Shloka 3
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
पज्चालराजं ट्रुपदं गृहीत्वा रणमूर्धनि । पर्यानयत भद्र व: सा स्थात् परमदक्षिणा,'शिष्यो! पंचालराज ट्रुपदको युद्धमें कैद करके मेरे पास ले आओ। तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। यही मेरे लिये सर्वोत्तम गुरुदक्षिणा होगी”
Pañcālarājaṃ Drupadaṃ gṛhītvā raṇamūrdhani | paryānayata bhadra vaḥ sā syāt paramadakṣiṇā ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Seize Drupada, the king of the Pañcālas, on the very field of battle and bring him to me. May good befall you. That alone shall be the highest teacher’s fee (guru-dakṣiṇā) for me.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the traditional obligation of dakṣiṇā (a student’s offering to the teacher) and shows how duty can become ethically complex when a guru frames a personal objective as a ‘highest’ fee, binding disciples to act in war for the sake of loyalty.
A teacher instructs his disciples to capture Drupada, king of the Pañcālas, during battle and bring him as the guru’s dakṣiṇā—setting up a conflict where martial success is demanded as repayment for instruction.