Shloka 39

Keśinī’s Inquiry to Bāhuka and the Emotional Signs of Concealed Identity (केशिन्याः बाहुकपरीक्षा)

Devanagari script

ततो गतज्वरो राजा नैषध: परवीरहा । सम्प्रणष्टे कलौ राजा संख्यायास्य फलान्युत,तदनन्तर कलियुगके अदृश्य हो जानेपर शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले निषधनरेश राजा नल सारी चिन्ताओंसे मुक्त हो गये। बहेड़ेके फलोंको गिनकर उन्हें बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई। वे उत्तम तेजसे युत्ह तेजस्वी रूप धारण करके रथपर चढ़े और वेगशाली घोड़ोंको हाँकते हुए विदर्भदेशको चल दिये

Transliteration

tato gatajvaro rājā naiṣadhaḥ paravīrahā | sampraṇaṣṭe kalau rājā saṅkhyāyāsya phalāny uta ||

Translation

Bấy giờ vua Nala xứ Niṣadha—kẻ diệt trừ các dũng sĩ thù địch—được giải thoát khỏi cơn bức bối như sốt cháy trong lòng. Khi Kali đã biến mất, nhà vua đếm những quả ấy, lòng lại dâng niềm thỏa mãn và nhẹ nhõm; trí tâm trở nên sáng tỏ khi ảnh hưởng tà ác đã rời xa.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

गतज्वरःwhose fever had gone; fever-free

राजाthe king

नैषधःthe king of Niṣadha (Nala)

परवीरहाslayer of enemy-heroes

सम्प्रणष्टेwhen (it) had disappeared; on disappearance

कलौin Kali (the personified Kali / Kali age)

राजाthe king

संख्यायby counting; with enumeration

अस्यof this; his

फलानिfruits

उतand; also

Speaker

बृहदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Nala (King of Niṣadha)

Kali

fruits (phalāni)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When the corrupting force (Kali) departs, clarity and self-mastery return; suffering is shown as intensified by unethical influence and eased by its removal, highlighting vigilance and inner discipline as supports of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva narrates that King Nala becomes free from distress once Kali vanishes; Nala then counts the fruits (a sign of regained composure and practical focus) and experiences renewed steadiness after the period of affliction.