Shloka 8
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
ततस्तस्योत्तरं वाक््यं स्वरवर्णोपपादितम् । शिक्षया चोपपन्नाय द्रोणशिष्याय भारत
tatas tasyottaraṃ vākyaṃ svaravarṇopapāditam | śikṣayā copapannāya droṇaśiṣyāya bhārata vaiśampāyana uvāca—bharatanandana janamejaya buddhimān mādrīputro nakulasya sā vāk kauśalayuktā to thā hī sūkṣmā tathā vicitrārthena ca sampannā | tāṃ śrutvā bāṇaśayyāyāṃ śayānaḥ dhanurvedapāragaḥ vidvān dharmajño bhīṣmaḥ śikṣāprāptaṃ mahāmanasvinaṃ droṇaśiṣyaṃ nakulaṃ sundara-svara-varṇayuktayā vāṇyā evam uttaraṃ prārabhata |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「それから彼に答えて、音調と音節の整った言葉が語られた。おおバーラタよ—正しい誦読と発音の学（śikṣā）を修めたドローナの弟子に向けて、これが返答であった。バーラタ族の喜び、ジャナメージャヤよ。マードリーの子ナクーラは賢く、巧みに語ったのみならず、その言は微妙で多様な意味に富んでいた。それを聞くと、矢の床に横たわり、弓術の学（ダヌルヴェーダ）に通暁し、ダルマを知るビーシュマは、偉大な心をもつドローナの弟子ナクーラに、快い抑揚と明晰な音素に飾られた言葉で答え始めた。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical value of disciplined speech and learning: a statement that is skillful, subtle, and meaning-rich—delivered with proper phonetic training (śikṣā), clear sounds (varṇa), and correct intonation (svara)—is worthy of serious dharmic response. It frames dharma-instruction as requiring both inner wisdom and outer clarity of expression.
Nakula, described as wise and trained under Droṇa, has spoken a nuanced and well-articulated statement. Bhīṣma, lying on the bed of arrows and renowned as both a master of archery and a knower of dharma, hears Nakula’s words and begins his reply. Vaiśampāyana narrates this to King Janamejaya.