Shloka 53
धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः
Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue
ततः स व्रतिभि: शिष्यैस्तपोयुक्तैर्महातपा: । वृत: प्रायान्महाबाहुर्महेन्द्रं पर्वतोत्तमम्,फिर ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतका पालन करनेवाले तपस्वी शिष्योंसे घिरे हुए महातपस्वी महाबाहु द्रोण परम उत्तम महेन्द्र पर्वतपर गये
tataḥ sa vratibhiḥ śiṣyais tapoyuktair mahātapāḥ | vṛtaḥ prāyān mahābāhur mahendraṃ parvatottamam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Kemudian pertapa agung itu—Droṇa yang berlengan perkasa—dikelilingi para murid yang berdisiplin, tekun bertapa dan memegang ikrar brahmacarya, lalu berangkat menuju Mahendra, gunung yang paling unggul antara segala gunung.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic discipline: vows (vrata), austerity (tapas), and the teacher–disciple community. Ethical strength is shown as arising from self-restraint and committed study, which enable purposeful action and higher pursuits.
The narrator states that the great ascetic, accompanied by vow-keeping, austerity-practicing disciples, departs and goes to Mahendra—described as an excellent mountain—marking a transition to an episode connected with that sacred/remote location.