Shloka 28
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
नतं देशं प्रपश्यामि यत्र सो5स्मान् सुदुर्जन: । न विज्ञास्यति दुष्टात्मा चारैरिति सुयोधन:,“मैं ऐसा कोई देश या स्थान नहीं देखता, जहाँ अत्यन्त दुष्टचित्त, दुरात्मा दुर्योधन अपने गुप्तचरोंद्वारा हमलोगोंका पता न लगा ले। वह नीच नराधम हम सब लोगोंका गुप्त निवास जान लेनेपर पुनः अपनी कपटपूर्ण नीतिद्वारा हमें इस वनवासमें ही डाल देगा
nataṃ deśaṃ prapaśyāmi yatra so 'smān sudurjanaḥ | na vijñāsyati duṣṭātmā cārair iti suyodhanaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Wala akong nakikitang lupain o kanlungan na hindi tayo matutunton ng lubhang masamang taong iyon—si Duryodhana—sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga espiya. Kapag nalaman ng hamak at tiwaling prinsipe ang ating lihim na tirahan, muli niyang gagamitin ang mapanlinlang na patakaran upang itulak tayo pabalik sa mismong pagkatapon sa gubat na ito.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of adharma expressed as deceit and surveillance: a ruler driven by malice uses spies and stratagems to harm the vulnerable. It implicitly commends vigilance and warns that unjust power often seeks to control even those who have withdrawn from conflict.
The speaker expresses anxiety that there is no safe place for the exiled party to hide, because Duryodhana (Suyodhana) is likely to locate them through his network of spies. If he discovers their secret residence, he will use cunning political maneuvers to keep them trapped in forest-exile again.