Shloka 56
Sudeva Identifies Damayantī in Cedi (सुदेवेन दमयन्ती-परिचयः)
“माताजी! आप मुझे मानव-कन्या ही समझिये। मैं अपने पतिके चरणोंमें अनुराग रखनेवाली एक नारी हूँ। मेरी अन्तःपुरमें काम करनेवाली सैरन्ध्री जाति है। मैं सेविका हूँ और जहाँ इच्छा होती है, वहीं रहती हूँ ।। फलमूलाशनामेकां यत्रसायंप्रतिश्रयाम् । असंख्येयगुणो भर्ता मां च नित्यमनुव्रत:,“मैं अकेली हूँ, फल-मूल खाकर जीवन-निर्वाह करती हूँ और जहाँ साँझ होती है, वहीं टिक जाती हूँ। मेरे स्वामीमें असंख्य गुण हैं, उनका मेरे प्रति सदा अत्यन्त अनुराग है
mātāji! āpa mujhe mānava-kanyā hī samajhiye | maiṃ apane pati-ke caraṇoṃ meṃ anurāga rakhanevālī eka nārī hūṃ | merī antaḥpura meṃ kāma karanevālī sairandhrī jāti hai | maiṃ sevikā hūṃ aura jahāṃ icchā hotī hai, vahīṃ rahatī hūṃ || phalamūlāśanām ekāṃ yatra sāyaṃ pratiśrayām | asaṅkhyeya-guṇo bhartā māṃ ca nityam anuvrataḥ ||
Sinabi niya: “Ina, ituring ninyo akong isang dalagang tao lamang. Ako’y babaeng may pag-ibig at debosyon sa paanan ng aking asawa. Sa loob ng aking tahanan ay may mga tagapaglingkod na kabilang sa uring Sairandhrī na gumagawa ng mga gawaing-bahay; ako nama’y namumuhay bilang alipin, nananatili kung saan ko nanaisin. Nag-iisa, nabubuhay ako sa mga prutas at ugat, at kung saan ako abutan ng dapithapon, doon ako sumisilong sa gabi. Ang aking panginoon ay may di-mabilang na kabutihan, at siya’y laging matatag na nakatalaga sa akin.”
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharma through humility and steadfast marital devotion: the speaker presents herself as an ordinary woman who lives simply, serves without pride, and emphasizes the mutual fidelity between wife and husband as a moral ideal.
A woman is being described (within Bṛhadaśva’s narration) as explaining her identity and way of life: she asks to be regarded as a mere human maiden, states her role as a servant with attendants in the inner quarters, notes her austere subsistence on fruits and roots, and praises her husband’s virtues and constant devotion to her.