Shloka 55
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
धृष्टद्युम्न॑ तु पाउ्चाल्यमानीय स्वं निवेशनम् । उपाकरोदस्त्रहेतोर्भारद्वाज: प्रतापवान्,परम बुद्धिमान प्रतापी भरद्वाजनन्दन द्रोण यह सोचकर कि प्रारब्धके भावी विधानको टालना असम्भव है, पांचालराजकुमार धृष्टद्युम्मको अपने घर ले आये और उन्होंने उसे अस्त्र-विद्याकी शिक्षा देकर उसका बहुत बड़ा उपकार किया। द्रोणाचार्यने अपनी कीर्तिकी रक्षाके लिये वह उदारतापूर्ण कार्य किया
dhṛṣṭadyumnam tu pāñcālyam ānīya svaṁ niveśanam | upākarod astrahetoḥ bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān paramabuddhimān pratāpī |
Then the mighty Bhāradvāja’s son, Droṇa—foreseeing that destiny’s ordained course cannot be averted—brought the Pāñcāla prince Dhṛṣṭadyumna to his own dwelling. For the sake of imparting the science of weapons, he rendered him a great service by training him in martial lore. Droṇa performed this generous act also to safeguard his own reputation, even though the future consequences were fraught with danger.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between foreknown destiny and ethical choice: even when one senses that fate will unfold, one still acts within social duties—here, the duty of a teacher to transmit knowledge—while also being mindful of honor and reputation.
Droṇa brings Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Pāñcāla prince, into his own residence and trains him in weapon-science. The narration frames this as a significant favor, done with awareness of destiny’s force and with an eye to preserving Droṇa’s standing.