01.121
Core-Pancharatra:Background story of Drona.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
viśeṣārthī tato bhīṣmaḥ pautrāṇāṁ vinayepsayā । iṣvastrajñān paryapṛcchad ācāryān vīryasaṁmatān ॥1॥
Then Bhīṣma, desiring training for the grandsons, sought out teachers skilled in archery and approved for their valor.
nālpadhīr nāma-hābhāgas tathānānāstrakovidaḥ । nādevasattvo vinayet kurūn astre mahābalān ॥2॥
One who is of little intellect, not greatly fortunate, unskilled in weapons, or lacking divine vigor, should not train the mighty Kurus in arms.
maharṣis tu bharadvājo havirdhāne caran purā । dadarśāpsarasaṁ sākṣād ghṛtācīm āplutām ṛṣiḥ ॥3॥
Formerly, while moving in the sacrificial area, the great sage Bharadvāja saw directly the nymph Ghṛtācī who was bathing.
tasyā vāyuḥ samuddhūto vasanaṁ vyapakarṣata । tato'sya retaś caskanda tad ṛṣir droṇa ādadhe ॥4॥
The wind stirred and pulled away her garment, and his semen was discharged, which the sage placed into a vessel — that became Droṇa.
tasmin samabhavad droṇaḥ kalaśe tasya dhīmataḥ । adhyagīṣṭa sa vedāṁś ca vedāṅgāni ca sarvaśaḥ ॥5॥
Droṇa was born in that vessel of the wise sage, and he thoroughly studied the Vedas and their limbs.
agniveśyaṁ mahābhāgaṁ bharadvājaḥ pratāpavān । pratyapādayad āgneyam astraṁ dharmabhṛtāṁ varaḥ ॥6॥
Bharadvāja, the mighty sage and best among the righteous, imparted the fiery weapon to the fortunate Agniveśya.
agniṣṭuḥ jātaḥ sa muniḥ tato bharatasattama । bhāradvājaṁ tad āgneyam mahāstraṁ pratyapādayat ॥7॥
O best of Bharatas, that sage born of Agni then imparted the great fiery weapon to Bharadvāja.
bharadvājasakhā cāsīt pṛṣato nāma pārthivaḥ । tasyāpi drupado nāma tadā samabhavat sutaḥ ॥8॥
There was a king named Pṛṣata, a friend of Bharadvāja, whose son born then was named Drupada.
sa nityam āśramaṁ gatvā droṇena saha pārṣataḥ । cikrīḍādhyayanaṁ caiva cakāra kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ ॥9॥
The son of Pṛṣata, a bull among Kṣatriyas, daily went to the hermitage and studied and played with Droṇa.
tato vyatīte pṛṣate sa rājā drupado'bhavat । pāñcāleṣu mahābāhur uttareṣu nareśvaraḥ ॥10॥
After Pṛṣata passed away, his son Drupada became king of the Pāñcālas and lord of men in the northern regions.
bharadvājo'pi bhagavān āruroha divaṁ tadā । tataḥ pitṛniyuktātmā putralobhān mahāyaśāḥ ॥ śāravatīṁ tato droṇaḥ kṛpīṁ bhāryām avindata ॥11॥
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.
agnihotre ca dharme ca dame ca satataṁ ratā । alabhad gautamī putram aśvatthāmānam eva ca ॥12॥
Gautamī, constantly devoted to sacrificial rites, righteousness, and self-restraint, bore a son — Aśvatthāmā.
sa jāta-mātro vyanadad yathaiva uccaiḥśravā hayaḥ । tac chrutvā antarhitaṁ bhūtam antarikṣastham abravīt ॥13॥
As soon as he was born, he neighed like the celestial horse Uccaiḥśravā. Hearing that, a hidden being in the sky spoke.
aśvasyaiva asya yat sthāma nadataḥ pradiśo gatam । aśvatthāmā eva bālo'yaṁ tasmān nāmnā bhaviṣyati ॥14॥
Since this child’s neighing spread to all directions like that of a horse, he will be named Aśvatthāmā.
sutenā tena suprīto bhāradvājas tato'bhavat । tatraiva ca vasan dhīmān dhanurvedaparo'bhavat ॥15॥
Bharadvāja became greatly pleased with that son and, dwelling there, the wise one became devoted to the science of archery.
sa śuśrāva mahātmānaṁ jāmadagnyaṁ parantapam । brāhmaṇebhyas tadā rājan ditsantaṁ vasu sarvaśaḥ ॥16॥
O king, he then heard of the great-souled Jamadagni’s son, the scorcher of foes, giving away all his wealth to Brāhmaṇas.
vanaṁ tu prasthitaṁ rāmaṁ bhāradvājas tadā abravīt । āgataṁ vittakāmaṁ māṁ viddhi droṇaṁ dvijarṣabham ॥17॥
As Rāma was departing for the forest, Bharadvāja said, “Know me, Droṇa, the bull among Brāhmaṇas, who has come desiring wealth.”
rāma uvāca॥
Rāma said.
hiraṇyaṁ mama yac cānyad vasu kiñcana vidyate । brāhmaṇebhyo mayā dattaṁ sarvam eva tapodhana ॥18॥
O ascetic, whatever gold or other wealth I possessed has all been given to the Brāhmaṇas.
tathaiveyaṁ dharā devī sāgarāntā sapattanā । kaśyapāya mayā dattā kṛtsnā nagaramālinī ॥19॥
Likewise, this earth-goddess, extending to the oceans and adorned with cities, has been entirely given by me to Kaśyapa.
śarīramātram evādya mayedam avaśeṣitam । astrāṇi ca mahārhāṇi śastrāṇi vividhāni ca ॥ vṛṇīṣva kiṁ prayacchāmi tubhyaṁ droṇa vadāśu tat ॥20॥
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.
droṇa uvāca॥
Droṇa said.
astrāṇi me samagrāṇi sasaṁhārāṇi bhārgava । saprayogarahas yāni dātum arhasy aśeṣataḥ ॥21॥
O Bhārgava, you ought to give me all the weapons completely, along with their withdrawal modes, usage, and secrets.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tathety uktvā tataḥ tasmai prādād astrāṇi bhārgavaḥ । sarahasyavrataṁ caiva dhanurvedam aśeṣataḥ ॥22॥
Having said “So be it,” Bhārgava gave him all the weapons, along with secret practices and the entire science of archery.
pratigṛhya tu tat sarvaṁ kṛtāstro dvijasattamaḥ । priyaṁ sakhāyaṁ suprīto jagāma drupadaṁ prati ॥23॥
Having received all that, the best among Brāhmaṇas, now armed with weapons, happily went toward his dear friend Drupada.
