Shloka 12
Role-Allocation in Virāṭa’s Court: Nakula, Sahadeva, and Draupadī’s Concealment
वृषभानपि जानामि राजन् पूजितलक्षणान् | येषां मूत्रमुपाप्राय अपि वन्ध्या प्रसूयते,महीपते! गौओंके जो लक्षण और चरित्र मंगल-कारक होते हैं, वे सब मुझे भलीभाँति मालूम हैं। उनके विषयमें और भी बहुत-सी बातें मैं जानता हूँ। राजन्! इसके सिवा मैं ऐसे प्रशंसनीय लक्षणोंवाले साँड्रोंको भी जानता हूँ, जिनके मूत्रको सूँघ लेनेमात्रसे वन्ध्या स्त्री भी गर्भवती हो सकती है
vṛṣabhān api jānāmi rājan pūjita-lakṣaṇān | yeṣāṃ mūtram upāprāya api vandhyā prasūyate mahīpate ||
Sahadeva disse: “Ó rei, também conheço os touros cujas marcas são veneradas e auspiciosas. Tão celebrada é a sua potência que, apenas ao entrar em contato com—ou mesmo ao cheirar—sua urina, diz-se que até uma mulher estéril pode conceber e dar à luz, ó senhor da terra.”
सहदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights practical, traditional knowledge (lakṣaṇa-śāstra) valued in royal and agrarian life: recognizing auspicious traits in livestock and understanding their reputed effects. Ethically, it underscores competence and credibility in service—Sahadeva presents specialized expertise to justify his role and gain trust.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito stay in King Virāṭa’s court, Sahadeva offers his qualifications for working with cattle. He claims familiarity with auspiciously marked bulls and repeats a traditional belief about their extraordinary potency, thereby persuading the king of his suitability for the task.