Shloka 58

Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)

Devanagari script

भवान्‌ हि संवृतो वीरैर्भ्रातृभिदेवसम्मितै: । ब्रह्मकल्पैर्द्धिजाग्रयैश्व तस्मान्नाहसि शोचितुम्‌

Transliteration

bhavān hi saṁvṛto vīrair bhrātṛbhir deva-sammitaiḥ | brahma-kalpair dvijāgryaiś ca tasmān nārhasi śocitum ||

Translation

而你却被英勇的兄弟们环护，他们堪比诸天；又有最上首的婆罗门在侧，其威德如同梵天。故而你不应悲伤。

Word by Word

भवान्you (honored sir)

हिindeed/for

संवृतःsurrounded/encircled

वीरैःby heroes

भ्रातृभिःby brothers

देवसम्मितैःequal to the gods

ब्रह्मकल्पैःlike Brahmā / Brahma-like

द्विजाग्र्यैःby foremost Brahmins

चand

तस्मात्therefore/from that reason

नnot

अर्हसिyou ought/are fit

शोचितुम्to grieve

Speaker

ब॒हृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

brothers (bhrātṛ)

foremost Brahmins (dvijāgrya)

Brahmā (as a standard of comparison)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that grief is inappropriate when one is supported by righteous strength (heroic, godlike brothers) and sacred wisdom (foremost Brahmins). It promotes steadiness and confidence grounded in dharmic allies rather than surrender to despair.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva addresses a grieving listener (contextually, a royal figure in distress) and consoles him by pointing to the powerful and virtuous support around him—valiant brothers and eminent Brahmins—urging him to abandon lamentation.