Shloka 21
Damayantī’s Recognition by the Piplū Mark and Her Return to Vidarbha
अयोध्यां नगरीं रम्यामद्य वै निषधेश्वर । स तेक्षहृदयं दाता राजाश्वह्ददयेन वै,“निषधेश्वर! आप आज ही रमणीय अयोध्यापुरीको चले जाइये। इक्ष्वाकुकुलमें उत्पन्न श्रीमान् राजा ऋतुपर्ण आपसे अश्वविद्याका रहस्य सीखकर बदलेमें आपको चद्यूतक्रीड़ाका रहस्य बतलायेंगे और आपके मित्र भी हो जायँगे। जब आप द्यूतविद्याके ज्ञाता होंगे, तब पुनः कल्याणभागी हो जायँगे
bṛhadaśva uvāca |
ayodhyāṃ nagarīṃ ramyām adya vai niṣadheśvara |
sa te kṣa-hṛdayaṃ dātā rājā ṛtuparṇo hṛdayena vai ||
布里哈达湿婆说道：“尼沙陀之主啊，你就于今日启程，前往那令人心悦的阿逾陀城。到了那里，出自伊克什瓦库王族的显赫国王利图帕尔那，将以善意传授你御马之秘（马术之学）。作为回报，他将从你处得知掷骰博戏之秘，并与你结为友朋。待你精通骰戏之道，便能再度夺回安泰与福祉。”
ब॒हदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights pragmatic counsel within dharma: disciplined learning and strategic alliances can help repair the damage caused by vice (here, gambling). Knowledge is portrayed as a means of restoration, but it is framed ethically—used to regain stability rather than to indulge further in harmful play.
Bṛhadaśva advises Nala (addressed as the king of Niṣadha) to go to Ayodhyā and meet King Ṛtuparṇa. Ṛtuparṇa will teach Nala the secret of horsemanship, and in exchange Nala will teach the secret of dice-play; through this exchange they will become friends, and Nala will be positioned to recover his lost fortune.