Shloka 32
Keśinī’s Inquiry to Bāhuka and the Emotional Signs of Concealed Identity (केशिन्याः बाहुकपरीक्षा)
ततो विषविमुक्तात्मा स्वं रूपमकरोत् कलि: । त॑ शप्तुमैच्छत् कुपितो निषधाधिपतिर्नलः,तदनन्तर विषके प्रभावसे मुक्त होकर कलियुगने अपने स्वरूपको प्रकट किया। उस समय निषधनरेश नलने कुपित हो कलियुगको शाप देनेकी इच्छा की
tato viṣa-vimuktātmā svaṁ rūpam akarot kaliḥ | taṁ śaptum aicchat kupito niṣadhādhipatir nalaḥ |
Then Kali, his being freed from the poison’s influence, revealed his own true form. At that moment Nala, the lord of Niṣadha, angered by what had occurred, wished to curse Kali—an impulse that underscores how righteous indignation can arise, yet must be weighed against restraint and discernment.
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when wrongdoing is exposed and anger feels justified, dharma calls for measured response. The verse highlights the ethical tension between righteous indignation and the need for restraint before invoking a curse or punitive act.
After being released from the poison’s effect, Kali manifests his real form. Seeing this, King Nala of Niṣadha becomes angry and intends to curse Kali, marking a turning point where the hidden agent of Nala’s misfortune is confronted.