Shloka 68
Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)
रसं पिबेत् कुमारो<यं त्वयि प्रीते महाबल: । बल॑ नागसहस्रस्य यस्मिन् कुण्डे प्रतिष्ठितम्
rasaṃ pibet kumāro ’yaṃ tvayi prīte mahābalaḥ | balaṃ nāgasahasrasya yasmin kuṇḍe pratiṣṭhitam ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच— त्वयि प्रीते महाबलः कुमारोऽयं तवाज्ञया तस्मात् कुण्डाद् रसं पिबेत्, यस्मिन् कुण्डे नागसहस्रस्य बलं प्रतिष्ठितम्।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary power is not to be seized impulsively; it is to be received through proper authorization and the satisfaction of the one who grants access, emphasizing restraint, legitimacy, and responsibility in acquiring strength.
The narrator states that a certain prince, once the addressed authority is pleased, should be allowed to drink a potent essence from a pool that confers the strength of a thousand elephants—indicating a sanctioned bestowal of superhuman power.