Shloka 48
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
निषधेषु महाराज: श्वशुरो मे नरोत्तम: । गृहीतनामा विख्यातो वीरसेन इति सम ह,“निषधदेशके महाराज मेरे श्वशुर थे, वे प्रात:-स्मरणीय नरश्रेष्ठ वीरसेनके नामसे विख्यात थे
niṣadheṣu mahārājaḥ śvaśuro me narottamaḥ | gṛhītanāmā vikhyāto vīrasena iti saḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “In the land of Niṣadha, my father-in-law was a great king—an excellent man, worthy of reverent remembrance. He was renowned by the name Vīrasena.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal that true nobility is recognized through remembered virtue and good repute: a king’s greatness is not only power, but being ‘narottama’—worthy of respectful remembrance.
Bṛhadaśva introduces his connection to Niṣadha by identifying his father-in-law as the famed king Vīrasena, establishing lineage and context for the Niṣadha-related story that follows.