Shloka 16
Akṣa-hṛdaya-dāna and Phalāśruti of the Nalopākhyāna (अक्षहृदयदानम् / नलोपाख्यान-फलश्रुतिः)
श्रुत्वा तु तस्य वा वाचो बह्नबद्धप्रलापिन:,इस प्रकार बहुत-से असम्बद्ध प्रलाप करनेवाले पुष्करकी ये बातें सुनकर राजा नलको बड़ा क्रोध हुआ। उन्होंने तलवारसे उसका सिर काट लेनेकी इच्छा की। रोषसे उनकी आँखें लाल हो गयीं तो भी राजा नलने हँसते हुए उससे कहा--
śrutvā tu tasya vāco bahv-abaddha-pralāpinaḥ |
Hearing his words—many of them rambling and incoherent—King Nala was seized by fierce anger. He even felt the urge to strike off Puṣkara’s head with his sword. Yet though his eyes reddened with wrath, Nala mastered himself and, with a controlled smile, addressed him—showing how self-command can restrain violent impulse even under insult and provocation.
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when provoked by insulting or incoherent speech, a ruler’s dharma is to restrain sudden violence; mastery over anger is presented as a higher strength than acting on impulse.
After hearing Puṣkara’s rambling talk, Nala becomes furious and momentarily wishes to kill him with a sword, but he checks himself and speaks instead—signaling a turn from impulsive retaliation to controlled response.