Shloka 87
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
कच्चिद् भगवतां रम्यं तपोवनमिदं नृप: । भवेत् प्राप्तो नलो नाम निषधानां जनाधिप:,“भगवन्! क्या आपके इस रमणीय तपोवनमें निषधनरेश नल आये थे? ब्रह्मन! जिनके लिये मैं व्याप्र, सिंह आदि पशुओंसे सेवित अत्यन्त दारुण, भयंकर, घोर वनमें आयी हूँ
kaccid bhagavatāṃ ramyaṃ tapovanam idaṃ nṛpaḥ | bhavet prāpto nalo nāma niṣadhānāṃ janādhipaḥ ||
Dijo Bṛhadaśva: “Oh rey, ¿es este hermoso bosque-ermita de los santos sabios el lugar adonde ha llegado Nala, el célebre señor de los Niṣadhas? Venerable señor: buscándolo he entrado en este bosque sumamente áspero y aterrador, frecuentado por tigres, leones y otras fieras.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast resolve and righteous purpose amid danger: a seeker endures fearsome conditions to pursue what is morally and emotionally necessary, while still approaching sages and sacred places with reverence.
A question is posed in a hermitage setting about whether King Nala of Niṣadha has arrived there. The speaker frames the inquiry with the context of a difficult search through a dreadful forest filled with wild beasts.