Shloka 7
Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
भक्त मां भज कल्याणि किमिच्छसि मनस्विनि । तव कल्याणि यत् कार्य तत् करिष्ये सुमध्यमे
bhakta māṁ bhaja kalyāṇi kim icchasi manasvini | tava kalyāṇi yat kārya tat kariṣye sumadhyame ||
“କଲ୍ୟାଣି! ମୁଁ ତୁମର ଭକ୍ତ; ମୋତେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କର। ମନସ୍ୱିନି! ତୁମେ କ’ଣ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରୁଛ? ସୁମଧ୍ୟମେ! ତୁମର କଲ୍ୟାଣ ପାଇଁ ଯେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଅଛି, ସେହିଟି ମୁଁ ସାଧନ କରିବି।”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethics of pledged service: one should speak plainly, ask the other’s intention, and commit oneself to actions aimed at the other’s welfare (kalyāṇa), not merely to self-interest.
Śalya addresses a woman with respectful epithets and offers himself as her devoted supporter, asking what she wants and promising to carry out whatever task will secure her good.