Shloka 12

Devanagari script

किंचित्‌ तु नापराधं ते कृतवानस्मि नैषध । अज्ञातवासे वसतो मद्‌गृहे वसुधाधिप,(और पुनः कहा--) “नैषध! भूपालशिरोमणे! आप मेरे घरपर जब अज्ञातवासकी अवस्थामें रहते थे, उस समय मैंने आपका कोई अपराध तो नहीं किया है?

Transliteration

Bṛhadaśva uvāca: kiñcit tu nāparādhaṃ te kṛtavān asmi naiṣadha | ajñātavāse vasato madgṛhe vasudhādhipa ||

Translation

Bṛhadaśva berkata: “Wahai Naiṣadha, penguasa bumi—ketika engkau tinggal menyamar di rumahku, apakah aku pernah melakukan kesalahan sekecil apa pun terhadapmu?”

Word by Word

किंचित्in any way; at all; somewhat

तुbut; however

नnot

अपराधम्offence; wrongdoing

तेto you

कृतवान्having done; did

अस्मिI am

नैषधO Naiṣadha (Nala)

अज्ञातवासेin the period of living incognito

वसतःof (you) dwelling; while dwelling

मत्my

गृहेin (my) house

वसुधाधिपO lord of the earth (king)

Speaker

बृहृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Naiṣadha (Nala)

madgṛha (Bṛhadaśva's house)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds ethical self-scrutiny in relationships of protection and hospitality: a host (or protector) should ensure he has not wronged a guest—especially one living in vulnerability (incognito). It reflects dharma as careful avoidance of even minor offense and respect for another’s dignity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva addresses Nala (called Naiṣadha), recalling the time Nala lived secretly (ajñātavāsa) in his house. He asks whether he committed any offense against Nala during that concealed stay, implying concern for proper conduct and the moral weight of how one treats a hidden or dependent guest.