Shloka 19
अक्षद्यूतप्रवेशः — Kali’s Entry and the Initiation of the Dice-Contest
उपायो<यं मया दृष्टो निरपायो नरेश्वर । येन दोषो न भविता तव राजन् कथंचन,यह सुनकर पवित्र मुसकानवाली दमयन्ती राजा नलसे धीरे-धीरे अश्लुगद्गदवाणीमें बोली--“नरेश्वर! मैंने उस निर्दोष उपायको दूँढ़ निकाला है, राजन! जिससे आपको किसी प्रकार दोष नहीं लगेगा
upāyo 'yaṃ mayā dṛṣṭo nirapāyo nareśvara | yena doṣo na bhavitā tava rājan kathaṃcana ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “O lord of men, I have found a means—one that is free from danger—by which, O king, no blame or moral fault will attach to you in any way.”
बृहदश्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should choose a course of action that is both safe (nirapāya) and ethically blameless (adoṣa), so that even necessary action does not produce moral taint or public reproach.
Bṛhadaśva, addressing King Nala, reassures him that he has identified a practical method that will achieve the intended aim without exposing Nala to danger or to any charge of wrongdoing.