Shloka 1
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल २६ श्लोक हैं) ऑपन-माजल छा अकाल सप्तत्रिशर्दाधिकशततमोब< ध्याय: द्रोणका शिष्योंद्वारा द्रपदपर आक्रमण करवाना, अर्जुनका ट्रपदको बंदी बनाकर लाना और द्रोणद्वारा द्रपदको आधा राज्य देकर मुक्त कर देना वैशम्पायन उवाच पाण्डवान् धार्तराष्टांश्व कृतास्त्रान् प्रसमीक्ष्य सः । गुर्वर्थ दक्षिणाकाले प्राप्तेडमन्यत वै गुरु:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन्! पाण्डवों तथा धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्रोंको अस्त्र-विद्यामें निपुण देख द्रोणाचार्यने गुरु-दक्षिणा लेनेका समय आया जान मन-ही-मन कुछ निश्चय किया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | Pāṇḍavān dhārtarāṣṭrāṁś ca kṛtāstrān prasmīkṣya saḥ | gurvarthaṁ dakṣiṇākāle prāpte ’manyata vai guruḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing that the Pāṇḍavas and the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra had become fully trained in the use of weapons, the teacher Droṇa, recognizing that the time had come to receive the guru’s fee (guru-dakṣiṇā), formed a resolve in his mind about what should be done for his own purpose.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension around guru-dakṣiṇā: once learning is complete, students owe gratitude and service, yet a teacher’s demand must remain within dharma. It foreshadows how personal motives can enter institutional duties, raising questions about the rightful scope of authority and the moral responsibility of both teacher and disciple.
Droṇa observes that both the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas have completed their weapons training. He then recognizes that the customary moment for receiving guru-dakṣiṇā has arrived and privately forms a plan—setting up the subsequent demand that will drive the next events of the chapter.