Shloka 4
Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 187: Drupada’s Inquiry and the Dharma Debate on Draupadī’s Marriage
यत् कर्णशल्यप्रमुखै: क्षत्रियैलोकविश्रुतै: नानतं बलवद्धिह्ि धरनुर्वेदपरायणै:,'ब्राह्मणो! कर्ण और शल्य आदि बलवान, थरनुर्वेदपरायण तथा लोकविख्यात क्षत्रिय जिसे झुका (-तक) न सके, उसी धनुषपर अस्त्र-ज्ञानसे शून्य और शारीरिक बलकी दृष्टिसे अत्यन्त दुर्बल यह निरा ब्राह्मण-बालक कैसे प्रत्यंचा चढ़ा सकेगा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yat karṇaśalyapramukhaiḥ kṣatriyair lokaviśrutaiḥ nānataṃ balavadbhir hi dhanurvedaparāyaṇaiḥ |
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Jenen Bogen, den selbst mächtige, in der Welt berühmte Kṣatriyas—angeführt von Karṇa und Śalya, der Bogenschützenkunst ergeben—nicht zu beugen vermochten: wie sollte dieser bloße Brahmanenjunge, ohne Waffenlehre und von schwacher Körperkraft, ihn nur bespannen können?“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how reputation, caste-identity, and visible strength can mislead; true capability may appear where society least expects it. Ethically, it cautions against contempt and premature judgment, especially when assessing another’s worth or destiny.
A formidable bow is being discussed—one that even celebrated warrior-kṣatriyas like Karṇa and Śalya could not bend. The speaker expresses disbelief that a seemingly weak brahmin boy, without martial training, could string it, setting up a dramatic test of ability.