Shloka 8
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
ततस्तस्योत्तरं वाक््यं स्वरवर्णोपपादितम् । शिक्षया चोपपन्नाय द्रोणशिष्याय भारत
tatas tasyottaraṃ vākyaṃ svaravarṇopapāditam | śikṣayā copapannāya droṇaśiṣyāya bhārata vaiśampāyana uvāca—bharatanandana janamejaya buddhimān mādrīputro nakulasya sā vāk kauśalayuktā to thā hī sūkṣmā tathā vicitrārthena ca sampannā | tāṃ śrutvā bāṇaśayyāyāṃ śayānaḥ dhanurvedapāragaḥ vidvān dharmajño bhīṣmaḥ śikṣāprāptaṃ mahāmanasvinaṃ droṇaśiṣyaṃ nakulaṃ sundara-svara-varṇayuktayā vāṇyā evam uttaraṃ prārabhata |
Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors, pour lui répondre, des paroles furent prononcées avec des tons et des syllabes parfaitement formés. Ô Bhārata, telle fut la réponse adressée au disciple de Droṇa, instruit dans la śikṣā, l’art de la récitation et de l’articulation justes. Ô joie des Bharata, Janamejaya : le sage Nakula, fils de Mādrī, avait parlé avec adresse ; et sa déclaration était subtile, riche de sens variés. L’ayant entendue, Bhīṣma—étendu sur son lit de flèches, maître de la science de l’arc et connaisseur du dharma—commença à répondre à Nakula, disciple de Droṇa au grand esprit, d’une parole ornée d’une intonation harmonieuse et de phonèmes limpides.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical value of disciplined speech and learning: a statement that is skillful, subtle, and meaning-rich—delivered with proper phonetic training (śikṣā), clear sounds (varṇa), and correct intonation (svara)—is worthy of serious dharmic response. It frames dharma-instruction as requiring both inner wisdom and outer clarity of expression.
Nakula, described as wise and trained under Droṇa, has spoken a nuanced and well-articulated statement. Bhīṣma, lying on the bed of arrows and renowned as both a master of archery and a knower of dharma, hears Nakula’s words and begins his reply. Vaiśampāyana narrates this to King Janamejaya.