Shloka 5636
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
यद्यस्यस्मिन् वने राजन् दर्शयात्मानमात्मना । वीर! धर्मज्ञ! सत्यप्रतिज्ञ और पराक्रमी महीपाल! यदि आप इसी वनमें हैं तो राजन! अपने-आपको प्रकट करके मुझे दर्शन दीजिये
yady asmin vane rājan darśayātmānam ātmanā | vīra dharmajña satyapratijña parākramī mahīpāla yadi tvam asmin vane'si tad rājan ātmānaṁ prakaṭīkṛtya mama darśanaṁ dehi ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “O King, if you are here in this forest, then reveal yourself by your own will and grant me your sight. O hero—knower of dharma, true to your vows, and mighty protector of the earth—if you are indeed in this woodland, come forth and let me see you.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises and invokes royal virtues—knowledge of dharma, fidelity to vows, and valor—implying that true kingship is grounded in ethical steadfastness and self-controlled action (revealing oneself ‘by one’s own will’).
Bṛhadaśva addresses a king believed to be present in the forest and requests him to appear openly and grant an audience (darśana), using honorific epithets to identify and respectfully summon him.