Shloka 6
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
निदेशात् ते महाराज गतो5सौ भरतर्षभ: । अर्जुन: पाण्डुपुत्राणां यस्मिन् प्राणा: प्रतिक्ठिता:,“महाराज! आपकी आज्ञासे भरतवंशका रत्न अर्जुन तपस्याके लिये चला गया। हम सब पाण्डवोंके प्राण उसीमें बसते हैं
nideśāt te mahārāja gato ’sau bharatarṣabhaḥ | arjunaḥ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṁ yasmin prāṇāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O great king, by your command that bull among the Bharatas—Arjuna—has departed for the practice of austerities. For us, the sons of Pāṇḍu, our very life-breaths are anchored in him.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of responsibility within a family and polity: a single steadfast, dharma-aligned hero can become the support of many. It also frames tapas (disciplined austerity) as a legitimate, purposeful means to secure strength and protection for one’s community when undertaken under rightful authority.
Vaiśampāyana reports to the king that Arjuna, acting on the king’s instruction, has set out to perform austerities. The Pāṇḍavas regard Arjuna as their chief support—so essential that their ‘life-breaths’ are said to rest in him—underscoring his central role in their survival and future success.