ng pagpili at pagiging ganap na lehitimo.
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a dharmic public institution—svayaṃvara—draws rulers into a shared social framework where alliances and legitimacy are established openly. The grandeur is not merely display; it signals responsibility, order, and the public nature of royal commitments.
News of Damayantī’s svayaṃvara spreads, and many kings travel to Vidarbha at King Bhīma’s direction. Their arrival is portrayed through the booming sounds of elephants, horses, and chariots, and the sight of richly adorned troops accompanying them.