Shloka 71
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च यं त॑ वेदविदो विदु: । वरिष्ठ चित्रकर्माणं द्रोणं स्वकुलवर्धनम्,वेदवेत्ता विद्वान् द्रोणको धनुर्वेद और वेद दोनोंमें सर्वश्रेष्ठ मानते थे। वे विचित्र कर्म करनेवाले तथा अपने कुलकी मर्यादाको बढ़ानेवाले थे
dhanurvede ca vede ca yaṃ ta vedavido viduḥ | variṣṭhaṃ citrakarmāṇaṃ droṇaṃ svakulavardhanam ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ceux qui étaient instruits dans les Vedas reconnaissaient Droṇa comme éminent à la fois dans la science de l’arc et dans le savoir védique. Illustre par des actes extraordinaires et par l’accroissement de l’honneur de sa lignée, il se tenait comme une autorité première, joignant la connaissance sacrée à la discipline guerrière.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Excellence is portrayed as integrated mastery: Droṇa is esteemed not only for martial skill (dhanurveda) but also for sacred learning (veda). The verse links knowledge, disciplined action, and the responsibility to uphold and enhance one’s lineage and social standing within dharma.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana characterizes Droṇa’s reputation: learned authorities acknowledge him as foremost in both archery-science and Vedic knowledge, highlighting his extraordinary capability and his role in elevating his family’s honor—setting the stage for his importance as a central teacher in the epic.