Shloka 14
Kalmāṣapāda’s Encounter with Śakti and the Escalation of the Vasiṣṭha–Viśvāmitra Feud (कल्माषपाद–शक्ति प्रसङ्गः)
ततो द्रुपदमासाद्य भारद्वाज: प्रतापवान् | अब्रवीत् पुरुषव्याप्र: सखायं विद्धि मामिति,तब पुरुषसिंह प्रतापी द्रोणने राजा द्रुपदके पास जाकर कहा--'राजन्! मैं तुम्हारा सखा हूँ, मुझे पहचानो”
tato drupadam āsādya bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān | abravīt puruṣavyāghraḥ sakhāyaṃ viddhi mām iti ||
ثم إن درونا، ابن بهارادفاجا الشجاع ذو البأس، قصد الملك دروبادا وقال كأنه أسدٌ بين الرجال: «اعرفني صديقًا لك».
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the dharma of friendship: past bonds and promises should not be discarded due to later differences in wealth, rank, or power. It raises an ethical question—whether a ruler will uphold loyalty and gratitude when confronted with an old companion now in a weaker position.
Droṇa, identified as the son of Bharadvāja, goes to King Drupada and reminds him of their former friendship, asking to be recognized as a friend. This sets up the ensuing conflict when Drupada’s response (in the broader episode) fails to honor that claim, becoming a cause for later enmity.