उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५४: दुर्योधनस्य धृतराष्ट्रं प्रति बलप्रशंसन-युक्तः आश्वासनवादः
Duryodhana’s Reassurance and Force-Praise to Dhritarashtra
कृपश्चाचार्यमुख्यो5यं महर्षेगौॉतमादपि
kṛpaś cācāryamukhyo ’yaṃ maharṣe gautamād api
ఈ కృపుడు ఆచార్యులలో అగ్రగణ్యుడు; మహర్షి గౌతమునికన్నా కూడా మరింత పూజ్యుడు.
दुर्योधन उवाच
The verse highlights the cultural-ethical weight of the ācārya (teacher) as a supreme authority figure; by elevating Kṛpa’s status above even a famed ṛṣi like Gautama, Duryodhana underscores that counsel and legitimacy in crisis are sought from revered elders and preceptors.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Duryodhana is speaking and invokes Kṛpa’s eminence—calling him the foremost teacher and exceptionally venerable—likely to strengthen his position by appealing to respected authority within the Kuru court.