Shloka 6

अक्षहृदय-विद्या-प्रदानम्

Transmission of Akṣa-hṛdaya; Kali’s Exit and the Bibhītaka Refuge

Devanagari script

सूतस्तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य विरूपो हस्वबाहुक: । शीघ्रयानेषु कुशलो मृष्टकर्ता च भोजने,“वह महाराज ऋतुपर्णका सारथि है। उसकी भुजाएँ छोटी हैं तथा वह देखनेमें कुरूप भी है। वह घोड़ोंको शीघ्र हाँकनेमें कुशल है और अपने बनाये हुए भोजनमें बड़ा मिठास उत्पन्न कर देता है

Transliteration

sūtastasya narendrasya virūpo hrasvabāhukaḥ | śīghrayāneṣu kuśalo mṛṣṭakartā ca bhojane ||

Translation

ブリハダシュヴァは語った。「その男は王の御者である。見目は醜く、腕も短い。だが俊足の馬を駆る術に秀で、また料理をことさらに美味に仕立てることができる。」

Word by Word

सूतःcharioteer

तस्यof him/that

नरेन्द्रस्यof the king (lord of men)

विरूपःugly, ill-formed

हस्वबाहुकःone whose arms are short

शीघ्रयानेषुin fast driving/rapid conveyances

कुशलःskilled

मृष्टकर्ताmaker of delicacies (one who prepares refined food)

चand

भोजनेin food/cooking

Speaker

बृहदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Ṛ

Ṛtupārṇa (king)

the sūta (charioteer)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that outward appearance is not a reliable measure of worth: a person may be physically unimpressive yet possess exceptional competence and usefulness. It implicitly commends valuing merit, skill, and service over superficial judgments.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva describes the king Ṛtupārṇa’s charioteer, noting his unattractive look and short arms but emphasizing his remarkable abilities—especially in fast driving and in preparing delicious food—thereby characterizing an important attendant in the king’s household.