Shloka 18
कलेर्द्वापरस्य च नले प्रति कोपः
Kali and Dvāpara’s Resolve Against Nala
न तास्तं शवनुवन्ति सम व्याहर्तुमपि किंचन । तेजसा धर्षितास्तस्य लज्जावत्यो वराड़ना,नलके तेजसे प्रतिहत हुई वे लजीली सुन्दरियाँ उनसे कुछ बोल भी न सकी
na tāstaṃ śakṇuvanti samaṃ vyāhartum api kiṃcana | tejasā dharṣitāstasya lajjāvatyo varāṅganāḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva said: Those modest, beautiful women, overawed and intimidated by his radiance, were unable to speak to him evenly—indeed, they could not utter anything at all.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ethical insight: overwhelming power or brilliance (tejas) can suppress the voices of others. True righteousness in conduct includes creating conditions where people can speak without fear or intimidation.
Bṛhadaśva narrates that the women present, though beautiful and modest, are so overawed by the man’s radiance that they cannot respond or speak to him at all—showing the social effect of his formidable presence.