Shloka 20
अर्जुन: परमं यत्नमातिष्ठद् गुरुपूजने । अस्त्रे च परम॑ योगं प्रियो द्रोणस्प चाभवत्,अतः वे वारुणास्त्रसे तुरंत ही अपना कमण्डलु भरकर आचार्यपुत्रके साथ ही गुरुके समीप आ जाते थे, इसलिये आचार्यपुत्रसे किसी भी गुणकी वृद्धिमें वे अलग या पीछे न रहे। यही कारण था कि मेधावी अर्जुन अश्व॒त्थामासे किसी बातमें कम न रहे। वे अस्त्रवेत्ताओंमें सबसे श्रेष्ठ थे। अर्जुन अपने गुरुदेवकी सेवा-पूजाके लिये भी उत्तम यत्न करते थे। अस्त्रोंके अभ्यासमें भी उनकी अच्छी लगन थी। इसीलिये वे ट्रोणाचार्यके बड़े प्रिय हो गये
arjunaḥ paramaṁ yatnam ātiṣṭhad gurupūjane | astre ca paramaṁ yogaṁ priyo droṇasya cābhavat |
Vaiśampāyana said: Arjuna applied the utmost effort to honoring and serving his teacher. He also pursued the highest discipline in the practice of weapons; therefore he became especially dear to Droṇa. The narrative underscores that excellence in learning is joined to humility and devoted service to one’s instructor, and that such disciplined conduct naturally wins a teacher’s trust and favor.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True mastery is supported by character: Arjuna’s excellence arises from combining rigorous practice (yoga in astra-vidyā) with respectful service and honor toward the teacher (gurupūjana), showing that learning and ethics should advance together.
Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna’s conduct during training under Droṇa: he strives intensely in serving his guru and in weapons-practice, and as a result he becomes especially dear to Droṇa.