Shloka 53
धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः
Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue
ततः स व्रतिभि: शिष्यैस्तपोयुक्तैर्महातपा: । वृत: प्रायान्महाबाहुर्महेन्द्रं पर्वतोत्तमम्,फिर ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतका पालन करनेवाले तपस्वी शिष्योंसे घिरे हुए महातपस्वी महाबाहु द्रोण परम उत्तम महेन्द्र पर्वतपर गये
tataḥ sa vratibhiḥ śiṣyais tapoyuktair mahātapāḥ | vṛtaḥ prāyān mahābāhur mahendraṃ parvatottamam ||
Kemudian sang pertapa agung, Droṇa yang berlengan perkasa, dikelilingi para muridnya yang berdisiplin—teguh dalam tapa dan menjalankan kaul brahmacarya—berangkat menuju Mahendra, gunung yang paling utama.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic discipline: vows (vrata), austerity (tapas), and the teacher–disciple community. Ethical strength is shown as arising from self-restraint and committed study, which enable purposeful action and higher pursuits.
The narrator states that the great ascetic, accompanied by vow-keeping, austerity-practicing disciples, departs and goes to Mahendra—described as an excellent mountain—marking a transition to an episode connected with that sacred/remote location.