Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
आरिराधयिषुर्देव॑ त्रिदशानां तमीश्वरम् सूर्येण सह धर्मात्मा पर्यतप्पत भारत
ārīrādhayiṣur deva tridāśānāṃ tam īśvaram | sūryeṇa saha dharmātmā paryatappata bhārata ||
โอ ภารตะ! ด้วยปรารถนาจะบูชาสนองพระทัยเทพผู้เป็นเจ้าแห่งไตรทศ ปาณฑุผู้ทรงธรรมจึงบำเพ็ญตบะเคียงคู่สุริยะ ดุจถูกเผาด้วยความเพียรอันมีวินัย
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights tapas guided by dharma: disciplined austerity and devotion are presented as ethical means to seek divine grace, emphasizing inner righteousness (dharmātmā) rather than mere power-seeking.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a righteous figure, intent on pleasing the Lord of the Thirty-three gods, undertakes intense austerities in association with Sūrya, indicating a deliberate act of worship and self-discipline within the unfolding Adi Parva story.