Shloka 9
Nakula’s Reception in Matsya: Appointment as Aśvasūta
Horse-master
इदं तु रूपं मम येन कि तव प्रकीर्तयित्वा भूशशोकवर्धनम् । बृहन्नलां मां नरदेव विद्धि सुतं सुतां वा पितृमातृवर्जिताम्,मेरा ऐसा रूप जिस कारणसे हुआ है, उसे आपके सामने कहनेसे क्या लाभ है? वह अधिक शोक बढ़ानेवाली बात है। राजन! आप मुझे बृहन्नला समझें और पिता-मातासे रहित पुत्र या पुत्री मान लें
idaṃ tu rūpaṃ mama yena kiṃ tava prakīrtayitvā bhūśaśokavardhanam | bṛhannalāṃ māṃ naradeva viddhi sutaṃ sutāṃ vā pitṛmātṛvarjitām ||
Arjuna sprach: „Was die Ursache betrifft, durch die ich diese Gestalt trage — welchen Nutzen hätte es, wenn ich sie dir erzählte? Es würde nur deinen Kummer mehren. O König, erkenne mich als Bṛhannalā; betrachte mich als einen Sohn — oder eine Tochter — ohne Vater und Mutter.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna chooses restraint and compassion: revealing the full cause of his altered appearance would only deepen the king’s grief, so he asks to be accepted by his present role and name. The ethical emphasis is on speaking what is beneficial (hita) rather than merely true but harmful.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito year in Virāṭa’s kingdom, Arjuna is living in disguise as Bṛhannalā. When questioned about his unusual form and identity, he declines to explain the painful backstory and requests that the king simply treat him as Bṛhannalā—an orphaned son or daughter—so the concealment remains intact.