Shloka 9
दमयन्ती-शपथः वायोः साक्ष्यं च
Damayantī’s Oath and Vāyu’s Testimony
हस्वमासाद्य संचारं नासौ विनमते क्वचित् | तं तु दृष्टया यथा5संगमुत्सपति यथासुखम्,किसी छोटे-से-छोटे दरवाजेपर जाकर भी वह झुकता नहीं है। उसे देखकर बड़ी आसानीके साथ दरवाजा ही इस प्रकार ऊँचा हो जाता है कि जिससे मस्तकका उससे स्पर्श नहो
hrasvam āsādya sañcāraṁ nāsau vinamate kvacit | taṁ tu dṛṣṭvā yathā-saṅgam utsarpati yathā-sukham |
Wika ni Bṛhadaśva: Kahit dumating siya sa daanang may napakababang pintuan, hindi siya yumuyuko kailanman. Ngunit pagkapansin sa kanya, ang pintuan mismo ang umaangat—ayon sa kailangan—upang hindi sumayad ang kanyang ulo. Ipinahihiwatig ng pangyayaring ito na ang pagmamataas ay tumatangging magpakumbaba, at ang daigdig ay tila napipilitang umayon dito, babala sa panganib ng kayabangan at sa di-likas na pagbaluktot na maaari nitong idulot.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical contrast between humility and pride: refusing to bow is portrayed as a stubborn arrogance, and the miraculous ‘rising doorway’ suggests how the world can become distorted to accommodate ego—an implicit warning that dharma favors modesty and self-restraint.
Bṛhadaśva describes a figure who never stoops even at a low entrance; instead, the doorway itself lifts up on seeing him, preventing any contact with his head—an illustrative marvel used to characterize the person’s unbending nature.