Shloka 38
नलस्य बाहुकत्वेन ऋतुपर्णनगरप्रवेशः
Nala as Bāhuka enters Ṛtuparṇa’s city
नानाधातुसमाकीर्ण विविधोपलभूषितम् । अस्यारण्यस्य महतः केतु भूतमिवोत्थितम्,अनेक प्रकारके धातुओंसे व्याप्त और भाँति-भाँतिके शिला-खण्डोंसे विभूषित है। यह पर्वत इस महान् वनकी ऊपर उठी हुई पताकाके समान जान पड़ता है
nānādhātusamākīrṇaṃ vividhopalabhūṣitam | asyāraṇyasya mahataḥ ketu-bhūtam ivotthitam ||
Nó rải đầy đủ loại khoáng thạch và được điểm trang bằng những khối đá muôn sắc. Vươn cao lên, nó tựa như một lá cờ được giương cho khu rừng mênh mông này.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the natural world can function as a moral and aesthetic ‘sign’ (ketu): a prominent landmark that orients travelers and evokes reverence. It suggests attentiveness to creation—seeing meaning and order in what appears merely physical.
Bṛhadaśva is describing a striking mountain within a vast forest. He emphasizes its mineral-rich slopes and varied stones, portraying it as a banner-like emblem rising above the wilderness—an identifying mark of the region for those traveling through it.