Shloka 3
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
पज्चालराजं ट्रुपदं गृहीत्वा रणमूर्धनि । पर्यानयत भद्र व: सा स्थात् परमदक्षिणा
Pañcālarājaṃ Drupadaṃ gṛhītvā raṇamūrdhani | paryānayata bhadra vaḥ sā syāt paramadakṣiṇā ||
“Wahai murid-muridku! Tangkap Drupada, raja Pañcāla, di tengah medan perang, dan bawalah ia kepadaku. Semoga kebaikan menyertai kalian. Itulah guru-dakṣiṇā tertinggi bagiku.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the traditional obligation of dakṣiṇā (a student’s offering to the teacher) and shows how duty can become ethically complex when a guru frames a personal objective as a ‘highest’ fee, binding disciples to act in war for the sake of loyalty.
A teacher instructs his disciples to capture Drupada, king of the Pañcālas, during battle and bring him as the guru’s dakṣiṇā—setting up a conflict where martial success is demanded as repayment for instruction.