Shloka 71
Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)
एकोच्छवासात् तत: कुण्ड पिबति सम महाबल: । एवमष्टौ स कुण्डानि हापिबत् पाण्डुनन्दन:,वे एक ही साँसमें एक कुण्डका रस पी जाते थे। इस प्रकार उन महाबली पाण्डुनन्दनने आठ कुण्डोंका रस पी लिया
ekocchvāsāt tataḥ kuṇḍaṁ pibati samaḥ mahābalaḥ | evam aṣṭau sa kuṇḍāni ha apibat pāṇḍunandanaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Lalu, dengan satu hembusan nafas sahaja, yang maha perkasa itu meneguk habis isi sebuah takungan. Demikianlah putera Pāṇḍu—berkekuatan besar dan berdisiplin diri—meminum isi lapan takungan sedemikian.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds extraordinary self-mastery and endurance: the hero’s feat is framed not as gluttony but as controlled capacity—strength governed by composure (samaḥ), suggesting that power is ethically praiseworthy when paired with restraint.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a Pāṇḍu’s son drinking the contents of a large vat in a single breath, and repeating this until eight vats are emptied, emphasizing his exceptional physical prowess and steadiness.