Shloka 39
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
स कृष्णं मलदिग्धाड़ंं कृष्णाजिनजटाधरम् | नैषादिं श्वा समालक्ष्य भषंस्तस्थौ तदन्तिके,एकलव्यके शरीरका रंग काला था। उसके अंगोंमें मैल जम गया था और उसने काला मृगचर्म एवं जटा धारण कर रखी थी। निषादपुत्रको इस रूपमें देखकर वह कुत्ता भौं-भौं करके भूकता हुआ उसके पास खड़ा हो गया
sa kṛṣṇaṃ maladigdhāṅgaṃ kṛṣṇājinajaṭādharam | naiṣādiṃ śvā samālakṣya bhaśaṃstasthau tadantike ||
ఏకలవ్యుడు శ్యామవర్ణుడు; అతని అవయవాలపై మలినం అంటి ఉంది; అతడు కృష్ణమృగచర్మాన్ని, జటలను ధరించాడు. ఆ నిషాద యువకుణ్ని అలా చూసిన కుక్క గట్టిగా మొరిగుతూ అతని దగ్గర నిలబడింది.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas-like discipline and simplicity: Ekalavya’s ascetic appearance signals committed self-training. It also hints at the ethical tension between inner merit (effort, restraint) and outer social labeling (being identified as a Niṣāda), a recurring Mahābhārata concern in discussions of dharma and recognition.
Vaiśampāyana describes a Niṣāda youth (understood in context as Ekalavya) in an austere forest guise—dark, dirt-smeared, wearing antelope-skin and matted hair. A dog sees him, barks, and stands near him, setting up the ensuing episode involving the dog and the discovery of the youth’s extraordinary skill.