Shloka 15
Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)
धार्तराष्ट्रश्न सहिता: क्रीडन्तो मुदिता: सुखम् । बालक्रीडासु सर्वासु विशिष्टास्तेजसा भवन्
dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ sahitāḥ krīḍanto muditāḥ sukham | bālakrīḍāsu sarvāsu viśiṣṭās tejasā bhavan ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Bersama putra-putra Dhṛtarāṣṭra mereka bermain dengan gembira dan senantiasa ceria. Dalam setiap permainan masa kanak-kanak, mereka tampak unggul, melampaui yang lain karena kilau daya dan keteguhan bawaan mereka.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how innate tejas (brilliance and vigor) manifests early and becomes visible even in play; it implicitly suggests that character and capability are formed and revealed from childhood, foreshadowing later excellence and rivalry.
Vaiśampāyana describes the princes spending their childhood together with Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, playing happily; in all games, they stand out as superior due to their tejas.