Shloka 62
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
अश्वत्थामा रहस्येषु सर्वेष्वभ्यधिको5भवत् | तथाति पुरुषानन्यान् त्सारुकौ यमजावुभौ,अश्वत्थामा धर्नुर्वेदके रहस्योंकी जानकारीमें सबसे बढ़-चढ़कर हुआ। नकुल और सहदेव दोनों भाई तलवारकी मूठ पकड़कर युद्ध करनेमें अत्यन्त कुशल हुए। वे इस कलामें अन्य सब पुरुषोंसे बढ़-चढ़कर थे
aśvatthāmā rahasyeṣu sarveṣv abhyadhiko 'bhavat | tathāti puruṣān anyān tsārukau yamajāvu bhau ||
Waiśampāyana berkata—Aśvatthāmā menjadi yang paling unggul dalam segala ajaran rahasia (teknik khusus) ilmu memanah. Demikian pula saudara kembar Nakula dan Sahadeva, yang amat terampil bertarung jarak dekat dengan menggenggam hulu pedang; dalam seni itu mereka melampaui para lelaki lainnya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores differentiated excellence: each warrior becomes outstanding through focused training in a particular discipline. In the ethical frame of the epic, such mastery is part of kṣatriya preparation—power is not random but cultivated, and it carries responsibility in later conflicts.
Vaiśampāyana is describing the martial proficiencies of key figures: Aśvatthāmā is foremost in specialized/secret aspects of archery, while the twins Nakula and Sahadeva are portrayed as surpassing others in sword-based close combat.