Shloka 25
अर्जुनस्य रथाश्वमोचनं कृष्णस्याश्वसेवा च
Arjuna’s Horses Freed; Krishna’s Equine Service
द्रोण उदाच सममाचार्यकं तात तव चैवार्जुनस्य च । योगाद् दुःखोषितत्वाच्च तस्मात्त्वतोडधिको<र्जुन:,द्रोणाचार्यने कहा--तात! यद्यपि तुम्हारा और अर्जुनका आचार्यत्व मैंने समानरूपसे ही किया है, तथापि सम्पूर्ण दिव्यास्त्रोंकी प्राप्ति एवं अभ्यास और क्लेशसहनकी दृष्टिसे अर्जुन तुमसे बढ़े-चढ़े हैं
sañjaya uvāca | droṇa uvāca samam ācāryakaṃ tāta tava caivārjunasya ca | yogād duḥkhoṣitatvāc ca tasmāt tvato 'dhiko 'rjunaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: Drona said, “Dear one, although I have instructed you and Arjuna with equal care as your teacher, yet Arjuna surpasses you—because of his disciplined application and because he has endured hardship in sustained practice. Therefore, in attainment and training, Arjuna is greater than you.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Equal instruction does not guarantee equal outcome; disciplined application (yoga) and the capacity to endure hardship in practice are decisive factors in excellence. The verse highlights merit arising from sustained effort rather than mere access to a teacher.
Within Sanjaya’s narration, Drona reflects on having taught both a listener (addressed as ‘tāta’) and Arjuna equally, yet acknowledges Arjuna’s superiority due to greater disciplined practice and endurance—implicitly explaining why Arjuna’s martial attainments exceed others’.