Shloka 82

नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः

Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city

Devanagari script

सपत्नानां मृथे हन्‍ता रविसोमसमप्रभ: । सर्वैश्षिन्निकृतिप्रज्ैरनायैरकृतात्मभि:

Transliteration

sapatnānāṁ mṛthe hantā ravisomasamaprabhaḥ | sarvaiś chinnakṛtiprajñair anāryair akṛtātmabhiḥ ||

Translation

Bṛhadaśva disse: “Na batalha ele é o matador de rivais, radiante com um esplendor como o do Sol e da Lua. Contudo, está cercado por homens de conselho tortuoso e juízo pervertido — ignóbeis na conduta e indisciplinados no espírito.”

Word by Word

सपत्नानाम्of (his) rivals/enemies

मृधेin battle

हन्ताslayer

रवि-सोम-सम-प्रभःwhose radiance is like the Sun and the Moon

सर्वैःby all

छिन्न-कृति-प्रज्ञैःby those whose judgment/understanding is cut off (perverted)

अनार्यैःby ignoble (people)

अकृतात्मभिःby the undisciplined/uncontrolled (in mind)

Speaker

बृहृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

ब

बृहदश्व (Bṛhadaśva)

र

रवि (Sun)

स

सोम (Moon)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even if a warrior or ruler is personally powerful and radiant, association with ignoble, deceitful, and undisciplined advisers corrupts judgment and undermines dharma; character and counsel matter as much as prowess.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva describes a formidable figure—deadly in battle and shining like the Sun and Moon—while simultaneously criticizing the company around him as crooked-minded and unworthy, highlighting the moral danger of such companionship.