Shloka 3
नलस्य दमयन्त्युत्सर्गः
Nala’s Abandonment of Damayantī in the Lodging Hall
कृत्वा मूत्रमुपस्पृश्य संध्यामन्वास्त नैषध: । अकृत्वा पादयो: शौचं तत्रैनं कलिराविशत्,राजा नल उस दिन लघुशंका करके आये और हाथ-मुँह धोकर आचमन करनेके पश्चात् संध्योपासना करने बैठ गये; पैरोंको नहीं धोया। यह छिद्र देखकर कलियुग उनके भीतर प्रविष्ट हो गया
kṛtvā mūtram upaspṛśya sandhyām anvāsta naiṣadhaḥ | akṛtvā pādayoḥ śaucaṃ tatrainaṃ kalir āviśat ||
Depois de aliviar-se, o rei de Niṣadha realizou a purificação prescrita (ācamana) e sentou-se para a adoração do crepúsculo (sandhyā). Mas não lavou os pés. Aproveitando essa falha de pureza e disciplina, Kali encontrou uma brecha e entrou no rei Nala.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a small lapse in śauca and self-discipline can become an opening for adharma: negligence in basic purity while performing sacred duties is portrayed as a moral vulnerability that invites destructive forces (here personified as Kali).
Bṛhadaśva narrates that King Nala, after urinating, performed ācamana and sat for sandhyā worship but failed to wash his feet; Kali exploits this flaw and enters Nala, setting in motion Nala’s ensuing downfall.