Shloka 16
Keśinī’s Inquiry to Bāhuka and the Emotional Signs of Concealed Identity (केशिन्याः बाहुकपरीक्षा)
तमब्रवीन्नप: सूतं नायं कालो विलम्बितुम् । बाहुकस्त्वब्रवीदेनं परं यत्न॑ं समास्थित:,तब राजाने सारथिसे कहा--“यह विलम्ब करनेका समय नहीं है।” बाहुक बोला--मैं प्रयत्नपूर्वक शीघ्र ही गणना समाप्त कर दूँगा। आप दो ही घड़ीतक प्रतीक्षा कीजिये। अथवा यदि आपको बड़ी जल्दी हो तो यह विदर्भदेशका मंगलमय मार्ग है, वाष्णेयको सारथि बनाकर चले जाइये'
tam abravīn napaḥ sūtaṃ nāyaṃ kālo vilambitum | bāhukastv abravīd enaṃ paraṃ yatnaṃ samāsthitaḥ ||
Then the king addressed the charioteer: “This is not the time to delay.” But Bāhuka replied, having undertaken the utmost effort: “I will complete the reckoning swiftly—wait only for a short while. Or, if you are in great haste, this is the auspicious road to Vidarbha; set out with Vāṣṇeya as your charioteer.”
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in urgent situations, action should be guided by disciplined competence: acknowledge haste, but do not abandon careful execution; offer practical alternatives that preserve responsibility.
A king presses his charioteer not to waste time. Bāhuka responds that he is already exerting maximum effort and will finish quickly, and he also proposes an alternative plan—depart immediately by the auspicious route to Vidarbha with another charioteer (Vāṣṇeya).