Shloka 2
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
सिंहद्वीपिरुरुव्याप्रमहिषर्क्षगणैर्युतम् । नानापक्षिगणाकीर्ण म्लेच्छतस्करसेवितम्,वह वन सिंह, चीतों, रुरुमृग, व्याप्र, भैंसों तथा रीछ आदि पशुओंसे युक्त एवं भाँति- भाँतिके पक्षि-समुदायसे व्याप्त था। वहाँ म्लेच्छ और तस्करोंका निवास था
siṁha-dvīpi-ruru-vyāghra-mahiṣa-r̥kṣa-gaṇair yutam | nānā-pakṣi-gaṇākīrṇaṁ mleccha-taskara-sevitam ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “That forest was inhabited by lions, leopards, ruru-deer, tigers, buffaloes, and troops of bears; it was filled with flocks of many kinds of birds. It was also frequented by mlecchas and bandits.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and practical need for vigilance and discernment in perilous environments: the wilderness holds natural dangers (wild beasts) and human dangers (bandits), so one must act with caution, self-control, and prudent judgment.
Bṛhadaśva describes a particular forest as densely populated with fierce animals and many birds, and also as a place visited or inhabited by mlecchas and robbers—setting a threatening atmosphere for the events that follow.