Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
वृष्णयश्चान्धकाश्रैव नानादेश्याश्न पार्थिवा: | सूतपुत्रश्न राधेयो गुरु द्रोणमियात् तदा,वृष्णिवंशी तथा अन्धकवंशी क्षत्रिय, नाना देशोंके राजकुमार तथा राधानन्दन सूतपुत्र कर्ण--ये सभी आचार्य द्रोणके पास (अस्त्र-शिक्षा लेनेके लिये) आये
vṛṣṇayaścāndhakāścaiva nānādeśyāś ca pārthivāḥ | sūtaputraś ca rādhēyo guruṃ droṇam iyāt tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kaum Vṛṣṇi dan Andhaka, bersama para putera raja dari pelbagai negeri, serta Rādheya—Karna, anak seorang kusir—pada ketika itu mendatangi guru Droṇa untuk menerima ajaran ilmu persenjataan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
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.