Shloka 28

Devanagari script

अवकृष्टस्तु कलिना मोहित: प्राद्रवन्नल: । सुप्तामुत्सृज्य तां भार्या विलप्य करुणं बहु,अन्तमें कलियुगने प्रबल आकर्षण किया, जिससे मोहित होकर राजा नल बहुत देरतक करुण विलाप करके अपनी सोती हुई पत्नीको छोड़कर शीघ्रतासे चले गये

Transliteration

avakṛṣṭas tu kalinā mohitaḥ prādravan nalaḥ | suptām utsṛjya tāṃ bhāryāṃ vilapya karuṇaṃ bahu ||

Translation

Dragged down by Kali’s influence and bewildered in mind, King Nala fled away. After lamenting long and piteously, he abandoned his wife as she lay asleep and departed in haste—an ethically tragic moment showing how delusion can overpower judgment and rupture marital duty.

Word by Word

अवकृष्टःdragged down, pulled away

तुbut, indeed

कलिनाby Kali (the personified Kali)

मोहितःdeluded, bewildered

प्राद्रवत्ran forth, fled

नलःNala

सुप्ताम्sleeping

उत्सृज्यhaving abandoned, leaving behind

ताम्her

भार्याम्wife

विलप्यhaving lamented

करुणम्pitiably, in a mournful way

बहुmuch, greatly

Speaker

बृहदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nala

Kali

Damayantī (implied as the sleeping wife)

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 highlights how adharma can enter through delusion: when the mind is seized by Kali (symbolizing moral decline and inner weakness), even a righteous king may violate relational and ethical duties. It warns that vigilance, self-control, and clarity are essential to protect dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva narrates that Nala, overwhelmed by Kali’s power and mentally confused, runs away. After prolonged, sorrowful lamentation, he leaves his sleeping wife (Damayantī) behind and departs quickly, setting the stage for her ensuing hardships and his own downfall and eventual recovery.