Shloka 11

Akṣa-hṛdaya-dāna and Phalāśruti of the Nalopākhyāna (अक्षहृदयदानम् / नलोपाख्यान-फलश्रुतिः)

Devanagari script

नैषधेनैवमुक्तस्तु पुष्कर: प्रहसन्निव । ध्रुवमात्मजयं मत्वा प्रत्याह पृथिवीपतिम्‌,निषधराज नलके ऐसा कहनेपर पुष्करने अपनी विजयको अवश्यम्भावी मानकर हँसते हुए उनसे कहा--

Transliteration

naiṣadhenaivam uktas tu puṣkaraḥ prahasan niva | dhruvam ātmajayaṁ matvā pratyāha pṛthivīpatim ||

Translation

So vom König von Naiṣadha angesprochen, lächelte Puṣkara, als spottete er, hielt seinen Sieg für gewiss und erwiderte dem Herrn der Erde.

Word by Word

नैषधेनby the Naishadha (king of Niṣadha, i.e., Nala)

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

तुbut

पुष्करःPuṣkara

प्रहसन्laughing

इवas if

ध्रुवम्certainly / surely

आत्मजयम्his own victory

मत्वाhaving thought/considered

प्रत्याहreplied / said in return

पृथिवीपतिम्to the lord of the earth (king)

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Puṣkara

Nala (Naiṣadha, king of Niṣadha)

Niṣadha (implied by Naiṣadha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

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 highlights how certainty of victory can breed arrogance and mockery. Ethically, it warns that pride (mada) clouds judgment and weakens adherence to dharma, especially in rivalry and royal conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Nala (the Naiṣadha king) speaks, Puṣkara responds with a smile that suggests derision. Believing his own victory to be assured, he answers Nala—setting the tone for a tense, competitive exchange.