Shloka 67
Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
इन्द्रो विवस्वान् पूषा च त्वष्टा च सविता तथा । पर्जन्यश्वैव विष्णुश्व॒ आदित्या द्वादश स्मृता: । महिमान॑ पाण्डवस्य वर्धयन्तो>म्बरे स्थिता:
indraḥ vivasvān pūṣā ca tvaṣṭā ca savitā tathā | parjanyaś caiva viṣṇuś ca ādityā dvādaśa smṛtāḥ | mahimānaṃ pāṇḍavasya vardhayanto 'mbare sthitāḥ |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Indra, Vivasvān (the Sun), Pūṣan, Tvaṣṭṛ, and Savitṛ; likewise Parjanya and Viṣṇu—these are remembered as the twelve Ādityas. Standing in the sky, they heightened the glory of the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna).”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a Mahābhārata ethic: true honor (mahimā) is not merely social praise but is validated by alignment with cosmic order (dharma). The presence of major deities symbolizes that merit and righteous excellence naturally attract recognition and support.
Vaiśaṃpāyana enumerates prominent deities identified as the Ādityas and describes them standing in the sky, enhancing the renown of the Pāṇḍava—understood here as Arjuna—by their divine attendance and approval.