Shloka 49
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
अथ कस्मान्मद्विशिष्टो लोकादपि च वीर्यवान् । अन्यो<5स्ति भवत: शिष्यो निषादाधिपते: सुत:,फिर आपका यह अन्य शिष्य निषादराजका पुत्र अस्त्र-विद्यामें मुझसे बढ़कर कुशल और सम्पूर्ण लोकसे भी अधिक पराक्रमी कैसे हुआ?
arjuna uvāca |
atha kasmān mad-viśiṣṭo lokād api ca vīryavān |
anyo 'sti bhavataḥ śiṣyo niṣādādhipateḥ sutaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Arjuna: “Kung gayon, bakit may isa pang alagad mo—ang anak ng pinunong Niṣāda—na higit sa akin sa sining ng sandata, at may lakas na wari’y lumalampas pa sa buong daigdig? Paano nangyari ito?”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical tension between personal entitlement and true merit: Arjuna’s sense of promised preeminence is challenged by the existence of a more capable practitioner. It raises questions about fairness in access to knowledge, the responsibilities of a teacher, and how ego and status can distort one’s response to excellence.
Arjuna confronts his teacher (Drona) after encountering the extraordinary skill of the Niṣāda chief’s son (Ekalavya). He asks how Drona can have another disciple who surpasses him in martial prowess, implying a breach of Drona’s earlier assurance that Arjuna would be foremost among his students.