Parṇāda’s Report; Bāhuka’s Counsel; Damayantī’s Strategic Svayaṃvara Message (अध्याय ६८)
ज्ञातमात्रेडपि दास्यामि गवां दशशतं धनम् | “साथ ही जीविकाके लिये अग्रहार (करमुक्त भूमि) दूँगा और ऐसा गाँव दे दूँगा, जो आयमें नगरके समान होगा। यदि नल-दमयन्तीमेंसे किसी एकको या दोनोंको ही यहाँ ले आना सम्भव न हो सके तो केवल उनका पता लग जानेपर भी मैं एक हजार गोधन दान करूँगा'
jñātamātreḍ api dāsyāmi gavāṃ daśaśataṃ dhanam |
Bṛhadaśva nói: “Dẫu chỉ biết được tung tích của họ thôi, ta cũng sẽ ban thưởng một nghìn con bò làm của cải.”
ब॒हदश्व उवाच
The verse highlights dharmic kingship through generosity and fidelity to one’s promise: a ruler uses wealth as a righteous incentive to relieve others’ distress, and the spoken pledge itself becomes a moral commitment.
Bṛhadaśva announces a reward: even if someone can only discover the location of Nala and Damayantī (without bringing them), he will still grant a thousand cattle, encouraging the search and signaling the urgency of reuniting the separated pair.