Mahabharata · 1.223.20–21
॥
Devanāgarī
वैशंपायन उवाच
एवम् उक्तो जातवेदा द्रोणेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ॥
द्रोणम् आह प्रतीतात्मा मन्दपालप्रतिज्ञया ॥
ऋषिर् द्रोणस् त्वम् असि वै ब्रह्मैतद् व्याहृतं त्वया ॥
ईप्सितं ते करिष्यामि न च ते विद्यते भयम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
evam ukto jātavedā droṇenākliṣṭakarmaṇā ||
droṇam āha pratītātmā mandapālapratijñayā ||
ṛṣir droṇas tvam asi vai brahmaitad vyāhṛtaṃ tvayā ||
īpsitaṃ te kariṣyāmi na ca te vidyate bhayam ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
एवम् उक्तः जातवेदाः द्रोणेन अक्लिष्टकर्मणाevam uktaḥ jātavedāḥ droṇena akliṣṭakarmaṇāthus questioned by Drona, tireless in deeds, Jatavedas,
द्रोणम् आह प्रतीतात्मा मन्दपालप्रतिज्ञयाdroṇam āha pratītātmā mandapālapratijñayāsaid to Drona, rejoicing in spirit, [remembering] his promise to Mandapala:
ऋषिः द्रोणः त्वम् असि वै ब्रह्म एतत् व्याहृतं त्वयाṛṣiḥ droṇaḥ tvam asi vai brahma etat vyāhṛtaṃ tvayāyou are the rishi Drona; this sacred Brahman has been uttered by you;
ईप्सितं ते करिष्यामि न च ते विद्यते भयम्īpsitaṃ te kariṣyāmi na ca te vidyate bhayamI will do what you desire; and there is no fear for you;
वैशंपायनvaiśaṃpāyanaoriginal form "vaiśaṃpāyana", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
उक्तोuktooriginal form "ukto", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
जातवेदाjātavedāoriginal form "jātavedā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
द्रोणेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणाdroṇenākliṣṭakarmaṇāoriginal form "droṇenākliṣṭakarmaṇā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ऋषिर्ṛṣiroriginal form "ṛṣir", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
द्रोणस्droṇasoriginal form "droṇas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ब्रह्मैतद्brahmaitadoriginal form "brahmaitad", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
Agni said: "Thus questioned by Drona, tireless in deeds, Jatavedas, rejoicing in spirit, remembering his promise to Mandapala, said to Drona: 'You are the rishi Drona; this sacred Brahman has been uttered by you; I will do what you desire; and there is no fear for you.'"
Version
8894b6adfc23 · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:20:36 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the god honors wisdom in the form of a small fledgling. It is significant that Agni calls the fledgling "the rishi Drona" and his praise "Brahman": not outward form but knowledge reveals the true rishi. Greatness of spirit does not depend on the body's shape. Thus scripture reveals Agni's favor toward the wisdom of the fledglings -- and he promises them safety.