Shloka 18
Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
अशव्नुवन् नल: काम तदा धारयितुं हृदा । अन्तःपुरसमीपस्थे वन आस्ते रहोगत:,जब राजा नल उस कामवेदनाको हृदयके भीतर छिपाये रखनेमें असमर्थ हो गये, तब वे अन्तः:पुरके समीपवर्ती उपवनमें जाकर एकान्तमें बैठ गये
aśaknuvan nalaḥ kāmaṃ tadā dhārayituṃ hṛdā | antaḥpurasamīpastha vane āste rahogataḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva said: When King Nala could no longer keep the surge of desire contained within his heart, he withdrew to a grove near the inner apartments and sat there in solitude. The episode highlights how overpowering inner impulses can drive even a righteous ruler to seek seclusion—an implicit call to self-restraint and mindful handling of passion rather than letting it spill into public or harmful action.
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked kāma can overwhelm even a king; the ethical response begins with recognizing the impulse and seeking conditions (privacy, calm) that support restraint and right action rather than public impropriety or harm.
Nala, unable to contain his rising desire in his heart, leaves the vicinity of the palace life and sits alone in a nearby grove close to the inner apartments, indicating an intensifying inner turmoil.