Shloka 58
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
श्रोष्यामि नैषधस्याहं वाचं ताममृतोपमाम् । वैदर्भीत्येव विस्पष्टां शुभां राज्ञो महात्मन:
śroṣyāmi naiṣadhasyāhaṃ vācaṃ tām amṛtopamām | vaidarbhīty eva vispaṣṭāṃ śubhāṃ rājño mahātmanaḥ ||
பிருஹதச்வர் கூறினார்—இப்போது நான் நிஷத அரசனின் அந்த அமிர்தத்துக்கு ஒப்பான உரையைச் சொல்கிறேன்; ‘வைதர்பி’யை நோக்கி உரைத்தது—தெளிவும் மங்களமும் உடைய, மகாத்மா அரசனின் வாக்கு.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of well-spoken words: speech that is clear (vispaṣṭa), auspicious (śubha), and ‘nectar-like’ (amṛtopamā) is presented as worthy of remembrance and transmission, especially when uttered by a noble-minded king.
Bṛhadaśva, narrating to Yudhiṣṭhira in the Vana Parva, signals that he is about to recount the memorable words of the king of Niṣadha (Nala), specifically in connection with the princess of Vidarbha (Damayantī), as the Nala–Damayantī episode continues.