Shloka 17
नलस्य दमयन्त्युत्सर्गः
Nala’s Abandonment of Damayantī in the Lodging Hall
आविष्ट: कलिना राजा नाभ्यभाषत किंचन । ततस्ते मन्त्रिण: सर्वे ते चैव पुरवासिन:
āviṣṭaḥ kalinā rājā nābhyabhāṣata kiñcana | tataste mantriṇaḥ sarve te caiva puravāsinaḥ ||
కలిచే ఆవిష్టుడైన రాజు ఏ మాటయూ పలకలేదు. అప్పుడు అతని మంత్రులందరూ, నగరవాసులూ (నిశ్శబ్దంగా నిలిచారు).
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
When adharma (here personified as Kali) gains influence over a ruler, clarity and righteous speech can collapse; the king’s silence signals a breakdown of moral agency, and the community is left dependent on counsel and collective vigilance.
Bṛhadaśva narrates that the king, seized by Kali, becomes mute and unresponsive; in response, his ministers and the city’s inhabitants gather, indicating public concern and the political consequences of a ruler’s inner corruption.