Shloka 13

नलस्य दमयन्त्युत्सर्गः

Nala’s Abandonment of Damayantī in the Lodging Hall

Devanagari script

निवेद्यतां नैषधाय सर्वा: प्रकृतयः स्थिता: । अमृष्यमाणा व्यसन राज्ञो धर्मार्थदर्शिन:,“आप निषधराजसे निवेदन कर दें। धर्म-अर्थका तत्त्व जाननेवाले महाराजके भावी संकटको सहन न कर सकनेके कारण मन्त्रियोंसहित सारी प्रजा द्वारपर खड़ी है”

Transliteration

nivedyatāṃ naiṣadhāya sarvāḥ prakṛtayaḥ sthitāḥ | amṛṣyamāṇā vyasanaṃ rājño dharmārthadarśinaḥ ||

Translation

Bṛhadaśva said: “Let it be reported to the king of Niṣadha that all the subjects and officials are standing assembled. Unable to endure the impending calamity that threatens their king—who is discerning in dharma and artha—they wait (with the ministers) at the door.”

Word by Word

• निवेद्यताम्: let it be reported / let (them) inform
• Type: Verb
• Root: निवेदय् (√विद् with नि-)
• Form: Lot (imperative), Atmanepada, 3rd, singular, passive/impersonal (भावे प्रयोगः)

• नैषधाय: to the king of Niṣadha (Nala)
• नैषधाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैषध (from निषध)
• Form: masculine, dative, singular

• सर्वाः: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural

• प्रकृतयः: subjects / citizens (of the realm)
• प्रकृतयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural

• स्थिताः: standing / stationed
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (√स्था) + क्त
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural, क्त (past passive participle)

• अमृष्यमाणाः: not enduring / unable to bear
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृष् (√मृष्) with अ- + शानच्
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural, शानच् (present active participle), अ- (not)

• व्यसनम्: calamity / misfortune
• व्यसनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• धर्मार्थदर्शिनः: of (him) who sees/knows dharma and artha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मार्थदर्शिन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

Speaker

ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Niṣadha
• Naiṣadha (king of Niṣadha)
• prakṛtayaḥ (subjects/people of the realm)
• rājā (the king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A righteous and prudent king (dharmārthadarśin) is not merely a private individual; his welfare is bound to the welfare of the realm. The verse highlights the ethical duty of subjects and ministers to respond to looming danger with collective concern and timely counsel, and the ideal of governance grounded in dharma and artha.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva instructs that a message be conveyed to the Naiṣadha king: the people and officials of the kingdom, together with ministers, have gathered at the door, distressed and unable to bear the king’s impending misfortune, seeking to intervene or inform him.