Shloka 55
अक्षद्यूतप्रवेशः — Kali’s Entry and the Initiation of the Dice-Contest
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत नलोपाख्यानपर्वमें नलके देवदूत बनकर दमयन्तीके पास जानेसे सम्बन्ध रखनेवाला पचपनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti prakāraḥ śrīmahābhārate vanaparvake antargata-nalopākhyāna-parvaṇi nalasya devadūta-bhūtvā damayantī-samīpa-gamanena sambandhaṃ rakṣamāṇaḥ pañcapañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ samāptaḥ
Thus ends the fifty-fifth chapter of the Nala episode within the Vana Parva of the Śrī Mahābhārata, describing how Nala, taking on the role of a divine messenger, went to Damayantī. The closing note underscores the ethical tension of acting as an intermediary under divine pressure while remaining bound to personal integrity and rightful conduct.
नल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when compelled by higher powers or social duty to act as an intermediary, one must preserve integrity: speech and action should not violate dharma, especially where love, consent, and rightful choice are at stake.
This is a colophon-style closing statement marking the end of the chapter that deals with Nala going to Damayantī in the capacity of a divine messenger, within the Nalopākhyāna section of the Vana Parva.