Shloka 1
Rathaghoṣa–Saṃjñāna: Damayantī’s Inference and the Dispatch of the Envoy (Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 71)
/ हि न हुक है एकसप्ततितमो<्ध्याय: राजा ऋतुपर्णका विदर्भदेशको प्रस्थान, राजा नलके विषयमे वाष्णेयका विचार और बाहुककी अद्भुत अश्वसंचालन-कलासे वाष्णेय और ऋतुपर्णका प्रभावित होना बृहृदश्च उवाच श्रुत्वा वच: सुदेवस्य ऋतुपर्णो नराधिप: । सान्त्ययन् “लक्ष्णया वाचा बाहुकं प्रत्यभाषत,बृहदश्व मुनि कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! सुदेवकी वह बात सुनकर राजा ऋतुपर्णने मधुर वाणीसे सान्त्वना देते हुए बाहुकसे कहा--
bṛhadaśva uvāca | śrutvā vacaḥ sudevasya ṛtupārṇo narādhipaḥ | sāntvayan lakṣṇayā vācā bāhukaṃ pratyabhāṣata ||
Disse Bṛhadaśva: Ao ouvir as palavras de Sudeva, o rei Ṛtupārṇa—senhor dos homens—dirigiu-se a Bāhuka. Com voz branda e discernimento, procurou tranquilizá-lo, falando de modo a acalmar e firmar o espírito. A cena ressalta o decoro régio: diante de notícias inquietantes, um governante não responde com pressa, mas com palavra medida, que restaura a compostura e preserva o dharma na conduta.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
Measured, consoling speech is a mark of dharma and kingship: when faced with significant news, one should respond with restraint, tact, and words that steady others rather than inflame anxiety.
After Sudeva reports his information, King Ṛtupārṇa turns to Bāhuka (Nala in disguise) and replies to him in a calming, discerning manner, setting up the ensuing events of the Nala episode.