Shloka 24
Parṇāda’s Report; Bāhuka’s Counsel; Damayantī’s Strategic Svayaṃvara Message (अध्याय ६८)
तुल्यशीलवयोयुक्तां तुल्याभिजनसंवृताम् । नैषधो<हति वैदर्भी तं चेयमसितेक्षणा,विदर्भकुमारी दमयन्ती राजा नलके समान शील और अवस्थासे युक्त है, उन्हींके तुल्य उत्तम कुलसे सुशोभित है। निषधनरेश नल विदर्भकुमारीके योग्य हैं और यह कजरारे नेत्रोंवाली वैदर्भी नलके योग्य है
tulyaśīlavayoyuktāṃ tulyābhijanasaṃvṛtām | naiṣadho 'rhati vaidarbhīṃ taṃ ceyam asitekṣaṇā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira nói: “Nàng có đức hạnh và tuổi xuân tương xứng với chàng, lại được tô điểm bởi dòng dõi tương xứng. Vua Niṣadha là Nala thật xứng đáng với công chúa Vidarbha; và công chúa Vidarbha mắt đen ấy cũng xứng đáng với Nala.”
युदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical criterion for marriage: suitability based on parity in character (śīla), maturity/age (vayaḥ), and noble standing (abhijana). It implies that a righteous union is one where virtues and social responsibilities are balanced, supporting harmony rather than mismatch.
Yudhiṣṭhira comments on the famed pair Nala and Damayantī, affirming that Nala, king of Niṣadha, is a fitting match for the Vidarbha princess, and that Damayantī is equally fitting for Nala—highlighting mutual worthiness before the events of their story unfold.