Shloka 15
Keśinī’s Inquiry to Bāhuka and the Emotional Signs of Concealed Identity (केशिन्याः बाहुकपरीक्षा)
संख्यास्थामि फलान्यस्य पश्यतस्ते जनाधिप । मुहूर्तमपि वार्ष्णेयो रश्मीन् यच्छतु वाजिनाम्,'जनेश्वर! यदि वारष्णेय दो घड़ीतक भी इन घोड़ोंकी लगाम सँभाले तो मैं आपके देखते-देखते इसके फलोंको गिन लूँगा”
saṅkhyāsthāmi phalāny asya paśyatas te janādhipa | muhūrtam api vārṣṇeyo raśmīn yacchatu vājinām ||
Bṛhadaśva berkata: “Wahai penghulu manusia, ketika engkau memandang, akan aku hitung buah-buahnya. Biarlah Vārṣṇeya memegang tali kekang kuda walau hanya untuk satu muhūrta.”
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights demonstrable competence and accountability: a claim is offered with a clear condition (a fixed time) and a public witness (the king watching), emphasizing proof through action rather than mere assertion.
Bṛhadaśva addresses the king and proposes a brief interval—if the Vārṣṇeya holds the horses’ reins for that time, Bṛhadaśva will, in the king’s presence, count the fruits of a certain tree, presenting a concrete challenge or demonstration.