Shloka 124
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
मानुषीं मां विजानीत मनुजाधिपते: सुताम् । नृपस््नुषां राजभार्या भर्तृदर्शनलालसाम्,“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
mānuṣīṃ māṃ vijānīta manujādhipateḥ sutām | nṛpasnuṣāṃ rājabhāryāṃ bhartṛdarśanalālasām ||
Wika ni Bṛhadaśva: “Kilalanin ninyo akong isang babaeng tao—anak ng isang panginoon sa gitna ng mga tao. Ako’y manugang ng hari at asawa ng hari; at dahil sa pananabik na masilayan ang aking asawa, ako’y gumagala sa gubat na ito.”
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma through truthful self-identification and the ethical claim to protection: a royal woman, faithful to her husband, appeals to society to recognize her human vulnerability and her legitimate social standing, which traditionally obligates others to offer safety and assistance.
A woman addresses the leaders and people around her, asking them to regard her as a human woman (not a supernatural being) and explains her identity—king’s daughter, king’s daughter-in-law, and queen—stating that she is roaming the forest driven by longing to see her husband.