Shloka 54
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
ब॒हृदश्च उवाच शृणू राजन्नवहित: सह भ्रातृभिरच्युत । यस्त्वत्तो द:खिततरो राजा55सीत् पृथिवीपते,बृहदश्वने कहा--राजन्! अपने धर्मसे कभी च्युत न होनेवाले भूपाल! तुम भाइयोंसहित सावधान होकर सुनो। इस पृथ्वीपर जो तुमसे भी अधिक दुःखी राजा था, उसका परिचय देता हूँ
bṛhadaśva uvāca | śṛṇu rājann avahitaḥ saha bhrātṛbhir acyuta | yas tvatto duḥkhitataro rājāsīt pṛthivīpate, tasya te paricayaṃ vakṣye ||
Dijo Bṛhadaśva: «Escucha con atención, oh rey, junto con tus hermanos, oh tú que no te apartas del dharma. En esta tierra hubo una vez, oh señor del reino, un rey más afligido por el dolor que tú; te diré quién fue».
ब॒हृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness in dharma amid suffering: the speaker prepares the king to learn from an even harsher example, implying that sorrow is not unique and that ethical composure and attentive listening to wise counsel are necessary for endurance and right action.
Bṛhadaśva addresses the king (with his brothers present) and introduces an instructive story about another ruler who suffered even more. This functions as a transition into a consolatory, exemplary narrative meant to guide the listener through adversity.