Shloka 273
Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
त॑ तु कालेन महता वासव: प्रत्यपद्यत । और भारत! वे महाबाहु धर्मात्मा पाण्डु स्वयं देवताओंके ईश्वर इन्द्रदेवकी आराधना करनेके लिये चित्तवृत्तियोंको अत्यन्त एकाग्र करके एक पैरसे खड़े हो सूर्यके साथ-साथ उग्र तप करने लगे अर्थात् सूर्योदय होनेके समय एक पैरसे खड़े होते और सूर्यास्ततक उसी रूपमें खड़े रहते। इस तरह दीर्घकाल व्यतीत हो जानेपर इन्द्रदेव उनपर प्रसन्न हो उनके समीप आये और इस प्रकार बोले--
taṁ tu kālena mahatā vāsavaḥ pratyapadyata |
After a long passage of time, Vāsava (Indra) became favorably disposed toward him. O Bhārata, the mighty-armed, righteous-souled Pāṇḍu—having gathered his mind into intense one-pointedness—stood on a single foot and performed fierce austerities in harmony with the sun: at sunrise he would take his stance on one foot and remain so until sunset. When this discipline had continued for a long time, Indra, pleased with him, approached and addressed him thus.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast self-discipline and one-pointed devotion (tapas with mental concentration) are portrayed as ethically potent: when undertaken by a dharmic person, such practice can draw divine favor, not as entitlement but as a response to sustained restraint and sincerity.
Pāṇḍu performs severe sun-aligned austerities—standing on one foot from sunrise to sunset for a long time—to propitiate Indra. After much time, Indra becomes pleased, approaches Pāṇḍu, and begins to speak, setting up the forthcoming boon or instruction.