भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल २६ श्लोक हैं) ऑपन-माजल छा अकाल सप्तत्रिशर्दाधिकशततमोब< ध्याय: द्रोणका शिष्योंद्वारा द्रपदपर आक्रमण करवाना
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | Pāṇḍavān dhārtarāṣṭrāṁś ca kṛtāstrān prasmīkṣya saḥ | gurvarthaṁ dakṣiṇākāle prāpte ’manyata vai guruḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Melihat para Pāṇḍava dan putra-putra Dhṛtarāṣṭra telah mahir sepenuhnya dalam ilmu senjata, sang guru Droṇa menyadari bahwa saat menerima guru-dakṣiṇā telah tiba, lalu menetapkan suatu tekad dalam benaknya demi maksudnya sendiri.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical tension around guru-dakṣiṇā: once learning is complete, students owe gratitude and service, yet a teacher’s demand must remain within dharma. It foreshadows how personal motives can enter institutional duties, raising questions about the rightful scope of authority and the moral responsibility of both teacher and disciple.
Droṇa observes that both the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas have completed their weapons training. He then recognizes that the customary moment for receiving guru-dakṣiṇā has arrived and privately forms a plan—setting up the subsequent demand that will drive the next events of the chapter.