Shloka 12
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
आचार्य इष्टो नयगो विधेयो वेदानभीप्सन् ब्रह्मचर्य चचार । योअस्त्रं चतुष्पात् पुनरेव चक्रे द्रोण: प्रसन्नोडभिवाद्यस्त्ववासौ
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
ācārya iṣṭo nayago vidheyo vedānbhīpsan brahmacaryaṃ cacāra |
yo 'straṃ catuṣpāt punar eva cakre droṇaḥ prasanno 'bhivādyas tv avāsau ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Droṇa, unser verehrter Lehrer—geliebt, kundig in Staatskunst, diszipliniert und ehrwürdig—lebte zuerst als Brahmacārin, um die Veden zu meistern. Danach erlernte und ordnete er die Waffenlehre in ihrer vierfachen Vollständigkeit: Mantra, Anwendung, Einsatz und Rücknahme. Stets gefasst und gütig, verdient auch dieser Lehrer Droṇa unsere Grüße; überbringe ihm ebenfalls meine ehrerbietige Verneigung.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even on the brink of conflict, dharma requires honoring one’s teacher. Yudhiṣṭhira highlights that true authority in learning and warfare rests on prior discipline (brahmacarya), mastery of sacred knowledge (Vedas), and a composed, ethical character—therefore the guru remains worthy of reverence regardless of political alignment.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war diplomacy, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs that respectful salutations be conveyed to Droṇa. He recalls Droṇa’s student-discipline and his complete training in weapon-science, emphasizing the Pāṇḍavas’ continued reverence for their preceptor even as war approaches.