Shloka 17
त्वद्धितार्थ च नैषादिरड्गुछ्ेन वियोजित: । द्रोणेनाचार्यक॑ कृत्वा छद्मना सत्यविक्रम:,तुम्हारे हितके लिये ही द्रोणाचार्यने सत्यपराक्रमी एकलव्यका आचार्यत्व करके छलपूर्वक उसका अँगूठा कटवा दिया था
tvaddhitārthaṃ ca naiṣādir aṅguṣṭhena viyojitaḥ | droṇenācāryakaṃ kṛtvā chadmanā satyavikramaḥ ||
Dan demi kepentinganmu jugalah pemuda Niṣāda itu (Ekalavya) dipisahkan daripada ibu jarinya. Droṇa, setelah menerimanya sebagai murid hanya pada nama, dengan tipu daya menyebabkan Ekalavya yang gagah lagi setia itu memotong ibu jarinya—agar keunggulanmu tidak tergugat.
श्रीवायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a morally charged tension between personal loyalty and ethical conduct: actions taken to secure one person’s advantage (protecting a favored disciple’s supremacy) can involve deception and harm to another who is genuinely talented. It invites reflection on dharma in the guru’s role and the cost of partiality.
Vāyudeva explains that Droṇa, under the pretext of being Ekalavya’s teacher, demanded a ‘guru-fee’ and had Ekalavya’s thumb cut off. The stated motive is to safeguard the addressee’s interests—traditionally understood as preserving Arjuna’s unmatched status in archery.