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 ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Bersama putera-putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra, mereka bermain dengan gembira dan sentiasa ceria. Dalam segala permainan kanak-kanak, mereka terbukti unggul, mengatasi yang lain dengan sinar kewibawaan dan tenaga semula jadi.”
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.