Shloka 20
Akṣa-hṛdaya-dāna and Phalāśruti of the Nalopākhyāna (अक्षहृदयदानम् / नलोपाख्यान-फलश्रुतिः)
जित्वा च पुष्करं राजा प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् । मम सर्वमिदं राज्यमव्यग्रं हतकण्टकम्,पुष्करको परास्त करके राजा नलने हँसते हुए उससे कहा--“नृपाधम! अब यह शान्त और अकण्टक सारा राज्य मेरे अधिकारमें आ गया। विदर्भकुमारी दमयन्तीकी ओर तू आँख उठाकर देख भी नहीं सकता। मूर्ख! आजसे तू परिवारसहित दमयन्तीका दास हो गया
bṛhadaśva uvāca | jitvā ca puṣkaraṃ rājā prahasann idam abravīt | mama sarvam idaṃ rājyam avyagraṃ hatakaṇṭakam | puṣkarako parāstaḥ kṛtvā rājā nalaṃ haṃsate huye usse kahā— “nṛpādhama! aba yaha śānta aura akaṇṭaka sārā rājya mere adhikāra meṃ ā gayā. vidarbhakumārī damayantī kī ora tū āṅkh uṭhākar dekh bhī nahīṃ saktā. mūrkha! āj se tū parivār-sahit damayantī kā dāsa ho gayā.”
Bṛhadaśva said: Having defeated Puṣkara, the king (Puṣkara), smiling, spoke these words: “All this kingdom is now mine—secure, undisturbed, and free of thorns (i.e., free of obstacles and rivals). Puṣkara has been overcome.” Laughing, he said to King Nala: “Wretch of a king! This entire realm, peaceful and without impediment, has come under my authority. You may not even raise your eyes toward Damayantī, the princess of Vidarbha. Fool! From today, you and your household have become Damayantī’s slaves.” The verse highlights how victory can intoxicate the mind: triumph is used not to restore order with restraint, but to humiliate and to claim dominion over another’s dignity and relationships—an ethical fall that contrasts with the ideal of royal dharma.
बृहदश्चव उवाच