Shloka 3
कर्कोटक-उपदेशः
Karkoṭaka’s Counsel and Nala’s Concealment
हा नाथ हा महाराज हा स्वामिन् कि जहासि माम् । हा हतास्मि विनष्टास्मि भीतास्मि विजने वने,/हा नाथ! हा महाराज! हा स्वामिन्! आप मुझे क्यों त्याग रहे हैं? हाय! मैं मारी गयी, नष्ट हो गयी, इस जनशून्य वनमें मुझे बड़ा भय लग रहा है
bṛhadaśva uvāca | hā nātha hā mahārāja hā svāmin ki jahāsi mām | hā hatāsmi vinaṣṭāsmi bhītāsmi vijane vane ||
Sinabi ni Bṛhadaśva: “Ay, aking tagapagtanggol! Ay, dakilang hari! Ay, aking panginoon—bakit mo ako iniiwan? Para na akong pinaslang, ganap na napahamak. Nanginginig ako sa takot dito sa gubat na ito na walang tao at lubhang nag-iisa.”
ब॒हृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores rājadharma: a ruler (or protector) bears moral responsibility to safeguard those who seek refuge. Abandoning a dependent in danger is portrayed as ethically grave, intensifying the duty of care in vulnerable contexts.
A distressed person cries out to a king/lord, pleading not to be left behind. The speaker expresses panic and helplessness at being alone in a deserted forest, using repeated vocatives (“nātha,” “mahārāja,” “svāmin”) to intensify the appeal.