Shloka 3
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
हा नाथ हा महाराज हा स्वामिन् कि जहासि माम् । हा हतास्मि विनष्टास्मि भीतास्मि विजने वने,/हा नाथ! हा महाराज! हा स्वामिन्! आप मुझे क्यों त्याग रहे हैं? हाय! मैं मारी गयी, नष्ट हो गयी, इस जनशून्य वनमें मुझे बड़ा भय लग रहा है
bṛhadaśva uvāca | hā nātha hā mahārāja hā svāmin ki jahāsi mām | hā hatāsmi vinaṣṭāsmi bhītāsmi vijane vane ||
Bṛhadaśva berkata: “Aduhai pelindungku! Aduhai wahai Maharaja! Aduhai tuanku—mengapa engkau meninggalkan aku? Aku seakan-akan telah dibunuh, musnah sama sekali. Aku amat ketakutan di rimba yang sunyi dan terpencil ini.”
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores rājadharma: a ruler (or protector) bears moral responsibility to safeguard those who seek refuge. Abandoning a dependent in danger is portrayed as ethically grave, intensifying the duty of care in vulnerable contexts.
A distressed person cries out to a king/lord, pleading not to be left behind. The speaker expresses panic and helplessness at being alone in a deserted forest, using repeated vocatives (“nātha,” “mahārāja,” “svāmin”) to intensify the appeal.