Shloka 12
Rathaghoṣa–Saṃjñāna: Damayantī’s Inference and the Dispatch of the Envoy (Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 71)
स त्वर्यमाणो बहुश ऋतुपर्णेन बाहुकः । अश्वाज्जिज्ञासमानो वै विचार्य च पुन: पुनः । अध्यगच्छत् कृशानश्चान् समर्थानध्वनि क्षमान्,ऋतुपर्ण बाहुकको बार-बार उत्तेजित करने लगे, अतः उसने अच्छी तरह विचार करके अश्वोंकी परीक्षा कर ली और ऐसे अश्वोंको चुना, जो देखनेमें दुबले होनेपर भी मार्ग तय करनेमें शक्तिशाली एवं समर्थ थे
sa tvaryamāṇo bahuś ṛtuparṇena bāhukaḥ | aśvāj jijñāsamāno vai vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ | adhyagacchat kṛśān aśvān samarthān adhvani kṣamān ||
Didesak berkali-kali oleh Ṛtupārṇa, Bāhuka pun bergegas. Ia menilai kuda-kuda itu berulang-ulang dengan pertimbangan matang, lalu memilih kuda yang tampak kurus, namun sesungguhnya tangguh—kuat menempuh jalan dan sanggup menyelesaikan perjalanan.
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sound judgment should not be rushed by external pressure; true capability is tested by endurance and performance, not by outward appearance.
Bāhuka (Nala in disguise), pressed repeatedly by King Ṛtuparṇa to hurry, carefully examines the horses and chooses lean-looking but road-enduring, powerful ones for the journey.