“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Desirous of giving his
grandsons a superior education, Bhishma was on the look-out for a teacher
endued with energy and well-skilled in Dhanurveda. O chief of the Bharatas (Janamejaya), O tiger among
men, deciding that none who was not possessed of great intelligence, none who
was not illustrious or a perfect master of Dhanurveda, none who was not of
godlike might, should be the instructor of the Kuru (princes), the son of Gaangeya (Bhishma) placed the Pandavas and the Kauravas under
the tuition of Bharadwaja's son, the intelligent Drona skilled in all the
Vedas. Pleased with the reception given him by the great Bhishma, that foremost
of all men skilled in arms – the respected Drona of world-wide fame, accepted
the princes as his pupils. Drona taught them the Dhanurveda in all its
branches. O monarch (Janamejaya),
both the Kauravas and the Pandavas endued with immeasurable strength, in a
short time became proficient in the use of all kinds of weapons.’
“Janamejaya asked, ‘O Brahmana (Rishi Vaishampaayana), how
was Drona born? How and from where did he acquire his weapons? How and why he came
to the Kurus? Whose son also was he endued with such energy? Again, how was his
son Ashwatthaama, the foremost of all skilled in weapons born? I wish to hear
all this! Please recite them in detail.’
“Vaishampaayana said, ‘There stayed at the source of
the Ganga, a Maharishi named Bharadwaja, continuously observing the most rigid
vows (Vrata in Sanskrit). One day, in ancient times, intending to celebrate the Agnihotra yagna
he went along with many Maharishis to the Ganga to perform his cleansing.
Arrived at the bank of the stream, he saw Ghritaachi herself, that Apsara
endued with youth and beauty, who had gone there a little before. With an
expression of pride in her face, mixed with an attractive lethargy of attitude,
the lady rose from the water after her cleansing were over. As she was gently walking
on the bank, her garment which was loose became disordered. Seeing her garment
disordered, the sage (Bharadwaja)
was attacked with burning kaamaa. The next moment his vital (reproductive) fluid came out, in consequence of the
violence of his emotion. The Rishi immediately held it in a vessel called a drona
(pot). O king (Janamejaya), then Drona sprang from the fluid thus
preserved in that vessel by the wise Bharadwaja. The child thus born studied
all the Vedas and their branches. Before now, Bharadwaja of great skills and
the foremost of those possessing a knowledge of weapons, had communicated to
the illustrious (Rishi) Agninishta,
a knowledge of the weapon called Agneya. O foremost one of Bharata's race (Janamejaya), the Rishi (Agninishta) sprung from fire now communicated the
knowledge of that great weapon (Agneya)
to Drona, the son of his Guru.
“There was a king named Prishata who was a great
friend of Bharadwaja. About this time, Prishata had a son born to him, named
Drupada. That bull among Kshatriyas - Drupada, the son of (king) Prishata, used every
day to come to the ashrama of Bharadwaja to play with Drona and study in his
company. O monarch (Janamejaya),
when Prishata was dead, this Drupada of mighty arms became the king of the
northern Panchalas. About this time, the illustrious Bharadwaja also ascended
to heaven. Drona continuing to reside in his father's ashrama devoted himself
to severe Tapas. Having become well-versed in the Vedas and their branches and
having burnt also all his sins by Tapas, the celebrated Drona, obedient to the directions
of his father and moved by the desire of offspring married Kripi, the daughter
of Sharadvata. This woman, ever engaged in acts of Dharma and the Agnihotra,
and the severest of penances, obtained a son named Ashwatthaama. As soon as
Ashwatthaama was born, he cried like the (divine) horse Ucchaihsravas. Hearing that cry, an invisible being in the skies
said, ‘The voice of this child has, like the cry of a horse, been audible all
around. The child shall, therefore, be known by the name of Ashwatthaama (the
horse-voiced).’ The son of Bharadwaja (Drona) was exceedingly glad at having obtained
that child. Continuing to reside in that ashrama he devoted himself to the
study of Dhanurveda.
“O king (Janamejaya), it was about this time that Drona heard
that the illustrious Brahmana Jamadagnya (Parasurama), that slayer of enemies, that foremost one among all wielders of
weapons, versed in all kinds of knowledge, had expressed a desire of giving
away all his wealth to Brahmanas. Having heard of (Parasu)Rama's knowledge of weapons and of his divine
weapons also, Drona set his heart upon them as also upon the knowledge of Dharma
that (Parasu)Rama possessed. Then
Drona of mighty arms, endued with high Tapas virtues, accompanied by disciples
who were all devoted to vows of severe Tapas, set out for the Mahendragiri (present-day
Mahendragiri at the Paralakhemundi (or Parlakimidi) subdivision of the Gajapati
district, Odisha, India). Arrived at
Mahendra, the son of Bharadwaja (Drona)
possessed of high merit of Tapas, saw the son of Bhrigu (Parasurama), the destroyer of all enemies, endued with
great patience and with mind under complete control. Then, approaching with his
disciples, that scion of the Bhrigu race (Parasurama), Drona announced to him his name, told him of his birth in the line of
Angiras. Touching the ground with his head, he worshipped (Parasu)Rama's feet. Seeing the respected son of
Jamadagni (Parasurama) intent upon
retiring into the forest after having given away all his wealth, Drona said, ‘Know
me to have sprung from Bharadwaja, but not in any woman's womb! I am a Brahmana
of high birth, Drona by name, come to you with the desire of obtaining your
wealth.’
“On hearing him (Drona), that respected grinder of the Kshatriya
race (Parasurama) replied, ‘You are
welcome, O best of Dwijas (Dwija means twice-born, while the first birth is
natural, the second birth occurs upon the realization of the Supreme Soul)! Tell me what you desire. Thus addressed
by (Parasu)Rama, the son of
Bharadwaja (Drona) replied to that
foremost of all attackers (Parasurama),
desirous of giving away the whole of his wealth, ‘O you of numerous vows (Vrata
in Sanskrit), I am a candidate for your
eternal wealth.’ (Parasu)Rama
responded, ‘O you of wealth of Tapas (Drona), my gold and whatever other wealth I had, have all been given away to
Brahmanas! This earth also, to the verge of the sea, decked with towns and
cities, as with a garland of flowers, I have given to (Maharishi) Kaashyapa. I have now my body only and my
various valuable weapons left. I am prepared to give either my body or my
weapons. Say which would you have! I would give it you! Say quickly!’
“Drona answered, ‘O son of Bhrigu (Parasurama), it is your
responsibility to give me all your weapons together with the mysteries of
hurling and recalling them.’
“Saying,
‘So be it,’ the son of Bhrigu (Parasurama)
gave all his weapons to Drona,--indeed, the whole Dhanurveda with its rules and
mysteries. Accepting them all, and thinking himself amply rewarded that best of
Brahmanas (Drona) then, glad at
heart, set out, for (the city of)
his friend Drupada.’”
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