Shloka 106
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
एकवत्त्रार्थसंवीतं सुकुमारतनुत्वचम् । व्यसनेनार्दितं वीरमरण्यमिदमागतम्,उन्होंने एक साड़ीके आधे टुकड़ेसे अपने शरीरको ढँक रखा है, उनके अंगोंकी त्वचा बड़ी सुकुमार है। वे वीरवर नल भारी संकटसे पीड़ित होकर इस वनमें आये हैं
ekavastrārthasaṃvītaṃ sukumāratanu-tvacam | vyasanenārditaṃ vīram araṇyam idam āgatam ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “He has covered himself with only a half-piece of cloth; his limbs are delicate and his skin tender. That heroic Nala, crushed by calamity, has come into this forest.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how swiftly fortune can reverse—even a heroic king may be reduced to hardship—inviting compassion and reminding one to endure adversity without losing inner worth and dignity.
Bṛhadaśva describes Nala’s pitiable condition: stripped of proper clothing and afflicted by severe misfortune, Nala has arrived in the forest, marking his fall from royal life into exile and distress.