Shloka 45

नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः

Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city

Devanagari script

राजसूयाश्चदमेधानां क्रतूनां दक्षिणावताम्‌ | आहर्ता पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ: पृथुचार्वज्चितेक्षण:,उन्होंने (प्रचुर) दक्षिणावाले राजसूय तथा अश्वमेध नामक यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान किया है। वे भूमिपालोंमें श्रेष्ठ हैं। उनके नेत्र बड़े, चंचल और सुन्दर हैं

Transliteration

bṛhadaśva uvāca | rājasūyāś ca medhānāṃ kratūnāṃ dakṣiṇāvatām | āhartā pārthivaśreṣṭhaḥ pṛthucārvañ citīkṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Isinagawa niya ang Rājasūya at ang Aśvamedha—mga dakilang handog na sagana sa mga kaloob. Siya ang pinakadakila sa mga hari, at ang kanyang mga mata’y malalaki, masigla, at marikit.

Word by Word

राजसूयाःof the Rājasūya (sacrifices)

चand

अश्वमेधानाम्of the Aśvamedha (sacrifices)

क्रतूनाम्of the rites/sacrifices

दक्षिणावताम्endowed with (abundant) sacrificial fees

आहर्ताperformer/one who brings about (the sacrifice)

पार्थिवश्रेष्ठःbest among kings

पृथुचार्वचितेक्षणःhe whose eyes are large, lovely, and lively/bright

Speaker

बृहृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Rājasūya

Aśvamedha

dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Royal excellence is linked with dharmic action: performing sanctioned rites and giving abundant dakṣiṇā (generous gifts) signifies responsibility, legitimacy, and merit, not merely power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva is describing a distinguished ruler, praising him for having conducted major imperial sacrifices (Rājasūya and Aśvamedha) with lavish gifts, and noting his striking, lively eyes as a sign of regal presence.