Shloka 35
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
अथवा त्वं वनपते नल॑ यदि न शंससि । मां खादय मृगश्रेष्ठ दु:खादस्माद् विमोचय,“अथवा वनराज मृगश्रेष्ठी यदि आप नलके विषयमें कुछ नहीं बताते हैं तो मुझे खा जायेँ और इस दुःखसे छुटकारा दे दें”
athavā tvaṃ vanapate nala yadi na śaṃsasi | māṃ khādaya mṛgaśreṣṭha duḥkhād asmād vimocaya ||
அல்லது, ஓ வனத்தின் அதிபதியே, மிருகங்களில் சிறந்தவனே! நலனைப் பற்றி நீ ஒன்றும் சொல்லாவிட்டால், என்னை விழுங்கி இந்தத் துயரத்திலிருந்து என்னை விடுவி.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the extremity of grief: when a person is overwhelmed by sorrow and uncertainty, they may seek even death as an escape. Ethically, it underscores the need for truthful speech and compassionate response to the suffering of others, since withholding vital information can intensify despair.
The speaker addresses a 'lord of the forest'—a foremost beast—and pleads: if it will not disclose anything about Nala, then it should devour him and thereby end his misery. The line conveys urgent desperation within the Nala-related episode being recounted in this section.