Shloka 18
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
तस्मादर्हसि शत्रुघ्न सत्यं कर्तु नरेश्वर । उक्तवानसि यद् वीर मत्सकाशे पुरा वच:,अतः शत्रुहन्ता नरेश्वर! वीर! आपने पहले मेरे समीप जो बातें कही हैं, उन्हें सत्य करना चाहिये
tasmād arhasi śatrughna satyaṃ kartuṃ nareśvara | uktavān asi yad vīra matsakāśe purā vacaḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “Therefore, O Śatrughna, O lord of men, you ought to make your word true. O hero, the words you once spoke in my presence—fulfil them in truth.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes satya and accountability: a noble person, especially a ruler/warrior, must make earlier spoken words come true—i.e., keep promises and align action with declared intent.
Bṛhadaśva addresses the listener with royal and heroic epithets, urging him to fulfil what he had previously stated in Bṛhadaśva’s presence, framing it as a moral obligation.