01.121
Core-Pancharatra:Background story of Drona.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
विशेषार्थी ततो भीष्मः पौत्राणां विनयेप्सया । इष्वस्त्रज्ञान् पर्यपृच्छदाचार्यान्वीर्यसंमतान् ॥१-१२१-१॥
Then Bhīṣma, desiring training for the grandsons, sought out teachers skilled in archery and approved for their valor.
नाल्पधीर्नामहाभागस्तथानानास्त्रकोविदः । नादेवसत्त्वो विनयेत्कुरूनस्त्रे महाबलान् ॥१-१२१-२॥
One who is of little intellect, not greatly fortunate, unskilled in weapons, or lacking divine vigor, should not train the mighty Kurus in arms.
महर्षिस्तु भरद्वाजो हविर्धाने चरन्पुरा । ददर्शाप्सरसं साक्षाद्घृताचीमाप्लुतामृषिः ॥१-१२१-३॥
Formerly, while moving in the sacrificial area, the great sage Bharadvāja saw directly the nymph Ghṛtācī who was bathing.
तस्या वायुः समुद्धूतो वसनं व्यपकर्षत । ततोऽस्य रेतश्चस्कन्द तदृषिर्द्रोण आदधे ॥१-१२१-४॥
The wind stirred and pulled away her garment, and his semen was discharged, which the sage placed into a vessel — that became Droṇa.
तस्मिन्समभवद्द्रोणः कलशे तस्य धीमतः । अध्यगीष्ट स वेदांश्च वेदाङ्गानि च सर्वशः ॥१-१२१-५॥
Droṇa was born in that vessel of the wise sage, and he thoroughly studied the Vedas and their limbs.
अग्निवेश्यं महाभागं भरद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । प्रत्यपादयदाग्नेयमस्त्रं धर्मभृतां वरः ॥१-१२१-६॥
Bharadvāja, the mighty sage and best among the righteous, imparted the fiery weapon to the fortunate Agniveśya.
अग्निष्टुज्जातः स मुनिस्ततो भरतसत्तम । भारद्वाजं तदाग्नेयं महास्त्रं प्रत्यपादयत् ॥१-१२१-७॥
O best of Bharatas, that sage born of Agni then imparted the great fiery weapon to Bharadvāja.
भरद्वाजसखा चासीत्पृषतो नाम पार्थिवः । तस्यापि द्रुपदो नाम तदा समभवत्सुतः ॥१-१२१-८॥
There was a king named Pṛṣata, a friend of Bharadvāja, whose son born then was named Drupada.
स नित्यमाश्रमं गत्वा द्रोणेन सह पार्षतः । चिक्रीडाध्ययनं चैव चकार क्षत्रियर्षभः ॥१-१२१-९॥
The son of Pṛṣata, a bull among Kṣatriyas, daily went to the hermitage and studied and played with Droṇa.
ततो व्यतीते पृषते स राजा द्रुपदोऽभवत् । पाञ्चालेषु महाबाहुरुत्तरेषु नरेश्वरः ॥१-१२१-१०॥
After Pṛṣata passed away, his son Drupada became king of the Pāñcālas and lord of men in the northern regions.
भरद्वाजोऽपि भगवानारुरोह दिवं तदा । ततः पितृनियुक्तात्मा पुत्रलोभान्महायशाः ॥ शारद्वतीं ततो द्रोणः कृपीं भार्यामविन्दत ॥१-१२१-११॥
Then the blessed Bharadvāja ascended to heaven; thereafter, the highly renowned Droṇa, prompted by his father and longing for a son, obtained Kṛpī, daughter of Śāradvat, as his wife.
अग्निहोत्रे च धर्मे च दमे च सततं रता । अलभद्गौतमी पुत्रमश्वत्थामानमेव च ॥१-१२१-१२॥
Gautamī, constantly devoted to sacrificial rites, righteousness, and self-restraint, bore a son — Aśvatthāmā.
स जातमात्रो व्यनदद्यथैवोच्चैःश्रवा हयः । तच्छ्रुत्वान्तर्हितं भूतमन्तरिक्षस्थमब्रवीत् ॥१-१२१-१३॥
As soon as he was born, he neighed like the celestial horse Uccaiḥśravā. Hearing that, a hidden being in the sky spoke.
अश्वस्येवास्य यत्स्थाम नदतः प्रदिशो गतम् । अश्वत्थामैव बालोऽयं तस्मान्नाम्ना भविष्यति ॥१-१२१-१४॥
Since this child’s neighing spread to all directions like that of a horse, he will be named Aśvatthāmā.
सुतेन तेन सुप्रीतो भारद्वाजस्ततोऽभवत् । तत्रैव च वसन्धीमान्धनुर्वेदपरोऽभवत् ॥१-१२१-१५॥
Bharadvāja became greatly pleased with that son and, dwelling there, the wise one became devoted to the science of archery.
स शुश्राव महात्मानं जामदग्न्यं परन्तपम् । ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तदा राजन्दित्सन्तं वसु सर्वशः ॥१-१२१-१६॥
O king, he then heard of the great-souled Jamadagni’s son, the scorcher of foes, giving away all his wealth to Brāhmaṇas.
वनं तु प्रस्थितं रामं भारद्वाजस्तदाब्रवीत् । आगतं वित्तकामं मां विद्धि द्रोणं द्विजर्षभम् ॥१-१२१-१७॥
As Rāma was departing for the forest, Bharadvāja said, “Know me, Droṇa, the bull among Brāhmaṇas, who has come desiring wealth.”
राम उवाच॥
Rāma said.
हिरण्यं मम यच्चान्यद्वसु किञ्चन विद्यते । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो मया दत्तं सर्वमेव तपोधन ॥१-१२१-१८॥
O ascetic, whatever gold or other wealth I possessed has all been given to the Brāhmaṇas.
तथैवेयं धरा देवी सागरान्ता सपत्तना । कश्यपाय मया दत्ता कृत्स्ना नगरमालिनी ॥१-१२१-१९॥
Likewise, this earth-goddess, extending to the oceans and adorned with cities, has been entirely given by me to Kaśyapa.
शरीरमात्रमेवाद्य मयेदमवशेषितम् । अस्त्राणि च महार्हाणि शस्त्राणि विविधानि च ॥ वृणीष्व किं प्रयच्छामि तुभ्यं द्रोण वदाशु तत् ॥१-१२१-२०॥
Today, only this body remains with me; I have given away all valuable missiles and various weapons. Choose — what shall I give you, Droṇa? Speak quickly.
द्रोण उवाच॥
Droṇa said.
अस्त्राणि मे समग्राणि ससंहाराणि भार्गव । सप्रयोगरहस्यानि दातुमर्हस्यशेषतः ॥१-१२१-२१॥
O Bhārgava, you ought to give me all the weapons completely, along with their withdrawal modes, usage, and secrets.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तथेत्युक्त्वा ततस्तस्मै प्रादादस्त्राणि भार्गवः । सरहस्यव्रतं चैव धनुर्वेदमशेषतः ॥१-१२१-२२॥
Having said “So be it,” Bhārgava gave him all the weapons, along with secret practices and the entire science of archery.
प्रतिगृह्य तु तत्सर्वं कृतास्त्रो द्विजसत्तमः । प्रियं सखायं सुप्रीतो जगाम द्रुपदं प्रति ॥१-१२१-२३॥
Having received all that, the best among Brāhmaṇas, now armed with weapons, happily went toward his dear friend Drupada.
