Shloka 123
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
सार्थवाहं च सार्थ च जना ये चात्र केचन । युवस्थविरबालाश्न सार्थस्य च पुरोगमा:,“इस जनसमुदायके जो सरदार हों, उनसे, इस जनसमूहसे तथा इसके (भीतर रहनेवाले और) आगे चलनेवाले जो बाल-वृद्ध और युवक मनुष्य हों, उन सबसे मेरा यह कहना है कि आप सब लोग मुझे मानवी समझें। मैं एक नरेशपुत्री, महाराजकी पुत्रवधू तथा राजपत्नी हूँ। अपने स्वामीके दर्शनकी इच्छासे इस वनमें भटक रही हूँ
sārthavāhaṃ ca sārthaṃ ca janā ye cātra kecana | yuvastavira-bālāś ca sārthasya ca purogamāḥ ||
Wika ni Bṛhadaśva: “Sa pinuno ng karaban, sa buong karaban, at sa sinumang naririto—maging kabataan, matatanda, o mga bata, pati yaong mga nauuna sa paglakad—ito ang aking ipinahahayag: ituring ninyo akong isang babaeng tao. Ako’y anak ng isang hari, manugang ng isang dakilang hari, at isang reyna. Sa pananabik na masilayan ang aking asawa, ako’y gumagala sa gubat na ito.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames an ethical appeal grounded in dharma: a vulnerable traveler asserts her human identity and royal marital status to invoke the community’s duty of protection and respectful conduct toward women, especially those separated from their husbands and exposed to danger in the forest.
A message is addressed to a caravan—its leader, members, and those moving ahead—asking them to recognize the speaker as a human woman of royal standing. She explains that she is a princess and queen who has been roaming the forest out of longing to see her husband, setting the context for seeking help, safety, or guidance.