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 ||
Bṛhadaśva nói: “Ôi đấng che chở của ta! Ôi đại vương! Ôi chúa thượng—cớ sao ngài bỏ rơi ta? Ta như đã bị giết, hoàn toàn tiêu vong. Ta kinh hãi trong khu rừng hoang vắng, cô quạnh này.”
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.