Shloka 4

Damayantī’s Lament, Serpent-Seizure, Rescue by the Hunter, and the Curse

Devanagari script

बृहत्सेनामतियशां तां धात्रीं परिचारिकाम्‌ | हितां सर्वार्थकुशलामनुरक्तां सुभाषिताम्‌,उसकी धायका नाम बृहत्सेना था। वह अत्यन्त यशस्विनी और परिचर्याके कार्यमें निपुण थी। समस्त कार्योंके साधनमें कुशल, हितैषिणी, अनुरागिणी और मधुरभाषिणी थी

Transliteration

bṛhatsenām atiyaśāṃ tāṃ dhātrīṃ paricārikām | hitāṃ sarvārthakuśalām anuraktāṃ subhāṣitām ||

Translation

Đại sĩ Bṛhadaśva nói: “Nhũ mẫu kiêm thị nữ của nàng tên là Bṛhatsenā—lừng danh và tinh thông việc hầu hạ. Bà là người thiện tâm, giỏi xoay xở mọi việc, hết lòng gắn bó, và lời nói dịu dàng.”

Word by Word

बृहत्सेनाम्Bṛhatsenā (name of the nurse)

अतियशाम्very renowned, highly glorious

ताम्her/that (woman)

धात्रीम्nurse, foster-mother

परिचारिकाम्attendant, maidservant

हिताम्well-disposed, beneficial, friendly

सर्वार्थकुशलाम्skilled in all matters

अनुरक्ताम्attached, devoted

सुभाषिताम्sweet-speaking, well-spoken

Speaker

बृहृदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadāśva

Bṛhatsenā

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical virtues in everyday conduct: competence in duties (sarvārthakuśalā), benevolence (hitā), loyal affection (anuraktā), and gentle, truthful speech (subhāṣitā). It presents ideal service as grounded in goodwill and character, not merely function.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadāśva introduces and praises a key household figure—Bṛhatsenā—describing her as the nurse and attendant, renowned and capable, whose devotion and pleasant speech make her trustworthy within the story’s setting.