Shloka 128
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
अहं सार्थस्य नेता वै सार्थवाह: शुचिस्मिते । मनुष्यं नलनामानं न पश्यामि यशस्विनि,'शुचिस्मिते! मैं इस दलका नेता और संचालक हूँ। यशस्विनि! मैंने नल नामधारी किसी मनुष्यको इस वनमें नहीं देखा है
ahaṃ sārthasya netā vai sārthavāhaḥ śucismite | manuṣyaṃ nalanāmānaṃ na paśyāmi yaśasvini ||
قال بريهادَشْفا: «يا ذاتَ الابتسامةِ العذبة، إنّي حقًّا قائدُ هذه القافلة وهادِيها ورئيسُ تُجّارها. يا ذائعةَ الصيت، ما رأيتُ في هذه الغابة رجلًا يُدعى نَلا.»
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights straightforward truth-telling and responsible speech: the caravan-leader answers plainly, without false reassurance, reflecting ethical clarity in a moment of distress and search.
A woman searching for Nala questions a caravan-leader. Bṛhadaśva identifies himself as the leader of the trading party and states that he has not seen any man named Nala in the forest.