Shloka 53

Devanagari script

पूजयित्वा ततो द्रोणं विधिवत्‌ स निषादज: । निवेद्य शिष्यमात्मानं तस्थौ प्राउ्जलिरग्रत:,फिर उस निषादकुमारने अपनेको शिष्यरूपसे उनके चरणोंमें समर्पित करके गुरु द्रोणकी विधिपूर्वक पूजा की और हाथ जोड़कर उनके सामने खड़ा हो गया

Transliteration

pūjayitvā tato droṇaṃ vidhivat sa niṣādajaḥ | nivedya śiṣyam ātmānaṃ tasthau prāñjalir agrataḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then the son of a Niṣāda duly honored Droṇa according to proper rite. Having offered himself as a disciple, he stood before him with hands joined—an image of humility and disciplined seeking, where devotion to learning is expressed through reverent conduct toward the teacher.

Word by Word

पूजयित्वाhaving worshipped

ततःthen; thereafter

द्रोणम्Drona (as object)

विधिवत्according to rule; duly

सःhe

निषादजःthe son of a Niṣāda (Ekalavya)

निवेद्यhaving offered; having presented

शिष्यम्as a disciple; (himself as) disciple

आत्मानम्himself

तस्थौstood

प्राञ्जलिःwith joined hands

अग्रतःin front; before (him)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Droṇa

Niṣāda-born youth (Ekalavya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of approaching learning with humility and proper conduct: a seeker honors the teacher according to established norms (vidhivat) and offers himself as a disciple, signaling readiness for discipline, service, and instruction within the guru–śiṣya framework.

What is happening in the narrative?

The Niṣāda-born youth (Ekalavya) formally approaches Droṇa, performs due honor, declares himself a disciple, and stands before him with folded hands, seeking acceptance and instruction.