Shloka 11
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
वृष्णयश्चान्धकाश्रैव नानादेश्याश्न पार्थिवा: | सूतपुत्रश्न राधेयो गुरु द्रोणमियात् तदा
vṛṣṇayaścāndhakāścaiva nānādeśyāś ca pārthivāḥ | sūtaputraś ca rādhēyo guruṃ droṇam iyāt tadā ||
ವೃಷ್ಣಿವಂಶೀಯರೂ ಅಂಧಕವಂಶೀಯರೂ, ನಾನಾದೇಶಗಳ ರಾಜಕುಮಾರರೂ, ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ರಾಧೆಯನಾದ ಸೂತಪುತ್ರ ಕರ್ಣನೂ—ಇವರೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಆ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಗುರು ದ್ರೋಣನ ಬಳಿಗೆ (ಅಸ್ತ್ರಶಿಕ್ಷೆಗೆ) ಬಂದರು.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal that kṣatriya power must be disciplined through formal training under a qualified guru. It also foregrounds the ethical tension between social identity (e.g., 'sūtaputra') and merit in learning, a theme that later becomes significant in Karṇa’s life.
Various royal youths—Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, and princes from many regions—arrive to study under Droṇa. Karṇa (Rādheya), identified as a charioteer’s son, also comes at that time to seek instruction in weapons.