Shloka 7
नलस्य दमयन्त्युत्सर्गः
Nala’s Abandonment of Damayantī in the Lodging Hall
आसाद्य तु नलं वीर पुष्कर: परवीरहा । दीव्यावेत्यब्रवीद् भ्राता वृषेणेति मुहुर्मुहु:,शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले पुष्करने वीरवर नलके पास जाकर उनसे बार-बार कहा --हम दोनों धर्मपूर्वक जूआ खेलें।” पुष्कर राजा नलका भाई लगता था
āsādya tu nalaṃ vīra puṣkaraḥ paravīrahā | dīvyāv ety abravīd bhrātā vṛṣeṇeti muhur muhuḥ ||
Ao alcançar o heroico rei Nala, Puṣkara—matador de campeões rivais—aproximou-se e repetiu muitas vezes: “Irmão, Vṛṣeṇa! Vem, joguemos dados conforme o dharma.” Assim Puṣkara instiga Nala a um jogo ‘lícito’, prenunciando como a linguagem da correção pode ser usada para arrastar um homem justo a uma disputa perigosa.
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how appeals to ‘dharma’ and propriety can be employed as social pressure. Ethical discernment is required: not every invitation framed as lawful is truly beneficial, especially when it exploits a person’s sense of honor.
Puṣkara comes to King Nala and repeatedly urges him to play dice, addressing him as ‘brother’ and invoking dharma. This sets in motion the gambling episode that will test Nala’s judgment and stability.