Shloka 1
धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः
Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue
ऑपन--माजल छा अ<-छऋाञ एकोनत्रिशदधिकशततमो< ध्याय: कृपाचार्य, द्रोण और अश्वत्थामाकी उत्पत्ति तथा द्रोणको परशुरामजीसे अस्त्र-शस्त्रकी प्राप्तिकी कथा जनमेजय उवाच कृपस्यापि मम ब्रद्मान् सम्भवं वक्तुमरहसि । शरस्तम्बात् कथं जज्ञे कथं वास्त्राण्यवाप्तवान्,जनमेजयने पूछा--्रह्मन्! कृपाचार्यका जन्म किस प्रकार हुआ? यह मुझे बतानेकी कृपा करें। वे सरकंडेके समूहसे किस तरह उत्पन्न हुए एवं उन्होंने किस प्रकार अस्त्र- शस्त्रोंकी शिक्षा प्राप्त की?
Janamejaya uvāca | Kṛpasyāpi mama brahman sambhavaṁ vaktum arhasi | śarastambāt kathaṁ jajñe kathaṁ vā astrāṇy avāptavān ||
Janamejaya said: “O Brahmin, please tell me also of Kṛpa’s origin. How was he born from a clump of reeds, and how did he come to obtain the knowledge and mastery of weapons and missiles?”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the Mahābhārata’s ethical interest in origins and education: a warrior-teacher’s authority is traced not only to birth but also to the disciplined acquisition of astras (martial knowledge), emphasizing accountable transmission of power.
In the Janamejaya–sage dialogue, Janamejaya requests the sage to narrate Kṛpa’s birth—said to be from a clump of reeds—and to explain how Kṛpa obtained training and mastery in weapons, setting up the forthcoming backstory.