Shloka 6
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
कथं चोत्पादित: खड्ग: कस्मै चार्थाय केन च । पूर्वाचार्य च खड्गस्य प्रब्रूहि प्रपितामह
kathaṃ cotpāditaḥ khaḍgaḥ kasmai cārthāya kena ca | pūrvācāryaś ca khaḍgasya prabrūhi prapitāmaha, pitāmaha ||
Nakula dit : «Ô vénérable Pitāmaha, comment l’épée fut-elle créée à l’origine, par qui et dans quel dessein ? Et qui fut le premier maître de l’art du sabre ? Dis-moi tout cela.»
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames weapons—especially the sword—within dharma: their legitimacy depends on origin, purpose, and disciplined transmission through a recognized teacher (ācārya). It implies that martial power must be grounded in right intent and proper instruction, not mere violence.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Nakula respectfully asks the venerable Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma) to explain the sword’s origin, its intended purpose, who created it, and who first taught its use—seeking authoritative tradition and ethical context for warfare.