रथघोषं तु त॑ श्रुत्वा हयसंग्रहणं च तत् । वार्ष्णेयश्चिन्तयामास बाहुकस्य हयज्ञताम्,रथकी आवाज सुनकर और घोड़ोंको काबूमें करनेकी वह कला देखकर वार्ष्णेयने बाहुकके अश्व-विज्ञानपर सोचना आरम्भ किया। “क्या यह देवराज इन्द्रका सारथि मातलि है? इस वीर बाहुकमें मातलिका-सा ही महान् लक्षण देखा जाता है
rathaghoṣaṃ tu taṃ śrutvā hayasaṃgrahaṇaṃ ca tat | vārṣṇeyaś cintayāmāsa bāhukasya hayajñatām ||
Hearing the rumble of the chariot and witnessing that skill of restraining and managing the horses, Vārṣṇeya began to reflect on Bāhuka’s mastery of horsemanship.
ऋचुपर्ण उवाच
Excellence is known by disciplined control and practical mastery; genuine capability can shine even when a person’s identity is concealed, inviting careful discernment rather than superficial judgment.
Vārṣṇeya hears the chariot’s thunder and observes the precise handling of the horses; he then begins to suspect that Bāhuka possesses extraordinary, possibly exceptional, knowledge of horses.