Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)
धार्तराष्ट्रश्न सहिता: क्रीडन्तो मुदिता: सुखम् । बालक्रीडासु सर्वासु विशिष्टास्तेजसा भवन्
dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ sahitāḥ krīḍanto muditāḥ sukham | bālakrīḍāsu sarvāsu viśiṣṭās tejasā bhavan ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「ドリタラーシュトラの子らと共に、彼らは楽しげに遊び、つねに朗らかであった。あらゆる子どもの遊戯において、天賦の輝きと精力によって群を抜き、他を凌駕した。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how innate tejas (brilliance and vigor) manifests early and becomes visible even in play; it implicitly suggests that character and capability are formed and revealed from childhood, foreshadowing later excellence and rivalry.
Vaiśampāyana describes the princes spending their childhood together with Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, playing happily; in all games, they stand out as superior due to their tejas.