Shloka 12
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
आचार्य इष्टो नयगो विधेयो वेदानभीप्सन् ब्रह्मचर्य चचार । योअस्त्रं चतुष्पात् पुनरेव चक्रे द्रोण: प्रसन्नोडभिवाद्यस्त्ववासौ,जिन्होंने वेदोंकी शिक्षा प्राप्त करनेके लिये पहले ब्रह्मचर्यका पालन किया। तत्पश्चात् मन्त्र, उपचार, प्रयोग तथा संहार--इन चार पादोंसे युक्त अस्त्रविद्याकी शिक्षा प्राप्त की, वे सबके प्रिय, नीतिज्ञ, विनयी तथा सदा प्रसन्नचित्त रहनेवाले आचार्य द्रोण भी हमारे अभिवादनके योग्य हैं, तुम उनसे भी मेरा प्रणाम कहना
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
ācārya iṣṭo nayago vidheyo vedānbhīpsan brahmacaryaṃ cacāra |
yo 'straṃ catuṣpāt punar eva cakre droṇaḥ prasanno 'bhivādyas tv avāsau ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Drona, our revered teacher—beloved, skilled in policy, disciplined and worthy of respect—first lived the life of a brahmacārin in order to master the Vedas. Thereafter he learned and systematized the science of weapons in its fourfold completeness—mantra, application, deployment, and withdrawal. Ever composed and gracious, that teacher Drona too deserves our salutations; convey my respectful obeisance to him as well.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even on the brink of conflict, dharma requires honoring one’s teacher. Yudhiṣṭhira highlights that true authority in learning and warfare rests on prior discipline (brahmacarya), mastery of sacred knowledge (Vedas), and a composed, ethical character—therefore the guru remains worthy of reverence regardless of political alignment.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war diplomacy, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs that respectful salutations be conveyed to Droṇa. He recalls Droṇa’s student-discipline and his complete training in weapon-science, emphasizing the Pāṇḍavas’ continued reverence for their preceptor even as war approaches.