Shloka 50
Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
समवेत्य च देवानां गणा: पार्थमपूजयन् । काद्रवेया वैनतेया गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा । प्रजानां पतय: सर्वे सप्त चैव महर्षय:
samavetya ca devānāṁ gaṇāḥ pārtham apūjayan | kādraveyā vainateyā gandharvāpsarasas tathā | prajānāṁ patayaḥ sarve sapta caiva maharṣayaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: When the hosts of gods had assembled there, they honored Pārtha (Arjuna) with praise and reverence. The sons of Kadrū (the Nāgas), the son of Vinatā (Garuḍa), the Gandharvas and Apsarases, all the lords of creatures (Prajāpatis), and the seven great seers likewise gathered—signaling that Arjuna’s prowess and conduct had won recognition across divine, celestial, and sage communities, and that rightful excellence is to be publicly affirmed.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Excellence aligned with dharma is not merely personal achievement; it becomes a public good that worthy communities—gods, sages, and celestial beings—affirm. The verse models an ethic of honoring merit and righteous conduct, reinforcing social and cosmic order through recognition.
A wide assembly forms: divine hosts, Nāgas, Garuḍa, Gandharvas, Apsarases, Prajāpatis, and the seven great seers. They collectively honor and praise Pārtha (Arjuna), marking a moment of elevated acclaim and auspicious endorsement.