Shloka 55

Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)

Devanagari script

निषधेषु महीपालो वीरसेन इति श्रुत: । तस्य पुत्रो5भवन्नाम्ना नलो धर्मार्थकोविद:,निषधदेशमें वीरसेन नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक भूपाल हो गये हैं। उन्हींके पुत्रका नाम नल था। जो धर्म और अर्थके तत्त्वज्ञ थे

Transliteration

niṣadheṣu mahīpālo vīrasena iti śrutaḥ | tasya putro 'bhavannāmnā nalo dharmārthakovidaḥ ||

Translation

Im Land der Niṣadhas gab es einen König, berühmt unter dem Namen Vīrasena. Sein Sohn war Nala, gerühmt für sein scharfes Verständnis von Dharma und Artha—einer, der sowohl rechte Lebensführung als auch kluge Staatskunst kannte.

Word by Word

निषधेषुin (the land of) Niṣadha(s)

महीपालःa king (protector of the earth)

वीरसेनःVīrasena

इतिthus

श्रुतःwas heard/was known (as)

तस्यof him

पुत्रःson

अभवत्was/became

नाम्नाby name

नलःNala

धर्मार्थकोविदःskilled/learned in dharma and artha

Speaker

ब॒हृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Niṣadha (country/people)

Vīrasena

Nala

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ideal of rulership and character: true excellence is not only inherited through lineage but shown through competence in dharma (ethical duty) and artha (practical governance and welfare).

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva introduces the setting and principal figures of the Nala episode, naming Vīrasena as king of Niṣadha and identifying his son Nala as renowned for mastery of dharma and artha.