Shloka 131
Keśinī’s Inquiry to Bāhuka and the Emotional Signs of Concealed Identity (केशिन्याः बाहुकपरीक्षा)
प्रचिनुह्मास्य शाखे द्वे याश्चाप्यन्या: प्रशाखिका: । आशभ्यां फलसहसे द्वे पज्चोनं शतमेव च
Bṛhadaśva uvāca | pracinuḥmāsya śākhe dve yāścāpyanyāḥ praśākhikāḥ | āśābhyāṃ phalasahase dve pañconam śatam eva ca ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “Let us gather its two main branches, and also whatever other offshoot-branches there are. From these two branches, we may hope to obtain two thousand bundles of fruit, and a hundred less by five as well.”
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights practical discernment and planning: assessing available resources (branches and offshoots) and estimating yield (fruit) before acting. It reflects a grounded, ethical prudence—providing and preparing through careful calculation rather than impulse.
Bṛhadaśva speaks about collecting two main branches and additional offshoot branches of a tree, expressing an expectation of a very large fruit yield. The line functions as a logistical instruction and estimate within the ongoing forest narrative of the Vana Parva.