Shloka 63

नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः

Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city

Devanagari script

अब्भक्षेवायुभक्षैश्ष पत्राहारैस्तथैव च | जितेन्द्रियैर्महा भागै: स्वर्गमार्गदिदृक्षुभि:,वहाँ कुछ तपस्वीलोग केवल जल पीकर रहते थे और कुछ लोग वायु पीकर। कितने ही केवल पत्ते चबाकर रहते थे। वे जितेन्द्रिय महाभाग स्वर्गलोकके मार्गका दर्शन करना चाहते थे

Transliteration

abbhakṣevāyubhakṣaiś ca patrāhārais tathaiva ca | jitendriyair mahābhāgaiḥ svargamārgadidṛkṣubhiḥ ||

Translation

Брихадэшва сказал: Там были подвижники, жившие одним лишь питьём воды, и другие, питавшиеся воздухом; некоторые же так же существовали, жуя одни листья. Обуздав чувства и будучи велико благословенными, они стремились узреть путь, ведущий на небеса.

Word by Word

अब्भक्षेin water (as food/means of subsistence)

वायुभक्षैःby those whose food is air; by air-eaters

पत्राहारैःby those whose food is leaves; by leaf-eaters

तथाthus; likewise

एवindeed; just

चand

जितेन्द्रियैःby self-controlled (sense-conquering) ones

महाभागैःby the very fortunate/noble ones

स्वर्गमार्गदिदृक्षुभिःby those wishing to see the path to heaven

Speaker

बृहृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

ascetics (tapasvins)

svarga (heaven)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity) and jitendriyatā (mastery over the senses) as disciplines aimed at higher spiritual goals. Ethical emphasis falls on restraint, simplicity, and intentional living, suggesting that inner control is valued as a means to transcend ordinary desires and pursue elevated states (symbolized by ‘the path to heaven’).

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva describes a scene populated by ascetics practicing varying degrees of austerity—living on water, on air, or on leaves. Their shared motivation is the aspiration to perceive or attain the way to svarga, portraying the forest setting as a place where rigorous spiritual practices are undertaken.