Shloka 5
Adhyāya 2: Nārada’s Disclosure—Karṇa’s Training and the Brahmin’s Curse (Śānti-parva)
स बालस्तेजसा युक्तः सूतपुत्रत्वमागतः । चकाराद्िरसां श्रेष्ठाद् धनुर्वेदं गुरोस्तदा
sa bālas tejasā yuktaḥ sūtaputratvam āgataḥ | cakārāṅgirasāṃ śreṣṭhād dhanurvedaṃ guros tadā ||
Sejak kecil ia dianugerahi sinar keunggulan bawaan, namun di mata dunia ia dikenal sebagai putra seorang sais kereta. Pada masa itu pula ia mempelajari ilmu memanah (dhanurveda) dari gurunya, Drona—yang termasyhur di antara garis keturunan Āṅgirasa.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that innate excellence (tejas) can exist regardless of social label, but it becomes effective and ethically directed through disciplined learning under a qualified guru; reputation and birth-identity may shape how society sees a person, yet training and character shape what the person becomes.
Nārada describes a gifted boy who becomes publicly known as a sūtaputra and, at that stage of his life, studies Dhanurveda under Droṇa, described as foremost among the Āṅgirasa Brahmins—establishing the boy’s martial education and the authority of his teacher.