Shloka 8
Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 12 — Concealed Service in Matsya and Bhīma’s Arena Victory
न कातरं स्यान्मम जातु वाहनं न मे$स्ति दुष्टा वडवा कुतो हया: । जनस्तु मामाह स चापि पाण्डवो युधिष्ठिरो ग्रन्थिकमेव नामत:,मेरा सिखाया हुआ घोड़ा कभी कायर नहीं हो सकता। मेरी सिखायी हुई घोड़ीमें भी कोई ऐब नहीं आता, फिर घोड़े तो बिगड़ ही कैसे सकते हैं? मुझे साधारण लोग तथा पाण्डुनन्दन महाराज युधिष्ठिर भी 'ग्रन्थिक' नामसे ही पुकारा करते थे
na kātaraṃ syān mama jātu vāhanaṃ na me 'sti duṣṭā vaḍavā kuto hayāḥ | janas tu mām āha sa cāpi pāṇḍavo yudhiṣṭhiro granthikam eva nāmataḥ ||
Nakula berkata: “Tiada tunggangan yang dilatih olehku akan menjadi penakut. Kuda betina yang kulatih pun tiada cacat—maka bagaimana pula kuda-kuda boleh menjadi buruk? Orang kebanyakan, malah Pāṇḍava Yudhiṣṭhira sendiri, dahulu memanggilku hanya dengan nama ‘Granthika’.”
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights accountability and excellence in one’s craft: a competent trainer takes responsibility for the quality and courage of the animals under his care. Ethically, it underscores pride grounded in skill and disciplined training rather than mere boastfulness.
Nakula speaks about his expertise with horses and mares, asserting that animals trained by him cannot be faulty or timid. He also notes that people—including Yudhiṣṭhira—addressed him by the by-name ‘Granthika,’ reflecting his assumed identity/status during the Virāṭa episode.