द्रोण उवाच
समम् आचार्यकं तात तव चैवार्जुनस्य च ॥
योगाद् दुःखोचितत्वाच् च तस्मात् त्वत्तो ऽधिको ऽर्जुनः ॥
न तु ते युधि संत्रासः कार्यः पार्थात् कथं चन ॥
अहं हि रक्षिता तात भयात् त्वां नात्र संशयः ॥
droṇa uvāca
samam ācāryakaṃ tāta tava caivārjunasya ca ||
yogād duḥkhocitatvāc ca tasmāt tvatto 'dhiko 'rjunaḥ ||
na tu te yudhi saṃtrāsaḥ kāryaḥ pārthāt kathaṃ cana ||
ahaṃ hi rakṣitā tāta bhayāt tvāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ ||
"Equal was the instruction, son, for you and for Arjuna; but through diligence and through being tempered by hardship, Arjuna is greater than you for that reason. Yet you need not have any terror in battle before Partha, for I shall be your protector from danger, son — of this there is no doubt."
5c0203515b47 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Drona answers honestly, without flattery: "samam ācāryakam… tasmāt tvattaḥ adhiko 'rjunaḥ" — the teaching was equal, but Arjuna surpassed him through diligence and "duḥkhocitatvāt", through being tempered by hardship. The truth is simple: the gift is equal, but its fruits differ by effort and endured trials. It is telling that the teacher does not replace truth with comfort, but adds protection to truth: "aham hi rakṣitā." The verse teaches that superiority is forged not by talent but by labor and steadfastness through trials; and that an honest teacher speaks the truth first, and only then promises help.