धृष्टद्युम्नस्य द्रोणाभिमुख्यं तथा सात्यकि-कर्ण-समागमः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s advance toward Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Karṇa confrontation
इदमिन्द्रेण ते साक्षादुपदिष्टं महात्मना । अस्त्रं रुद्रेण वा पार्थ द्रोणेनाथ कृपेण वा,पार्थ! इस अस्त्र-विद्याका उपदेश तुम्हें साक्षात् महात्मा इन्द्रने दिया है, या रुद्र, द्रोण अथवा कृपाचार्यने?
idam indreṇa te sākṣād upadiṣṭaṁ mahātmanā | astraṁ rudreṇa vā pārtha droṇenātha kṛpeṇa vā ||
Bhūriśravā pressed Arjuna about the source of his dreadful weapon-lore: “Was this very missile taught to you directly by the great Indra? Or by Rudra? Or by Droṇa? Or by Kṛpa, O Pārtha?”
भूरिश्रवा उवाच
The verse highlights that the authority and ethical weight of using powerful astras depend on their legitimate transmission from qualified teachers (divine or human). It implicitly stresses responsibility: extraordinary power in war must be grounded in proper instruction and restraint.
In the midst of the Drona Parva battle context, Bhūriśravā addresses Arjuna and challenges him about the origin of the weapon-knowledge he is displaying, naming possible eminent instructors—Indra, Rudra, Droṇa, or Kṛpa.