Shloka 23
Keśinī’s Inquiry to Bāhuka and the Emotional Signs of Concealed Identity (केशिन्याः बाहुकपरीक्षा)
गणयस्वाश्रृतत्त्वज्ञ ततस्त्वं प्रीतिमावह । सो<वतीर्य रथात् तूर्ण शातयामास त॑ टद्रुमम्,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
gaṇayasvāśrutattvajña tatastvaṃ prītimāvaha | so ’vatīrya rathāt tūrṇaṃ chātayāmāsa taṃ drumam ||
Bṛhadaśva said, “Count it, O sinless Bāhuka, knower of the principles of horsemanship and of what has been duly learned; by doing so you will bring me great satisfaction.” Then Bāhuka quickly descended from the chariot and at once cut down that tree—showing decisive skill and obedience to the instruction, and turning a test of knowledge into an act that proves competence in action.
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true knowledge (tattva-jñāna) is validated by disciplined action: competence is shown not merely by claiming expertise but by promptly and correctly executing what is required, with self-control and readiness to serve a rightful instruction.
Bṛhadaśva instructs Bāhuka to ‘count’ as a test connected with his claimed expertise; Bāhuka immediately gets down from the chariot and cuts down the tree, demonstrating swift, decisive capability and turning the instruction into a concrete proof of skill.