Shloka 7
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य तद् वचन श्रुत्वा माद्रीपुत्रस्य धीमतः । स तु कौशलसंयुक्तं सूक्ष्मचित्रार्थसम्मतम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā mādrīputrasya dhīmataḥ | sa tu kauśalasaṃyuktaṃ sūkṣmacitrārthasammatam |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。賢きマードリーの子（ナクラ）のその言葉を聞くや、矢の床に横たわりつつも、ダルマに通じ、弓術の学において円満に成就したビーシュマは、それが巧みに組み立てられているのみならず、微妙で、奇なる含意に富むことを悟った。そこで彼は、ドローナに鍛えられた高邁なる弟子ナクラに、耳に快い調べと整った音節をもつ言葉で、このように答え始めた。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal of thoughtful discourse: a good question or statement should be skillful in expression and subtle in meaning, and a true teacher responds with clarity, refinement, and dharma-grounded understanding.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Nakula has spoken; Bhīṣma, lying on the arrow-bed, recognizes the quality of Nakula’s words and begins his reply, setting up Bhīṣma’s forthcoming instruction in the Śānti Parva.