Shloka 45

नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः

Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city

Devanagari script

राजसूयाश्चदमेधानां क्रतूनां दक्षिणावताम्‌ | आहर्ता पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ: पृथुचार्वज्चितेक्षण:,उन्होंने (प्रचुर) दक्षिणावाले राजसूय तथा अश्वमेध नामक यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान किया है। वे भूमिपालोंमें श्रेष्ठ हैं। उनके नेत्र बड़े, चंचल और सुन्दर हैं

Transliteration

bṛhadaśva uvāca | rājasūyāś ca medhānāṃ kratūnāṃ dakṣiṇāvatām | āhartā pārthivaśreṣṭhaḥ pṛthucārvañ citīkṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Ha celebrado el Rājasūya y el Aśvamedha, grandes sacrificios colmados de dones sacerdotales. Es el primero entre los reyes, y sus ojos son grandes, inquietos y hermosos.

Word by Word

राजसूयाःof the Rājasūya (sacrifices)

चand

अश्वमेधानाम्of the Aśvamedha (sacrifices)

क्रतूनाम्of the rites/sacrifices

दक्षिणावताम्endowed with (abundant) sacrificial fees

आहर्ताperformer/one who brings about (the sacrifice)

पार्थिवश्रेष्ठःbest among kings

पृथुचार्वचितेक्षणःhe whose eyes are large, lovely, and lively/bright

Speaker

बृहृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Rājasūya

Aśvamedha

dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Royal excellence is linked with dharmic action: performing sanctioned rites and giving abundant dakṣiṇā (generous gifts) signifies responsibility, legitimacy, and merit, not merely power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva is describing a distinguished ruler, praising him for having conducted major imperial sacrifices (Rājasūya and Aśvamedha) with lavish gifts, and noting his striking, lively eyes as a sign of regal presence.