Shloka 82
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
धनुर्वेदं चिकीर्षन्तो द्रोणपुत्रस्य धीमत: । युवा रूपेण सम्पन्नो दर्शनीयो महायशा:
dhanuर्वedaṃ cikīrṣanto droṇaputrasya dhīmataḥ | yuvā rūpeṇa sampanno darśanīyo mahāyaśāḥ ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— ധനുർവേദം അഭ്യസിക്കുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവർ ധീമാനായ ദ്രോണപുത്രനെ സമീപിച്ചു; അവൻ യൗവനസൗന്ദര്യസമ്പന്നൻ, ദർശനീയൻ, മഹായശസ്സുള്ളവൻ.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the pursuit of specialized knowledge (dhanurveda) under a qualified teacher, and how reputation and outward excellence often accompany—or at least frame—martial education in the epic’s ethical world.
Vaiśampāyana describes a figure intent on learning archery connected with Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman, portraying him as youthful, handsome, and already celebrated—setting the tone for his role amid the war narrative.