वैशंपायन उवाच
विशेषार्थी ततो भीष्मः पौत्राणां विनयेप्सया ॥
इष्वस्त्रज्ञान् पर्यपृच्छद् आचार्यान् वीर्यसंमतान् ॥
नाल्पधीर् नामहाभागस् तथानानास्त्रकोविदः ॥
नादेवसत्त्वो विनयेत् कुरून् अस्त्रे महाबलान् ॥
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
viśeṣārthī tato bhīṣmaḥ pautrāṇāṃ vinayepsayā ||
iṣvastrajñān paryapṛcchad ācāryān vīryasaṃmatān ||
nālpadhīr nāmahābhāgas tathānānāstrakovidaḥ ||
nādevasattvo vinayet kurūn astre mahābalān ||
Vaishampayana said: "Then Bhishma, seeking a special teacher, wishing to train his grandsons, inquired about masters skilled in archery and weaponry, renowned for their valor; for neither one of little intellect, nor one of low birth, nor one unversed in many kinds of weapons, nor one lacking a divine nature could train the mighty Kurus in arms."
713f180d333b · published Jul 12, 2026, 4:53:32 PM UTC
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Here Bhishma seeks the worthiest teacher for the princes. The requirements set for a teacher are telling: high intellect, noble birth, comprehensive knowledge, and a "divine nature" (deva-sattva). This is a lofty understanding of the guru's role: only a great one can teach the great, and a teacher must surpass his students not only in skill but in the dignity of spirit. Notable too is Bhishma's care: he entrusts the princes' upbringing to no ordinary man, but seeks the most perfect. Thus the scripture leads toward the appearance of Drona -- a teacher of wondrous birth and unmatched skill, sent, in effect by providence, to train those through whom the work of dharma will be accomplished.