Shloka 21
अध्याय ५०: उत्तरेण सह अर्जुनस्य रथप्रयाणे ध्वजचिह्नैः कौरवसेनानिर्देशः
Arjuna directs Uttara by identifying Kaurava commanders through banners
पुत्रादनन्तरं शिष्य इति धर्मविदो विदु: । एतेनापि निमित्तेन प्रियो द्रोणस्य पाण्डव:
putrād anantaraṁ śiṣya iti dharmavido viduḥ | etena api nimittena priyo droṇasya pāṇḍavaḥ ||
ผู้รู้ธรรมย่อมถือว่า หลังจากบุตรแล้ว ศิษย์คือผู้เป็นที่รักยิ่ง ด้วยเหตุนี้เอง ปาณฑพอรชุนจึงเป็นที่รักของโทรณาจารย์ ดังนั้นโทรณาจารย์ย่อมสมควรกล่าวสรรเสริญเขา
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharma-based social ethic: a worthy disciple is regarded as nearly as dear as one’s own son, underscoring the sanctity of the guru–śiṣya bond and legitimizing a teacher’s special affection and praise for an exemplary student.
Kṛpa explains why Droṇa’s favorable words about Arjuna are natural and justified: since dharma-teachers consider a disciple second only to a son in affection, Droṇa’s fondness for Arjuna provides an additional reason for praising him.