प्रतिगृह्य च तान् सर्वान् द्रोणो वचनमत्रवीत् | रहस्येक: प्रतीतात्मा कृतोपसदनांस्तथा,उन सबको ग्रहण कर लेनेपर एक दिन एकान्तमें जब द्रोणाचार्य पूर्ण विश्वासयुक्त मनसे अकेले बैठे थे, तब उन्होंने अपने पास बैठे हुए सब शिष्योंसे यह बात कही
pratigṛhya ca tān sarvān droṇo vacanam abravīt | rahasya ekaḥ pratītātmā kṛtopasadanāṁs tathā ||
Having accepted them all as his pupils, Droṇa then spoke to them. Later, in a private moment—alone, inwardly assured and fully confident—after their formal initiation and residence as students had been duly completed, he addressed the disciples who were seated near him, preparing to lay down a confidential instruction.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse frames a key ethical setting: once a teacher formally accepts students and completes their initiation, he may give confidential guidance that binds them to disciplined conduct and duty. It highlights the seriousness of the guru–śiṣya bond and the responsibility that follows formal admission.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Droṇa has accepted all the students and, at a later time in private—alone and confident—after their upasadana (formal admission/initiation) is done, he speaks to the disciples seated near him, introducing an important instruction to follow.