Shloka 122
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
तथोक्ता तेन सार्थेन दमयन्ती नृपात्मजा । प्रत्युवाच ततः साध्वी भर्तृव्यसनपीडिता,उस यात्रीदलके द्वारा जब ऐसी बात कही गयी, तब पतिके वियोगजनित दुःखसे पीड़ित साध्वी राजकुमारी दमयन्तीने उन सबको इस प्रकार उत्तर दिया--
tathoktā tena sārthena damayantī nṛpātmajā | pratyuvāca tataḥ sādhvī bhartṛvyasanapīḍitā ||
Khi người dẫn đầu đoàn lữ hành nói như vậy, Damayantī, ái nữ của nhà vua—đức hạnh nhưng bị dày vò bởi tai ương ly biệt chồng—liền đáp lời tất cả họ như sau.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast virtue (sādhvī) amid intense personal suffering, implying that ethical speech and conduct can remain grounded even when one is overwhelmed by misfortune such as separation from a spouse.
A caravan leader addresses Damayantī; she, identified as a princess and a virtuous woman distressed by separation from her husband, prepares to respond to the group—setting up her forthcoming words in the story of Nala and Damayantī.