Shloka 22
Keśinī’s Inquiry to Bāhuka and the Emotional Signs of Concealed Identity (केशिन्याः बाहुकपरीक्षा)
अकाम इव तं राजा गणयस्वेत्युवाच ह | एकदेशं च शाखाया: समादिष्ट॑ मयानघ,राजाने मानो अनिच्छासे कहा--“अच्छा, गिन लो। अश्वविद्याके तत्त्वको जाननेवाले निष्पाप बाहुक! मेरे बताये अनुसार तुम शाखाके एक ही भागको गिनो। इससे तुम्हें बड़ी प्रसन्नता होगी'। बाहुकने रथसे उतरकर तुरंत ही उस वृक्षको काट डाला
Bṛhadaśva uvāca: akāma iva taṃ rājā gaṇayasveti uvāca ha | ekadeśaṃ ca śākhāyāḥ samādiṣṭaṃ mayānagha, rājānaṃ māno ’nicchāse—“acchā, gaṇaya lo | aśvavidyāyāḥ tattvaṃ jānann anagha bāhuka! mayā yathādiṣṭaṃ tvaṃ śākhāyā ekadeśam eva gaṇaya | etena te mahān prītiḥ bhaviṣyati” iti | bāhuko rathāt avatīrya tūrṇam eva taṃ vṛkṣaṃ chittvā pātayām āsa |
Bṛhadaśva said: The king, as though unwilling, told him, “Go on—count it.” Then, O sinless one, he instructed him to count only a single portion of the branch as he had directed. The king added, “Very well, count it. O blameless Bāhuka, knower of the principles of horsemanship, count just that part of the branch according to my instruction; it will bring you great satisfaction.” Thereupon Bāhuka quickly descended from the chariot and at once cut down that tree.
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how authority and instruction can be used to test competence and composure: the king’s seemingly casual command becomes a probe of Bāhuka’s true capability. Ethically, it underscores disciplined skill (aśvavidyā) and decisive action under instruction, without boasting—competence is shown through deeds.
The king tells Bāhuka to ‘count’ a specified portion of a branch, implying a task meant to reveal something about him. After the instruction, Bāhuka promptly gets down from the chariot and cuts the tree, turning the counting challenge into a decisive act—suggesting exceptional practical intelligence and readiness.