Shloka 25

दमयन्त्याः कार्यनिश्चयः — Damayantī’s Crisis Plan and Vārṣṇeya’s Departure

Devanagari script

ध्स्ट पक हा छायाद्वितीयो म्लानस्रग्रज:स्वेदसमन्वित: । भूमिष्ठो नैषधश्चैव निमेषेण च सूचित:,उन पाँचोंमें एक पुरुष ऐसे हैं, जिनकी परछाईं पड़ रही है। उनके गलेकी पुष्पमाला कुम्हला गयी है। उनके अंगोंमें धूल-कण और पसीनेकी बूँदें भी दिखायी पड़ती हैं। वे पृथ्वीका स्पर्श किये बैठे हैं और उनके नेत्रोंकी पलकें गिरती हैं। इन लक्षणोंसे दमयन्तीने निषधराज नलको पहचान लिया

Transliteration

chāyādvitīyo mlānasragrajaḥ svedasamanvitaḥ | bhūmiṣṭho naiṣadhaś caiva nimeṣeṇa ca sūcitaḥ ||

Translation

布利哈达湿婆说道：“那五者之中，唯有一人投下影子。他的花鬘已萎，尘土与汗珠沾于肢体；他坐而触地，眼睑的眨动更将他泄露。凭这些征象，达摩延蒂认出了尼沙陀王那罗。”

Word by Word

छाया-द्वितीयःhaving a shadow as a second (i.e., casting a shadow)

म्लान-स्रक्-रजः-स्वेद-समन्वितःendowed with a withered garland, dust, and sweat

भूमि-स्थःsitting/being on the ground

नैषधःthe king of Niṣadha (Nala)

चand

एवindeed/just

निमेषेणby blinking (of the eyes)

चand

सूचितःindicated/marked

Speaker

बृहदश्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Damayantī

Nala

Niṣadha (kingdom)

garland (sraj)

shadow (chāyā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Discernment grounded in observable truth can cut through deception: the gods may assume identical forms, yet human limitations—shadow, sweat, fatigue, blinking—reveal the mortal. The verse highlights careful perception and steadfast intent as supports of dharma in moments of uncertainty.

What is happening in the narrative?

At Damayantī’s svayaṃvara, the gods appear in forms resembling Nala. Bṛhadaśva explains the distinguishing marks by which Damayantī identifies the real Nala: he alone casts a shadow, shows human fatigue (withered garland, dust, sweat), sits touching the ground, and blinks.