Shloka 2

दमयन्ती–बाहुकसंवादः

Damayantī’s Dialogue with Bāhuka; Recognition and Disclosure

Devanagari script

अभ्येत्य कुशल भद्रे मृदुपूर्व समाहिता । पृच्छेथा: पुरुषं होनं यथातत्त्वमनिन्दिते,भद्रे! इसके निकट जाकर सावधानीके साथ मधुर वाणीमें कुशल पूछना। अनिन्दिते! साथ ही इस पुरुषके विषयमें ठीक-ठीक बातें जाननेकी चेष्टा करना

Transliteration

abhyetya kuśalaṃ bhadre mṛdupūrvaṃ samāhitā | pṛcchethāḥ puruṣaṃ hīnaṃ yathātattvam anindite ||

Translation

布里哈达湿婆说道：“贤女啊，你要谨慎地走近他，心神安定，自持不乱。先以温柔而有礼的言辞问候其安好。无瑕的女子啊，随后再设法如实探明此人的境况与来历，务求分毫不差。”

Word by Word

अभ्येत्यhaving approached

कुशलम्welfare; well-being

भद्रेO auspicious lady

मृदु-पूर्वम्gently; with softness first (i.e., in a gentle manner)

समाहिताcomposed; attentive

पृच्छेथाःyou should ask

पुरुषम्the man

एनम्this (person), him

यथा-तत्त्वम्according to the truth; exactly as it is

अनिन्दितेO blameless lady

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

puruṣa (a man, unnamed)

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?

Approach others with caution and inner composure, begin with gentle and respectful speech, and then seek facts truthfully (yathātattvam) rather than relying on assumptions—an ethical model of inquiry and conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva instructs a woman addressed as “bhadre/anindite” to approach an unnamed man, politely ask after his welfare, and carefully ascertain the true details of his situation.