Mahabharata 3.52.55 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 52, Shloka 55
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
निषधेषु महीपालो वीरसेन इति श्रुत: । तस्य पुत्रो5भवन्नाम्ना नलो धर्मार्थकोविद:,निषधदेशमें वीरसेन नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक भूपाल हो गये हैं। उन्हींके पुत्रका नाम नल था। जो धर्म और अर्थके तत्त्वज्ञ थे
niṣadheṣu mahīpālo vīrasena iti śrutaḥ | tasya putro 'bhavannāmnā nalo dharmārthakovidaḥ ||
निषधेषु महीपालो वीरसेन इति श्रुतः। तस्य पुत्रोऽभवन्नाम्ना नलो धर्मार्थकोविदः॥
ब॒हृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ideal of rulership and character: true excellence is not only inherited through lineage but shown through competence in dharma (ethical duty) and artha (practical governance and welfare).
Bṛhadaśva introduces the setting and principal figures of the Nala episode, naming Vīrasena as king of Niṣadha and identifying his son Nala as renowned for mastery of dharma and artha.
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