Shloka 81
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
मम भर्ता विशालाक्ष: पूर्णेन्दुवदनो5$रिहा । आहर्ता क्रतुमुख्यानां वेदवेदाड़पारग:,“वे निषधकुलके रक्षक, महातेजस्वी, महाबली, सत्यवादी, धर्मज्ञ, विद्वान, सत्यप्रतिज्ञ, शत्रुमर्दन, ब्राह्मणभक्त, देवोपासक, शोभा और सम्पत्तिसे युक्त तथा शत्रुओंकी राजधानीपर विजय पानेवाले हैं। मेरे स्वामी नृपश्रेष्ठ नल देवराज इन्द्रके समान तेजस्वी हैं। उनके नेत्र विशाल हैं, उनका मुख पूर्ण चन्द्रमाके समान सुन्दर है, वे शत्रुओंका संहार करनेवाले, बड़े- बड़े यज्ञोंके आयोजक और वेद-वेदांगोंके पारंगत विद्वान् हैं
bṛhadaśva uvāca | mama bhartā viśālākṣaḥ pūrṇenduvadano 'rihā | āhartā kratumukhyānāṃ vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ |
Bṛhadaśva said: “My husband is large-eyed, with a face as lovely as the full moon, and a destroyer of foes. He is a patron and performer of the foremost sacrifices, and a master who has crossed to the far shore of the Vedas and their auxiliary disciplines.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ideal of righteous kingship and personal excellence: a noble ruler is not only powerful against enemies but also grounded in dharma through Vedic learning and the support of sacrificial rites, integrating strength with sacred knowledge and responsibility.
Within the Nala–Damayantī narrative, Bṛhadaśva describes (and effectively eulogizes) Nala’s qualities—his beauty, valor, and mastery of Vedic tradition—highlighting the stature of the king whose fortunes will later be tested by adversity.