Shloka 32
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata
Lākṣāgṛha Planning
नसतं प्रतिजग्राह नैषादिरिति चिन्तयन् | शिष्यं धनुषि धर्मज्ञस्तेषामेवान्ववेक्षया
na satam pratijagrāha naiṣādir iti cintayan | śiṣyaṃ dhanuṣi dharmajñas teṣām evānvavekṣayā ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا— “یہ نِشاد کا بیٹا ہے” ایسا سوچ کر دھرم گیانی آچارَیہ نے اسے دھنُروِدیا میں شاگرد کے طور پر قبول نہ کیا۔ صرف کَوروَوں کے مفاد پر نگاہ رکھ کر ہی اس نے ایسا کیا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension: a teacher who is called dharmajña still acts with partiality, letting social identity and political allegiance determine access to knowledge. It invites reflection on how dharma can be compromised by patronage and prejudice.
A would-be student seeks training in archery, but the teacher refuses to accept him as a formal disciple, thinking him to be a Niṣāda’s son. The refusal is motivated by keeping the Kauravas’ interests foremost.