Omens in the Kuru Host and Droṇa’s Recognition of Arjuna (क्लीबवेषधारी पार्थ-परिज्ञानम्)
अर्जुनस्य किलासीस्त्वं सारथिर्दयित: पुरा । त्वयाजयत् सहायेन पृथिवीं पाण्डवर्षभ:,“पहले तुम अर्जुनका प्रिय सारथि रह चुकी हो। तुम्हारी सहायतासे उन पाण्डवशिरोमणिने समूची पृथ्वीपर विजय पायी है
arjunasya kilāsīstvaṃ sārathir dayitaḥ purā | tvayājayat sahāyena pṛthivīṃ pāṇḍavarṣabhaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Sesungguhnya, pada masa dahulu engkau pernah menjadi kusir kesayangan Arjuna. Dengan bantuanmu, lembu jantan di antara para Pāṇḍava itu menakluk seluruh bumi.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical power of loyal service: a trusted aide (sārathi) can decisively enable a hero’s success. It also underscores how past deeds and relationships establish credibility and honor in the present.
Vaiśampāyana recalls a prior association: the addressed person had once been Arjuna’s dear charioteer, and with that support Arjuna (praised as the foremost Pāṇḍava) achieved wide conquest—framing current events through the prestige of earlier victories.