Shloka 28
दमयन्ती-शपथः वायोः साक्ष्यं च
Damayantī’s Oath and Vāyu’s Testimony
बहुश: सम्पतन्तीं त्वां जनः संकेतदोषतः । वयं च देशातिथयो गच्छ भद्रे यथासुखम्,“भद्रे! तुम बार-बार आती-जाती हो, लोग किसी दोषकी आशंका कर लेंगे और हमलोग इस देशके अतिथि हैं; अतः तुम सुखपूर्वक महलमें चली जाओ'
bahuśaḥ sampatantīṁ tvāṁ janaḥ saṅketadoṣataḥ | vayaṁ ca deśātithayo gaccha bhadre yathāsukham ||
Bṛhadaśva nói: “Hỡi người nữ hiền hòa, nàng cứ đi đi lại lại mãi, người đời có thể vì ngờ vực mà gán cho nàng điều lỗi. Lại nữa, chúng ta chỉ là khách ở xứ này. Vậy nên, hỡi người nữ hiền hòa, hãy trở về cung điện cho thong thả.”
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudence in conduct: even innocent actions can invite public suspicion, so one should act with awareness of social perception while also honoring the ethics of hospitality—guests should avoid creating situations that could cause misunderstanding or blame.
Bṛhadaśva advises a woman who has been repeatedly coming and going that such frequent visits may lead people to suspect wrongdoing. Since he and his companions are outsiders/guests in that region, he asks her to return to the palace calmly to prevent gossip or misinterpretation.