Shloka 77
तमुवाचापसर्पेति द्रोणो5प्रीतमना इव । नैतच्छक्यं त्वया वेद्धुं लक्ष्यमित्येव कुत्सयन्,उनका उत्तर सुनकर द्रोणाचार्य मन-ही-मन अप्रसन्न-से हो गये और उन्हें झिड़कते हुए बोले, “हट जाओ यहाँसे, तुम इस लक्ष्यको नहीं बींध सकते”
tam uvāca apasarpeti droṇo 'prītamanā iva | na etac chakyaṃ tvayā veddhuṃ lakṣyam ity eva kutsayan |
Vaiśampāyana said: Droṇa, as though inwardly displeased, rebuked him and said, “Step aside! You are not capable of piercing this target.” In that moment the teacher’s judgment came not as encouragement but as a cutting dismissal, laying bare the strain between merit, expectation, and the ethics of instruction in a competitive martial hall.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how authority in education can be exercised through discouragement and exclusion, raising ethical questions about a teacher’s duty to assess fairly, cultivate ability, and avoid humiliating speech—especially in formative, competitive training.
In the context of an archery/target test, Drona reacts with visible inner displeasure and dismisses the person before him, declaring that he cannot pierce the target and ordering him to step aside.