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Shloka 14

Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas

Adhyāya 53

मानुषेष्वपि चान्येषु दृष्टपूर्वाथवा श्रुता । चित्तप्रसादनी बाला देवानामपि सुन्दरी,मनुष्यों तथा अन्य वर्गके लोगोंमें भी वैसी सुन्दरी पहले न तो कभी देखी गयी थी और न सुननेमें ही आयी थी। उस बालाको देखते ही चित्त प्रसन्न हो जाता था। वह देववर्गमें भी श्रेष्ठ सुन्ददी समझी जाती थी

mānuṣeṣv api cānyeṣu dṛṣṭapūrvāthavā śrutā | cittaprasādanī bālā devānām api sundarī ||

Bṛhadaśva nói: Ngay giữa loài người và các hạng chúng sinh khác, một thiếu nữ như thế chưa từng được thấy, cũng chưa từng được nghe kể. Chỉ nhìn nàng thôi, lòng đã hoan hỷ và an tĩnh; và nàng vẫn được xem là đẹp ngay cả giữa chư thiên.

मानुषेषुamong humans
मानुषेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमानुष
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अन्येषुamong other (beings/classes)
अन्येषु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural
दृष्टपूर्वाseen before
दृष्टपूर्वा:
TypeAdjective
Rootदृष्टपूर्व
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
अथवाor
अथवा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथवा
श्रुताheard of
श्रुता:
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रुत
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
चित्तप्रसादनीgladdening the mind
चित्तप्रसादनी:
TypeAdjective
Rootचित्तप्रसादनी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
बालाthe girl/maiden
बाला:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबाल
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
देवानाम्of the gods
देवानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
सुन्दरीa beautiful woman; beauty
सुन्दरी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसुन्दरी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

B
Bṛhadaśva
T
the maiden (bālā)
H
humans (mānuṣa)
G
gods (deva)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the power of perceived excellence—especially beauty and grace—to calm and uplift the mind, while also using hyperbolic praise to mark someone as extraordinary beyond ordinary human experience.

Bṛhadaśva is describing an exceptionally beautiful young maiden, emphasizing that neither sight nor tradition has recorded her equal among humans or other beings, and that she is considered beautiful even among the gods.