01.122
Core-Pancharatra:Bhishma appoints Drona as teacher for Kurus.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततो द्रुपदमासाद्य भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । अब्रवीत्पार्षतं राजन्सखायं विद्धि मामिति ॥१-१२२-१॥
Then the mighty Bhāradvāja approached Drupada and said, “O king, know me as your friend.”
द्रुपद उवाच॥
Drupada said:
अकृतेयं तव प्रज्ञा ब्रह्मन्नातिसमञ्जसी । यन्मां ब्रवीषि प्रसभं सखा तेऽहमिति द्विज ॥१-१२२-२॥
This intellect of yours is immature, O brāhmaṇa, and not very proper—since you forcibly say to me, “I am your friend,” O twice-born.
न हि राज्ञामुदीर्णानामेवं भूतैर्नरैः क्वचित् । सख्यं भवति मन्दात्मञ्श्रिया हीनैर्धनच्युतैः ॥१-१२२-३॥
For kings of exalted status never befriend such men as these—O dull-souled one—who are deprived of wealth and destitute of riches.
सौहृदान्यपि जीर्यन्ते कालेन परिजीर्यताम् । सौहृदं मे त्वया ह्यासीत्पूर्वं सामर्थ्यबन्धनम् ॥१-१२२-४॥
Even friendships decay with time; let them decay. My friendship with you, indeed, was formerly bound by mutual strength.
न सख्यमजरं लोके जातु दृश्येत कर्हिचित् । कामो वैनं विहरति क्रोधश्चैनं प्रवृश्चति ॥१-१२२-५॥
Friendship that does not decay is never seen in this world. Desire plays with it, and anger tears it apart.
मैवं जीर्णमुपासिष्ठाः सख्यं नवमुपाकुरु । आसीत्सख्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ त्वया मेऽर्थनिबन्धनम् ॥१-१२२-६॥
Do not seek this decayed friendship—form a new one. Our former friendship, O best of brāhmaṇas, was based on advantage.
न दरिद्रो वसुमतो नाविद्वान्विदुषः सखा । शूरस्य न सखा क्लीबः सखिपूर्वं किमिष्यते ॥१-१२२-७॥
The poor is no friend of the wealthy, nor the ignorant of the wise. A coward is no friend of the brave—what worth is former friendship?
ययोरेव समं वित्तं ययोरेव समं कुलम् । तयोः सख्यं विवाहश्च न तु पुष्टविपुष्टयोः ॥१-१२२-८॥
Only those of equal wealth and equal lineage form friendships and marriages—not the prosperous with the destitute.
नाश्रोत्रियः श्रोत्रियस्य नारथी रथिनः सखा । नाराज्ञा सङ्गतं राज्ञः सखिपूर्वं किमिष्यते ॥१-१२२-९॥
An unlearned man is no friend to the learned, nor is the non-charioteer to the warrior. What worth is a past friendship to one who is not a king?
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
द्रुपदेनैवमुक्तस्तु भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । मुहूर्तं चिन्तयामास मन्युनाभिपरिप्लुतः ॥१-१२२-१०॥
Thus addressed by Drupada, the mighty Bhāradvāja stood silently for a moment, overwhelmed by anger.
स विनिश्चित्य मनसा पाञ्चालं प्रति बुद्धिमान् । जगाम कुरुमुख्यानां नगरं नागसाह्वयम् ॥१-१२२-११॥
He, the intelligent one, having firmly resolved in mind to move against Pāñcāla, went to the city of the chief Kurus, called Nāgasāhvaya.
कुमारास्त्वथ निष्क्रम्य समेता गजसाह्वयात् । क्रीडन्तो वीटया तत्र वीराः पर्यचरन्मुदा ॥१-१२२-१२॥
Then the princes, having come out together from Gajasāhvaya, joyfully roamed about there, playing with a ball.
पपात कूपे सा वीटा तेषां वै क्रीडतां तदा । न च ते प्रत्यपद्यन्त कर्म वीटोपलब्धये ॥१-१२२-१३॥
That ball of the boys playing then fell into a well, and they did not take up the task of retrieving it.
अथ द्रोणः कुमारांस्तान्दृष्ट्वा कृत्यवतस्तदा । प्रहस्य मन्दं पैशल्यादभ्यभाषत वीर्यवान् ॥१-१२२-१४॥
Then Droṇa, seeing the princes puzzled, softly laughed and spoke, skilled as he was from Pañcāla, being powerful.
अहो नु धिग्बलं क्षात्रं धिगेतां वः कृतास्त्रताम् । भरतस्यान्वये जाता ये वीटां नाधिगच्छत ॥१-१२२-१५॥
Ah! Shame on the strength of warriors, shame on your learned weaponry—you who are born in the lineage of Bharata, and cannot retrieve a ball.
एष मुष्टिरिषीकाणां मयास्त्रेणाभिमन्त्रितः । अस्य वीर्यं निरीक्षध्वं यदन्यस्य न विद्यते ॥१-१२२-१६॥
This bundle of grass, consecrated by me with a weapon-mantra—observe its power, which no other possesses.
वेत्स्यामीषीकया वीटां तामिषीकामथान्यया । तामन्यया समायोगो वीटाया ग्रहणे मम ॥१-१२२-१७॥
I shall retrieve the ball with a reed—this reed joined with another, forming my means of capture.
तदपश्यन्कुमारास्ते विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनाः । अवेष्क्य चोद्धृतां वीटां वीटावेद्धारमब्रुवन् ॥१-१२२-१८॥
Seeing that, the princes, their eyes wide with wonder, beheld the retrieved ball and said to the one who pierced it.
अभिवादयामहे ब्रह्मन्नैतदन्येषु विद्यते । कोऽसि कं त्वाभिजानीमो वयं किं करवामहे ॥१-१२२-१९॥
We salute you, O brāhmaṇa. This is not seen in others. Who are you? Whom do we recognize you as? What shall we do?
द्रोण उवाच॥
Droṇa said:
आचक्षध्वं च भीष्माय रूपेण च गुणैश्च माम् । स एव सुमहाबुद्धिः साम्प्रतं प्रतिपत्स्यते ॥१-१२२-२०॥
Report me to Bhīṣma, both by appearance and qualities. He of great intellect will now understand me.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु ते सर्वे भीष्ममूचुः पितामहम् । ब्राह्मणस्य वचस्तथ्यं तच्च कर्मविशेषवत् ॥१-१२२-२१॥
Saying "so be it," all of them spoke to Bhīṣma, the grandsire, that the brāhmaṇa's words were true and marked by exceptional action.
भीष्मः श्रुत्वा कुमाराणां द्रोणं तं प्रत्यजानत । युक्तरूपः स हि गुरुरित्येवमनुचिन्त्य च ॥१-१२२-२२॥
Bhīṣma, having heard the princes, recognized that person as Droṇa, and thought thus: “Indeed, he is a fitting teacher.”
अथैनमानीय तदा स्वयमेव सुसत्कृतम् । परिपप्रच्छ निपुणं भीष्मः शस्त्रभृतां वरः ॥ हेतुमागमने तस्य द्रोणः सर्वं न्यवेदयत् ॥१-१२२-२३॥
Then Bhīṣma, the best among warriors, personally brought him in with honor and thoroughly asked the reason for his coming; Droṇa revealed everything.
महर्षेरग्निवेश्यस्य सकाशमहमच्युत । अस्त्रार्थमगमं पूर्वं धनुर्वेदजिघृक्षया ॥१-१२२-२४॥
O sinless one, I had gone earlier to the great seer Agniveśya to acquire knowledge of weapons, desiring to master Dhanurveda.
ब्रह्मचारी विनीतात्मा जटिलो बहुलाः समाः । अवसं तत्र सुचिरं धनुर्वेदचिकीर्षया ॥१-१२२-२५॥
As a celibate, self-disciplined, matted-haired student, I stayed there for many years with the intent to master Dhanurveda.
पाञ्चालराजपुत्रस्तु यज्ञसेनो महाबलः । मया सहाकरोद्विद्यां गुरोः श्राम्यन्समाहितः ॥१-१२२-२६॥
Indeed, the powerful prince of Pāñcāla, Yajñasena, studied with me, laboring and focused under the teacher.
स मे तत्र सखा चासीदुपकारी प्रियश्च मे । तेनाहं सह सङ्गम्य रतवान्सुचिरं बत ॥ बाल्यात्प्रभृति कौरव्य सहाध्ययनमेव च ॥१-१२२-२७॥
There he was my friend, helpful and dear to me. With him, I delighted in long companionship and joint study from childhood, O Kaurava.
स समासाद्य मां तत्र प्रियकारी प्रियंवदः । अब्रवीदिति मां भीष्म वचनं प्रीतिवर्धनम् ॥१-१२२-२८॥
O Bhīṣma, he who was affectionate and sweet-spoken approached me and said this joy-increasing statement.
अहं प्रियतमः पुत्रः पितुर्द्रोण महात्मनः । अभिषेक्ष्यति मां राज्ये स पाञ्चाल्यो यदा तदा ॥१-१२२-२९॥
I, the dearest son of my great-souled father Droṇa, shall be consecrated as king by the Pāñcāla prince—when that time comes.
त्वद्भोज्यं भविता राज्यं सखे सत्येन ते शपे । मम भोगाश्च वित्तं च त्वदधीनं सुखानि च ॥१-१२२-३०॥
O friend, I swear to you truthfully—the kingdom shall be yours to enjoy; my pleasures, wealth, and enjoyments shall be under your control.
एवमुक्तः प्रवव्राज कृतास्त्रोऽहं धनेप्सया । अभिषिक्तं च श्रुत्वैनं कृतार्थोऽस्मीति चिन्तयन् ॥१-१२२-३१॥
Thus addressed, I departed, having mastered the weapons, with a desire for wealth, thinking, “Having heard he is consecrated, I am fulfilled.”
प्रियं सखायं सुप्रीतो राज्यस्थं पुनराव्रजम् । संस्मरन् सङ्गमं चैव वचनं चैव तस्य तत् ॥१-१२२-३२॥
Well-pleased, I returned again to my dear friend established in the kingdom, remembering our past union and his words.
ततो द्रुपदमागम्य सखिपूर्वमहं प्रभो । अब्रुवं पुरुषव्याघ्र सखायं विद्धि मामिति ॥१-१२२-३३॥
Then, O lord, having approached Drupada as a former friend, I said, “O tiger among men, know me to be your friend.”
उपस्थितं तु द्रुपदः सखिवच्चाभिसङ्गतम् । स मां निराकारमिव प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥१-१२२-३४॥
Drupada, though I approached like a friend, saw me and, smiling as if unacquainted, said this.
अकृतेयं तव प्रज्ञा ब्रह्मन्नातिसमञ्जसी । यदात्थ मां त्वं प्रसभं सखा तेऽहमिति द्विज ॥१-१२२-३५॥
O brāhmaṇa, your understanding is undeveloped and improper if you forcibly call me your friend, O twice-born one.
न हि राज्ञामुदीर्णानामेवम्भूतैर्नरैः क्वचित् । सख्यं भवति मन्दात्मञ्श्रिया हीनैर्धनच्युतैः ॥१-१२२-३६॥
Friendship never exists between exalted kings and such persons, O dull-souled one, who lack splendor and have fallen from wealth.
नाश्रोत्रियः श्रोत्रियस्य नारथी रथिनः सखा । नाराजा पार्थिवस्यापि सखिपूर्वं किमिष्यते ॥१-१२२-३७॥
One unversed is not a friend of the learned, nor is a non-warrior friend to the warrior; even a king is not accepted as a friend to a prince simply due to past ties.
द्रुपदेनैवमुक्तोऽहं मन्युनाभिपरिप्लुतः । अभ्यागच्छं कुरून्भीष्म शिष्यैरर्थी गुणान्वितैः ॥१-१२२-३८॥
Thus addressed by Drupada and overcome with anger, I came to the Kurus, O Bhīṣma, with worthy disciples, seeking aid.
प्रतिजग्राह तं भीष्मो गुरुं पाण्डुसुतैः सह । पौत्रानादाय तान्सर्वान्वसूनि विविधानि च ॥१-१२२-३९॥
Bhīṣma accepted him as the teacher along with the sons of Pāṇḍu, taking all of them, his grandsons, as the various Vasus.
शिष्याः इति ददौ राजन्द्रोणाय विधिपूर्वकम् । स च शिष्यान् महेष्वासः प्रतिजग्राह कौरवान् ॥१-१२२-४०॥
O king, he formally gave them to Droṇa as disciples, and the great archer accepted the Kauravas as his students.
प्रतिगृह्य च तान्सर्वान्द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत् । रहस्येकः प्रतीतात्मा कृतोपसदनांस्तदा ॥१-१२२-४१॥
Having accepted them all, Droṇa, confident in mind, spoke alone in private to those who had performed the proper rites.
कार्यं मे काङ्क्षितं किञ्चिद्धृदि सम्परिवर्तते । कृतास्त्रैस्तत्प्रदेयं मे तदृतं वदतानघाः ॥१-१२२-४२॥
There is a task I desire that revolves in my heart. That must be done for me by those trained in arms. Speak truly, O faultless ones.
तच्छ्रुत्वा कौरवेयास्ते तूष्णीमासन्विशां पते । अर्जुनस्तु ततः सर्वं प्रतिजज्ञे परन्तपः ॥१-१२२-४३॥
Hearing that, the sons of Kuru remained silent, O lord of men. But Arjuna, scorcher of foes, then promised to fulfill it entirely.
ततोऽर्जुनं मूर्ध्नि तदा समाघ्राय पुनः पुनः । प्रीतिपूर्वं परिष्वज्य प्ररुरोद मुदा तदा ॥१-१२२-४४॥
Then, kissing Arjuna’s head again and again and embracing him with affection, Droṇa wept with joy.
ततो द्रोणः पाण्डुपुत्रानस्त्राणि विविधानि च । ग्राहयामास दिव्यानि मानुषाणि च वीर्यवान् ॥१-१२२-४५॥
Then mighty Droṇa taught the Pāṇḍava princes various weapons, both divine and human.
राजपुत्रास्तथैवान्ये समेत्य भरतर्षभ । अभिजग्मुस्ततो द्रोणमस्त्रार्थे द्विजसत्तमम् ॥ वृष्णयश्चान्धकाश्चैव नानादेश्याश्च पार्थिवाः ॥१-१२२-४६॥
O best of Bharatas, many other princes too assembled and approached Droṇa, the best of Brāhmaṇas, for learning weapons — including the Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, and kings from various regions.
सूतपुत्रश्च राधेयो गुरुं द्रोणमियात्तदा । स्पर्धमानस्तु पार्थेन सूतपुत्रोऽत्यमर्षणः ॥ दुर्योधनमुपाश्रित्य पाण्डवानत्यमन्यत ॥१-१२२-४७॥
The charioteer’s son Karṇa also approached Droṇa as teacher, competing with Arjuna and highly intolerant, he took refuge in Duryodhana and greatly despised the Pāṇḍavas.
