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Shloka 20

Vāraṇāvata-praveśa and Jatugṛha-saṃdeha

Entry into Vāraṇāvata and Suspicion of the Lac-House

रंगमध्यं तदा5<चार्य: सपुत्र: प्रविवेश ह | नभो जलधरैहीनं साड्रारक इवांशुमान्‌,तदनन्तर श्वैत वस्त्र और श्वेत यज्ञोपवीत धारण किये आचार्य द्रोणने अपने पुत्र अश्वृत्थामाके साथ रंगभूमिमें प्रवेश किया; मानो मेघरहित आकाशमें चन्द्रमाने मंगलके साथ पदार्पण किया हो। आचार्यके सिर और दाढ़ी-मूँछके बाल सफेद हो गये थे। वे श्वेत पुष्पोंकी माला और श्वेत चन्दनसे सुशोभित हो रहे थे

raṅgamadhyaṁ tadā ācāryaḥ saputraḥ praviveśa ha | nabho jaladharair hīnaṁ sādrāraka ivāṁśumān ||

Dijo Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Entonces el preceptor Droṇa entró en medio de la arena, acompañado de su hijo. Resplandecía como la luna que aparece en un cielo sin nubes, como si la escoltara Marte—imagen que acrecienta la solemnidad del instante y enmarca su llegada como auspiciosa y autoritativa. La escena subraya el peso ético de la enseñanza: la arena no es solo para exhibirse, sino un escenario público donde el dominio, la disciplina y la responsabilidad del guru moldearán la conducta futura de los príncipes.

रङ्गमध्यम्the middle of the arena
रङ्गमध्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरङ्ग + मध्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
आचार्यःthe teacher (Drona)
आचार्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआचार्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सपुत्रःtogether with (his) son
सपुत्रः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootस + पुत्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रविवेशentered
प्रविवेश:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + √विश्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular
indeed/for emphasis
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
नभःsky
नभः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनभस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
जलधरैःwith clouds
जलधरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootजलधर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
हीनम्devoid (of)
हीनम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootहीन
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
सार्कःtogether with the sun
सार्कः:
TypeAdjective
Rootस + अर्क
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इवas if/like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अंशुमान्the radiant one (sun/moon; here: moon-like figure)
अंशुमान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअंशुमत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

धृतराष्ट उवाच

D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
D
Droṇa (Ācārya)
A
Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son)
R
raṅga (arena)
N
nabhas (sky)
J
jaladhara (clouds)
A
aṁśumān (moon, as simile)
A
Aṅgāraka (Mars, as simile)

Educational Q&A

The verse elevates the guru’s presence through celestial simile, implying that instruction and discipline carry public, ethical consequence. Droṇa’s entry signals that learning (especially martial and royal training) is not value-neutral: it shapes character, duty, and the future exercise of power.

Dhṛtarāṣṭra narrates that Droṇa, accompanied by his son Aśvatthāmā, enters the center of the arena. The text compares his radiance to the moon in a cloudless sky, with Mars nearby, emphasizing the grandeur and auspiciousness of the moment before the princes’ demonstrations and ensuing developments.