राजपुत्र उवाच । अस्ति भूमंडले कश्चिद्देशो निषधसंज्ञकः । तस्याधिपोऽभवद्राजा नलो नाम महा यशाः । स पुण्यकीर्तिः क्षितिपो दमयन्तीपतिः शुभः
rājaputra uvāca | asti bhūmaṃḍale kaściddeśo niṣadhasaṃjñakaḥ | tasyādhipo'bhavadrājā nalo nāma mahā yaśāḥ | sa puṇyakīrtiḥ kṣitipo damayantīpatiḥ śubhaḥ
Putera raja berkata: “Di atas bumi ini ada sebuah negeri bernama Niṣadha. Pemerintahnya dahulu ialah Raja Nala yang masyhur—bernama baik lagi suci, raja yang teguh pada dharma, serta suami yang membawa berkat bagi Damayantī.”
Rājaputra (Chandrāṅgada, speaking in first person across verses 78–80)
Tirtha: Niṣadha (as remembered kṣetra of Nala)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Takṣaka
Scene: As the prince speaks, a ‘memory-vision’ of Niṣadha arises: King Nala enthroned, Damayantī beside him, symbols of righteous rule and auspicious marriage shimmering behind the speaker.
A king’s greatness is measured by puṇya-kīrti—virtue and righteous reputation—rather than mere power.
No tīrtha is praised; the verse identifies Niṣadha as a kingdom in the narrative lineage.
None.