Shloka 26
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
स हि ब्राह्मणवेषेण क्षात्रं वेगमसंशयम् | प्रतिहन्ति महेष्वासो भारद्वाजो महामना:
sa hi brāhmaṇaveṣeṇa kṣātraṃ vegam asaṃśayam | pratihanti maheṣvāso bhāradvājo mahāmanāḥ ||
स हि ब्राह्मणवेषेण क्षात्रं वेगमसंशयम्। प्रतिहन्ति महेष्वासो भारद्वाजो महामनाः॥
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true power is not only physical or martial (kṣātra-vega); spiritual-intellectual potency and disciplined authority (implied brahmatejas) can restrain and redirect violent force. It also cautions against judging capability solely by external role or attire.
A brāhmaṇa speaker describes Droṇa—identified by his Bhāradvāja lineage—as a mighty archer who, though appearing in brāhmaṇa guise, is fully capable of countering and suppressing kṣatriya martial force.