Shloka 6
Kāmyake Arjuna-viyogaḥ — The Pandavas’ despondency in Kāmyaka during Arjuna’s absence
दुःखमेतादृशं प्राप्तो नल: परपुरंजय: । देवनेन नरश्रेष्ठ सभायों भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! पुरुषोत्तम! शत्रुओंकी राजधानीपर विजय पानेवाले महाराज नल जूआ खेलनेके कारण अपनी पत्नीसहित इस प्रकारके महान् संकटमें पड़ गये थे
bṛhadaśva uvāca | duḥkham etādṛśaṃ prāpto nalaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ | devena naraśreṣṭha sabhāyāṃ bharatarṣabha bharataśreṣṭha puruṣottama |
बृहदश्व म्हणाले—हे नरश्रेष्ठ, हे भरतश्रेष्ठ, हे पुरुषोत्तम! शत्रुनगर-विजयी महाराज नल जुगारामुळे राजसभेत पत्नीसमवेत अशाच प्रकारच्या महान् दुःखात पडून भयंकर संकटात निमग्न झाले होते।
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful and virtuous king can be ruined by addiction to gambling; the verse frames Nala’s fall as an ethical warning that uncontrolled play in the assembly leads to loss of stability, honor, and well-being for oneself and one’s family.
Bṛhadaśva begins recounting Nala’s story to illustrate a comparable suffering: Nala, famed for conquering enemy cities, nevertheless becomes trapped in severe distress because of a dice game conducted in the royal assembly, and his wife is drawn into the resulting calamity.