Shloka 39
Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)
विशन्ति सम तदा वीरा: सिंहा इव गिरेगुहाम् | उद्यानमभिपश्यन्तो भ्रातर: सर्व एव ते
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
viśanti sma tadā vīrāḥ siṃhā iva gire guhām |
udyānam abhipaśyanto bhrātaraḥ sarva eva te ||
அப்போது அந்த வீர சகோதரர்கள் அனைவரும் தோட்டத்தை நோக்கிக் கொண்டே ஒருசேர உள்ளே நுழைந்தனர்—மலைக் குகையில் சிங்கங்கள் நுழைவதுபோல்.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a simile—lions entering a mountain cave—to highlight royal confidence and collective momentum. Ethically, it hints that impressive outward bearing can accompany actions that later become entangled with adharma; one should judge not by splendor or bravado but by intention and consequence.
All the brothers (Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas) proceed into a pleasure-garden, admiring its beauty, entering together with the assuredness of lions entering a cave—setting the stage for events in the grove.