Shloka 56
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
स निकृत्या जितो राजा पुष्करेणेति न: श्रुतम् वनवासं सुदुःखार्तों भार्यया न्यवसत् सह,हमने सुना है कि राजा नलको उनके भाई पुष्करने छलसे ही जूएके द्वारा जीत लिया था और वे अत्यन्त दुःखसे आतुर हो अपनी पत्नीके साथ वनवासका दुःख भोगने लगे थे
sa nikṛtyā jito rājā puṣkareṇeti naḥ śrutam | vanavāsaṃ suduḥkhārto bhāryayā nyavasat saha ||
Bṛhadaśva nói: “Chúng ta nghe rằng vua Nala đã bị Puṣkara đánh bại bằng mưu trá trong cuộc chơi xúc xắc. Bị nỗi sầu khổ dữ dội vây phủ, ngài đành chịu cảnh lưu đày nơi rừng thẳm cùng với hoàng hậu.”
ब॒हृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Nala’s downfall as the result of nikṛti (deceit) in gambling, highlighting the ethical danger of adharma-based play and the vulnerability of even a king when fairness is abandoned. It also foregrounds endurance and companionship in suffering, as Nala bears exile together with his wife.
Bṛhadaśva reports the well-known account that Nala was defeated by his brother Puṣkara through cheating in the dice contest, after which Nala—grief-stricken—lived in the forest in exile along with his wife.