Shloka 13
Droṇotpattiḥ and Dhanurveda-Prāpti
Origin of Droṇa and Acquisition of Martial Science
बभूव स हि राजेन्द्रो दशनागबलान्वित: । अप्यत्र गाथां गायन्ति ये पुराणविदो जना:
babhūva sa hi rājendro daśa-nāga-balānvitaḥ | apy atra gāthāṃ gāyanti ye purāṇavido janāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ce roi possédait, en vérité, la force de dix éléphants. Ô le meilleur des Kuru, les savants qui connaissent l’antique tradition chantent ici une strophe de louange au sujet du roi Vyuṣitāśva : « Ayant conquis la terre jusqu’à l’océan qui l’encerle, il protégea les gens de tous les varṇa comme un père élève ses propres fils légitimes ; et, en accomplissant de grands sacrifices, il combla les brahmanes de richesses. »
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ideal kingship joins power with protection: true royal excellence is not only physical might (symbolized by 'ten-elephant strength') but the ethical duty to nurture and safeguard all people impartially, and to uphold sacred order through yajña and generous giving.
Vaiśampāyana introduces King Vyuṣitāśva by noting his extraordinary strength and then signals that traditional lore-experts recite a gāthā praising him—framing him as a conquering yet benevolent ruler who cared for his subjects like a father and supported Brahmins through sacrificial rites and gifts.