Shloka 22
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
सा ग्रस्यमाना ग्राहेण शोकेन च परिप्लुता । नात्मानं शोचति तथा यथा शोचति नैषधम्,शोकमें डूबी हुई वैदर्भीको अजगर निगल रहा था, तो भी वह अपने लिये उतना शोक नहीं कर रही थी, जितना शोक उसे निषधनरेश नलके लिये था
sā grasyamānā grāheṇa śokena ca pariplutā | nātmānaṃ śocati tathā yathā śocati naiṣadham ||
Bṛhadaśva nói: Dẫu công chúa xứ Vidarbha bị rắn quấn chặt và nỗi sầu tràn ngập, nàng vẫn không thương mình bằng thương Nala, vua xứ Niṣadha. Câu kệ tôn vinh lòng thủy chung bền chặt và sự quên mình vì người phối ngẫu ngay giữa lúc hiểm nguy kề cận.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores selfless devotion and steadfastness: even in immediate danger, Damayantī’s primary concern is for her husband Nala, illustrating the ideal of loyal, compassionate commitment (pativratā-bhāva) and endurance in adversity.
In Bṛhadaśva’s narration of the Nala–Damayantī episode, Damayantī is caught by a great serpent (ajagara). Despite being seized and overwhelmed with grief, she laments not for her own life but chiefly for Nala, from whom she has been separated.