Vāraṇāvata-prasaṃsā and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure (वरणावत-प्रशंसा तथा पाण्डव-प्रयाणम्)
बाल्यात् प्रभृति कौरव्य सहाध्ययनमेव च । स मे सखा सदा तत्र प्रियवादी प्रियंकर:,बचपनसे ही हम दोनोंका अध्ययन साथ-साथ चलता था। द्रुपद वहाँ मेरे घनिष्ठ मित्र थे। वे सदा मुझसे प्रिय वचन बोलते और मेरा प्रिय कार्य करते थे
bālyāt prabhṛti kauravya sahādhyayanam eva ca | sa me sakhā sadā tatra priyavādī priyaṃkaraḥ ||
হে কৌৰৱশ্ৰেষ্ঠ! শৈশৱৰ পৰা আমাৰ অধ্যয়ন একেলগে চলিছিল। তাত দ্ৰুপদ সদায় মোৰ ঘনিষ্ঠ সখা আছিল—স্নেহভৰে মধুৰ বাক্য কৈ, মোৰ প্ৰিয় কামবোৰ কৰি দিত।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
True friendship is shown through shared pursuit of learning, gentle and truthful-pleasant speech (priyavāda), and supportive actions (priyaṃkara). The verse highlights ethical companionship as something formed early and expressed consistently.
Vaiśampāyana, addressing a Kuru prince, recounts a past relationship: from childhood the speaker and Drupada studied together, and Drupada behaved as a devoted friend—speaking kindly and acting helpfully—setting up later developments in their relationship.