Shloka 27
Kalmāṣapāda’s Encounter with Śakti and the Escalation of the Vasiṣṭha–Viśvāmitra Feud (कल्माषपाद–शक्ति प्रसङ्गः)
एवमन्योन्यमुक्त्वा तौ कृत्वा सख्यमनुत्तमम् । जम्मतुद्रोणपाञउ्चाल्यौ यथागतमरिंदमौ,शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले द्रोणाचार्य और द्रुपद एक दूसरेसे उपर्युक्त बातें कहकर परम उत्तम मैत्रीभाव स्थापित करके इच्छानुसार अपने-अपने स्थानको चले गये
evam anyonyam uktvā tau kṛtvā sakhyam anuttamam | jagmatu droṇapāñcālyau yathāgatam ariṃdamau ||
Having thus spoken to one another, the two established an unsurpassed bond of friendship. Then Droṇa and the Pāñcāla prince Drupada—both subduers of foes—departed, each returning as he had come, to his own place. The passage underscores how mutual speech and agreement can forge powerful alliances, even among those destined to become adversaries later, highlighting the ethical weight of promises and friendship in dharma.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic power of truthful, mutual speech to establish binding friendship (sakhya). It also implicitly warns that such bonds carry ethical obligations, even when later circumstances may strain or overturn them.
Droṇa and Drupada, after exchanging words and forming an excellent friendship, part ways and return to their respective homes—an early moment that sets the background for their later, famous enmity.