Shloka 79
गोप्ता निषधवंशस्य महातेजा महाबल: । सत्यवान् धर्मवित् प्राज्ञ: सत्यसंधोडरिमर्दन:,“वे निषधकुलके रक्षक, महातेजस्वी, महाबली, सत्यवादी, धर्मज्ञ, विद्वान, सत्यप्रतिज्ञ, शत्रुमर्दन, ब्राह्मणभक्त, देवोपासक, शोभा और सम्पत्तिसे युक्त तथा शत्रुओंकी राजधानीपर विजय पानेवाले हैं। मेरे स्वामी नृपश्रेष्ठ नल देवराज इन्द्रके समान तेजस्वी हैं। उनके नेत्र विशाल हैं, उनका मुख पूर्ण चन्द्रमाके समान सुन्दर है, वे शत्रुओंका संहार करनेवाले, बड़े- बड़े यज्ञोंके आयोजक और वेद-वेदांगोंके पारंगत विद्वान् हैं
bṛhadaśva uvāca | goptā niṣadhavaṃśasya mahātejā mahābalaḥ | satyavān dharmavit prājñaḥ satyasaṃdho 'rimardanaḥ |
Bṛhadaśva said: “He is the protector of the Niṣadha line—radiant with great splendor and endowed with great strength; truthful, a knower of dharma, wise, firm in his vows, and a crusher of foes.” In this praise, the speaker frames kingship as an ethical office: true sovereignty rests not merely on power, but on truthfulness, fidelity to vows, and dharma-guided judgment—qualities that make a ruler worthy of trust and capable of safeguarding his people.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ideal of righteous kingship: a ruler’s legitimacy is grounded in dharma and satya—truthfulness, wisdom, and steadfastness in vows—alongside the strength needed to protect the realm. Power is ethically framed as guardianship rather than mere domination.
Bṛhadaśva is describing and praising the Niṣadha ruler (contextually Nala), listing his virtues as a protector-king. The praise functions to establish Nala’s exemplary character and the moral stature of the figure being discussed within the Nala–Damayantī narrative cycle.