Shloka 39
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
स कृष्णं मलदिग्धाड़ंं कृष्णाजिनजटाधरम् | नैषादिं श्वा समालक्ष्य भषंस्तस्थौ तदन्तिके
sa kṛṣṇaṃ maladigdhāṅgaṃ kṛṣṇājinajaṭādharam | naiṣādiṃ śvā samālakṣya bhaśaṃstasthau tadantike ||
એકલવ્ય શ્યામવર્ણનો હતો; તેના અંગો પર મેલ ચોંટેલો હતો અને તેણે કાળા મૃગચર્મ તથા જટા ધારણ કરી હતી. નિષાદપુત્રને આ રૂપમાં જોઈ કૂતરું ભસતું ભસતું તેની નજીક ઊભું રહી ગયું.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas-like discipline and simplicity: Ekalavya’s ascetic appearance signals committed self-training. It also hints at the ethical tension between inner merit (effort, restraint) and outer social labeling (being identified as a Niṣāda), a recurring Mahābhārata concern in discussions of dharma and recognition.
Vaiśampāyana describes a Niṣāda youth (understood in context as Ekalavya) in an austere forest guise—dark, dirt-smeared, wearing antelope-skin and matted hair. A dog sees him, barks, and stands near him, setting up the ensuing episode involving the dog and the discovery of the youth’s extraordinary skill.