Shloka 12
दमयन्ती–बाहुकसंवादः
Damayantī’s Dialogue with Bāhuka; Recognition and Disclosure
अहमप्यश्वकुशल: सूतत्वे च प्रतिष्ठित: । ऋतुपर्णेन सारथ्ये भोजने च वृतः स्वयम्,मैं भी अश्वविद्यामें कुशल हूँ और सारथिके कार्यमें भी निपुण हूँ, इसलिये राजा ऋतुपर्णने स्वयं ही मुझे वेतन देकर सारथिके पदपर नियुक्त कर लिया
aham apy aśvakuśalaḥ sūtatve ca pratiṣṭhitaḥ | ṛtuparṇena sārathye bhojane ca vṛtaḥ svayam ||
Bāhuka said: “I too am skilled in the knowledge of horses and well established in the duties of a charioteer. Therefore King Ṛtuparṇa himself engaged me—appointing me as his charioteer and providing for my maintenance.”
बाहुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Competence and disciplined skill can become a means of righteous survival in adversity; even under concealment, one may uphold dharma through honest service and mastery of one’s craft.
Bāhuka explains how he came to be in Ṛtuparṇa’s household: because he is expert with horses and charioteering, the king personally hired him as his charioteer and arranged his upkeep.