Shloka 11
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
अर्चयित्वा यथान्यायमुपयाजमुवाच स: । येन मे कर्मणा ब्रह्मन् पुत्र: स्याद् द्रोणमृत्यवे
arcayitvā yathānyāyam upayājam uvāca saḥ | yena me karmaṇā brahman putraḥ syād droṇamṛtyave ||
યથાન્યાય ઉપયાજનું અર્ચન કરીને રાજાએ કહ્યું—“હે બ્રાહ્મણ! કયા કર્મથી મને એવો પુત્ર મળે, જે દ્રોણના મૃત્યુનું કારણ બને?”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension: ritual power (karma) can be sought for aims that are morally ambiguous. Proper worship and procedure are observed, yet the intention is retaliatory—showing that dharmic forms do not automatically guarantee dharmic ends.
After honoring the priest Upayāja, Drupada asks for a specific rite that will grant him a son destined to kill Droṇa. This sets the stage for the later emergence of a warrior-son born for a targeted purpose within the unfolding conflict.