SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - AADI PARVA - SAMBHAVA (UPA) PARVA - PART 132

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Then, O king (Janamejaya), the mighty son of Bharadwaja (Drona) presented himself before Drupada, and addressing that monarch, said, ‘Know me for your friend.’ Thus addressed by his friend, the son of Bharadwaja, with a joyous heart, the lord of the Panchalas (Drupada) was unable to bear that speech. The king (Drupada), intoxicated with the pride of wealth, contracted his (eye)brows in anger, and with reddened eyes spoke these words to Drona, ‘O Brahmana (Drona), your intelligence is scarcely of a high order, to the extent that as you say to me, all on a sudden, that you are my friend! O you of dull understanding, great kings can never be friends with such luckless and poor persons like you! It is true there had been friendship between you and me before, for we were then both equally circumstanced (as students). But Time that damages everything in its path, damages friendship also. In this world, friendship never lasts forever in any heart. Time damages it off and anger destroys it too. Do not stick, therefore, to that worn-off friendship. Think not of it any longer. O first of Brahmanas (Drona), the friendship I had with you was for a particular purpose. Friendship can never survive between a poor man and a rich man, between an educated and an illiterate, between a hero and a coward. Why do you desire the continuance of our former friendship? There may be friendship or hostility between persons equally situated as to wealth or might. The poor and the rich can neither be friends nor quarrel with each other. One of impure birth can never be a friend to one of pure birth; one who is not a chariot-warrior can never be a friend to one who is so; and one who is not a king never have a king for his friend. Therefore, why do you desire the continuance of our former friendship?’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by Drupada, the mighty son of Bharadwaja (Drona) became filled with anger, and thinking for a moment, made up his mind as to his course of action. Seeing the disrespectful behaviour of the Panchala king (Drupada), he wished to check it effectually. Quickly leaving the Panchala capital, Drona bent his steps towards the capital of the Kurus, named after the elephant (Hastinapura).’”