“The Brahmana said, ‘At that region where the Ganga
entered the plains there lived a Maharishi, devoted to the severest of
penances. Of rigid vows (Vrata in Sanskrit) and great wisdom, he bore the name
Bharadwaja. One day, on coming to the Ganga to perform his bathing, the Rishi
saw the Apsara Ghritachi, who had come before, standing on the bank after her bathing
were over. It so happened that a wind arose and took the garments of the Apsara
standing there. The Rishi seeing her thus disrobed, felt the influence of kaamaa.
Though practising the vow of Brahmacharya from his very youth, as soon as he
felt the influence of kaamaa, the Rishi's vital fluid came out. As it came out,
he held it in a pot (Drana), and of
that fluid thus preserved in a pot was born a son who came to be called Drona (the
pot-born).
“Drona studied all the Vedas and their several
branches (Vedangas in Sanskrit). Bharadwaja had a friend named Prishata, who was the king of
Panchalas. About the time that Drona was born, Prishata also obtained a son
named Drupada. That bull amongst Kshatriyas, Prishata's son (Drupada), going every day to that ashrama of
Bharadwaja, played and studied with Drona. After Prishata's death, Drupada
succeeded him on the throne. Drona about this time heard that (the great
Brahmana hero) (Parashu) Rama (on the eve of his retiring into
the forest) was resolved to give away
all his wealth.
“Hearing this, the son of Bharadwaja (Drona) travelled to (Parashu) Rama who was about to retire into the forest
and addressing him, said, ‘O best of Brahmanas (Parashurama), know me to be Drona who has come to you
to obtain your wealth.’
“(Parashu) Rama replied, saying, ‘I have given away
everything. All that I now have is this body of mine and my weapons. O
Brahmana, you may ask of me one of these two, either my body or my weapons.’
“Then Drona said, ‘It is your duty, sir, to give me
all your weapons together with (the mysteries of) their use and withdrawal.’
“The Brahmana continued, ‘Then Rama of Bhrigu's race (Parashurama), saying, ‘So be
it,’ gave all his weapons to Drona, who obtaining them regarded himself as
crowned with success. Drona obtaining from (Parashu) Rama the most noble of all weapons, called the Brahmaastra, became
exceedingly glad and acquired a decided superiority over all men. Then the son
of Bharadwaja (Drona), endued with
great skills went to king Drupada, and approaching that monarch, that tiger
among men, said, ‘Know me for your friend.’ Hearing this Drupada said, ‘One of
low birth can never be the friend of one whose lineage is pure, nor can one who
is not a chariot-warrior have a chariot-warrior for his friend. So also one who
is not a king cannot have a king as his friend. Why do you, therefore, desire (to
revive our) former friendship?’
“The Brahmana continued, ‘Drona, gifted with great
intelligence, was extremely ashamed at this, and settling in his mind some
means of crushing the king of the Panchala he went to the capital of the Kurus,
called after the name of an elephant (Hastinapura). Then Bhishma, taking with him his
grandsons, presented them to the wise son of Bharadwaja as his pupils for
instruction, along with various kinds of wealth. Then Drona, desirous of insulting
king Drupada, called together his disciples and addressed them, ‘O sinless
ones, after you have been accomplished in arms, it is your duty to give me as Guru
fee (Guru Dakshina in Sanskrit)
something that I cherish in my heart.’
“Then Arjuna and others said to their Guru, ‘So be
it.’--After a time when the Pandavas became skilled in arms and sure aims,
demanding of them his fee, he again told them these words, ‘Drupada, the son of
Prishata, is the king of Chhatravati. Take away from him his kingdom, and give
it to me.’ Then the Pandavas, defeating Drupada in battle and taking him
prisoner along with his ministers, offered him to Drona, who seeing the
vanquished monarch (Drupada), said, ‘O king, I again solicit your friendship; and because none who
is not a king deserves to be the friend of a king, therefore, O Yagnasena, I am
resolved to divide your kingdom among ourselves. While you art the king of the
country to the south of Bhagirathi (Ganga), I will rule the country to the north.’
“The
Brahmana continued, ‘The king of the Panchalas (Drupada),
thus addressed by the wise son of Bharadwaja, told that best of Brahmanas and
foremost of all persons knowledgeable with weapons, these words, ‘O high-souled
son of Bharadwaja (Drona), blessed
be you, let it be so, let there be eternal friendship between us as you
desire!’ Thus addressing each other and establishing a permanent bond between
themselves, Drona and the king of Panchala, both of them punishers of enemies,
went away to the places they came from. But the thought of that shame did not
leave the king's mind for a single moment. Sad at heart, the king began to
waste away.’”
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