Shloka 4
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
स ताज्थशिष्यान् महेष्वास: प्रतिजग्राह कौरवान् | पाण्डवान् धार्तराष्ट्रांश् द्रोणो मुदितमानस:,महाधनुर्धर आचार्य द्रोणने प्रसन्नचित्त होकर उन धुृतराष्ट्र-पुत्रों तथा पाण्डवोंको शिष्यरूपमें ग्रहण किया
sa tān śiṣyān maheṣvāsaḥ pratijagrāha kauravān | pāṇḍavān dhārtarāṣṭrāṃś ca droṇo mudita-mānasaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The great archer Droṇa, his mind filled with gladness, accepted those princes as his pupils—both the Kauravas (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and the Pāṇḍavas—thus formally taking responsibility for their training and discipline. The moment underscores the teacher’s duty to impart knowledge impartially, even when future rivalries lie hidden within the same classroom.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the guru’s dharma: to accept and train worthy students with discipline and fairness. Droṇa’s acceptance of both rival lineages points to an ethical ideal of impartial transmission of knowledge, even when personal or political consequences may later arise.
Droṇa formally takes the Kuru princes as his disciples—both the Dhṛtarāṣṭra-born Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas—marking the beginning of their shared martial education under a single teacher.