01.122
Core-Pancharatra:Bhishma appoints Drona as teacher for Kurus.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tato drupadam āsādya bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān। abravīt pārṣataṁ rājan sakhāyaṁ viddhi mām iti ॥1॥
Then the mighty Bhāradvāja approached Drupada and said, “O king, know me as your friend.”
drupada uvāca॥
Drupada said:
akṛteyaṁ tava prajñā brahman nāti-samañjasī। yan māṁ bravīṣi prasabhaṁ sakhā te'ham iti dvija ॥2॥
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.
na hi rājñām udīrṇānām evaṁ bhūtair naraiḥ kvacit। sakhyaṁ bhavati mandātman śriyā hīnair dhana-cyutaiḥ ॥3॥
For kings of exalted status never befriend such men as these—O dull-souled one—who are deprived of wealth and destitute of riches.
sauhṛdāny api jīryante kālena parijīryatām। sauhṛdaṁ me tvayā hy āsīt pūrvaṁ sāmarthya-bandhanam ॥4॥
Even friendships decay with time; let them decay. My friendship with you, indeed, was formerly bound by mutual strength.
na sakhyam ajaraṁ loke jātu dṛśyeta karhicit। kāmo vai enaṁ viharati krodhaś cainaṁ pravṛścati ॥5॥
Friendship that does not decay is never seen in this world. Desire plays with it, and anger tears it apart.
maivaṁ jīrṇam upāsiṣṭhāḥ sakhyaṁ navam upākuru। āsīt sakhyaṁ dvija-śreṣṭha tvayā me'rtha-nibandhanam ॥6॥
Do not seek this decayed friendship—form a new one. Our former friendship, O best of brāhmaṇas, was based on advantage.
na daridro vasumato nāvidvān viduṣaḥ sakhā। śūrasya na sakhā klībaḥ sakhī-pūrvaṁ kimiṣyate ॥7॥
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?
yayor eva samaṁ vittaṁ yayor eva samaṁ kulam। tayoḥ sakhyaṁ vivāhaś ca na tu puṣṭa-vipuṣṭayoḥ ॥8॥
Only those of equal wealth and equal lineage form friendships and marriages—not the prosperous with the destitute.
nāśrotriyaḥ śrotriyasya nārathī rathinaḥ sakhā। nārājñā saṅgataṁ rājñaḥ sakhī-pūrvaṁ kimiṣyate ॥9॥
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?
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
drupadenaivam uktas tu bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān। muhūrtaṁ cintayām āsa manyunābhipariplutaḥ ॥10॥
Thus addressed by Drupada, the mighty Bhāradvāja stood silently for a moment, overwhelmed by anger.
sa viniścitya manasā pāñcālaṁ prati buddhimān। jagāma kuru-mukhyānāṁ nagaraṁ nāga-sāhvayam ॥11॥
He, the intelligent one, having firmly resolved in mind to move against Pāñcāla, went to the city of the chief Kurus, called Nāgasāhvaya.
kumārās tv atha niṣkramya sametā gaja-sāhvayāt। krīḍanto vīṭayā tatra vīrāḥ paryacaran mudā ॥12॥
Then the princes, having come out together from Gajasāhvaya, joyfully roamed about there, playing with a ball.
papāta kūpe sā vīṭā teṣāṁ vai krīḍatāṁ tadā। na ca te pratyapadyanta karma vīṭopalabdhaye ॥13॥
That ball of the boys playing then fell into a well, and they did not take up the task of retrieving it.
atha droṇaḥ kumārāṁs tān dṛṣṭvā kṛtyavatas tadā। prahasya mandaṁ paiśalyād abhyabhāṣata vīryavān ॥14॥
Then Droṇa, seeing the princes puzzled, softly laughed and spoke, skilled as he was from Pañcāla, being powerful.
aho nu dhigbalaṁ kṣātraṁ dhig etāṁ vaḥ kṛtāstratām। bharatasyānvaye jātā ye vīṭāṁ nādhigacchata ॥15॥
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.
eṣa muṣṭir iṣīkāṇāṁ mayāstreṇābhimantritaḥ। asya vīryaṁ nirīkṣadhvaṁ yad anyasya na vidyate ॥16॥
This bundle of grass, consecrated by me with a weapon-mantra—observe its power, which no other possesses.
vetsyāmīṣīkayā vīṭāṁ tāmiṣīkām athānyayā। tām anyayā samāyogo vīṭāyā grahaṇe mama ॥17॥
I shall retrieve the ball with a reed—this reed joined with another, forming my means of capture.
tad apaśyan kumārās te vismayoṭphulla-locanāḥ। aveṣkya coddhṛtāṁ vīṭāṁ vīṭā-veddhāram abruvan ॥18॥
Seeing that, the princes, their eyes wide with wonder, beheld the retrieved ball and said to the one who pierced it.
abhivādayāmahe brahman naitad anyeṣu vidyate। ko'si kaṁ tvābhijānīmo vayaṁ kiṁ karavāmahe ॥19॥
We salute you, O brāhmaṇa. This is not seen in others. Who are you? Whom do we recognize you as? What shall we do?
droṇa uvāca॥
Droṇa said:
ācakṣadhvaṁ ca bhīṣmāya rūpeṇa ca guṇaiś ca mām। sa eva su-mahā-buddhiḥ sāmprataṁ pratipatsyate ॥20॥
Report me to Bhīṣma, both by appearance and qualities. He of great intellect will now understand me.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tathety uktvā tu te sarve bhīṣmam ūcuḥ pitāmaham। brāhmaṇasya vacas tathyaṁ tac ca karma-viśeṣavat ॥21॥
Saying "so be it," all of them spoke to Bhīṣma, the grandsire, that the brāhmaṇa's words were true and marked by exceptional action.
bhīṣmaḥ śrutvā kumārāṇāṁ droṇaṁ taṁ pratyajānata। yukta-rūpaḥ sa hi gurur ity evam anucintya ca ॥22॥
Bhīṣma, having heard the princes, recognized that person as Droṇa, and thought thus: “Indeed, he is a fitting teacher.”
atha enam ānīya tadā svayam eva susatkṛtam। paripapraccha nipuṇaṁ bhīṣmaḥ śastra-bhṛtāṁ varaḥ। hetum āgamane tasya droṇaḥ sarvaṁ nyavedayat ॥23॥
Then Bhīṣma, the best among warriors, personally brought him in with honor and thoroughly asked the reason for his coming; Droṇa revealed everything.
maharṣer agniveśyasya sakāśam aham acyuta। astrārtham agamaṁ pūrvaṁ dhanur-veda-jighṛkṣayā ॥24॥
O sinless one, I had gone earlier to the great seer Agniveśya to acquire knowledge of weapons, desiring to master Dhanurveda.
brahmacārī vinītātmā jaṭilo bahulāḥ samāḥ। avasaṁ tatra suciraṁ dhanur-veda-cikīrṣayā ॥25॥
As a celibate, self-disciplined, matted-haired student, I stayed there for many years with the intent to master Dhanurveda.
pāñcāla-rāja-putras tu yajñaseno mahābalaḥ। mayā sahākarod vidyāṁ guroḥ śrāmyan samāhitaḥ ॥26॥
Indeed, the powerful prince of Pāñcāla, Yajñasena, studied with me, laboring and focused under the teacher.
sa me tatra sakhā cāsīd upakārī priyaś ca me। tenāhaṁ saha saṅgamya ratavān suciraṁ bata। bālyāt prabhṛti kauravya sahādhyayanam eva ca ॥27॥
There he was my friend, helpful and dear to me. With him, I delighted in long companionship and joint study from childhood, O Kaurava.
sa samāsādya māṁ tatra priyakārī priyaṁvadaḥ। abravīd iti māṁ bhīṣma vacanaṁ prīti-vardhanam ॥28॥
O Bhīṣma, he who was affectionate and sweet-spoken approached me and said this joy-increasing statement.
ahaṁ priyatamaḥ putraḥ pitur droṇa mahātmanaḥ। abhiṣekṣyati māṁ rājye sa pāñcālyo yadā tadā ॥29॥
I, the dearest son of my great-souled father Droṇa, shall be consecrated as king by the Pāñcāla prince—when that time comes.
tvad-bhojyaṁ bhavitā rājyaṁ sakhe satyena te śape। mama bhogāś ca vittaṁ ca tvad-adhīnaṁ sukhāni ca ॥30॥
O friend, I swear to you truthfully—the kingdom shall be yours to enjoy; my pleasures, wealth, and enjoyments shall be under your control.
evam uktaḥ pravavrāja kṛtāstro'ham dhanepsayā। abhiṣiktaṁ ca śrutvainaṁ kṛtārtho'smīti cintayan ॥31॥
Thus addressed, I departed, having mastered the weapons, with a desire for wealth, thinking, “Having heard he is consecrated, I am fulfilled.”
priyaṁ sakhāyaṁ suprīto rājya-sthaṁ punar āvrajam। saṁsmaran saṅgamaṁ caiva vacanaṁ caiva tasya tat ॥32॥
Well-pleased, I returned again to my dear friend established in the kingdom, remembering our past union and his words.
tato drupadam āgamya sakhī-pūrvam ahaṁ prabho। abruvaṁ puruṣa-vyāghra sakhāyaṁ viddhi mām iti ॥33॥
Then, O lord, having approached Drupada as a former friend, I said, “O tiger among men, know me to be your friend.”
upasthitaṁ tu drupadaḥ sakhivat cābhisaṅgatam। sa māṁ nirākāram iva prahasan idam abravīt ॥34॥
Drupada, though I approached like a friend, saw me and, smiling as if unacquainted, said this.
akṛteyaṁ tava prajñā brahman nāti-samañjasī। yad āttha māṁ tvaṁ prasabhaṁ sakhā te'ham iti dvija ॥35॥
O brāhmaṇa, your understanding is undeveloped and improper if you forcibly call me your friend, O twice-born one.
na hi rājñām udīrṇānām evaṁbhūtair naraiḥ kvacit। sakhyaṁ bhavati mandātman śriyā hīnair dhana-cyutaiḥ ॥36॥
Friendship never exists between exalted kings and such persons, O dull-souled one, who lack splendor and have fallen from wealth.
nāśrotriyaḥ śrotriyasya nārathī rathinaḥ sakhā। nārājā pārthivasya api sakhī-pūrvaṁ kim iṣyate ॥37॥
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.
drupadenaivam ukto'ham manyunābhipariplutaḥ। abhyāgacchaṁ kurūn bhīṣma śiṣyair arthī guṇānvitaiḥ ॥38॥
Thus addressed by Drupada and overcome with anger, I came to the Kurus, O Bhīṣma, with worthy disciples, seeking aid.
pratijagrāha taṁ bhīṣmo guruṁ pāṇḍu-sutaiḥ saha। pautrān ādāya tān sarvān vasūni vividhāni ca ॥39॥
Bhīṣma accepted him as the teacher along with the sons of Pāṇḍu, taking all of them, his grandsons, as the various Vasus.
śiṣyāḥ iti dadau rājan droṇāya vidhi-pūrvakam। sa ca śiṣyān maheṣvāsaḥ pratijagrāha kauravān ॥40॥
O king, he formally gave them to Droṇa as disciples, and the great archer accepted the Kauravas as his students.
pratigṛhya ca tān sarvān droṇo vacanam abravīt। rahasy ekaḥ pratītātmā kṛtopasadanāṁs tadā ॥41॥
Having accepted them all, Droṇa, confident in mind, spoke alone in private to those who had performed the proper rites.
kāryaṁ me kāṅkṣitaṁ kiñcid hṛdi samparivartate। kṛtāstrais tat pradeyaṁ me tad ṛtaṁ vadatānaghāḥ ॥42॥
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.
tac chrutvā kauraveyās te tūṣṇīm āsan viśāṁ pate। arjunas tu tataḥ sarvaṁ pratijajñe parantapaḥ ॥43॥
Hearing that, the sons of Kuru remained silent, O lord of men. But Arjuna, scorcher of foes, then promised to fulfill it entirely.
tato'rjunaṁ mūrdhni tadā samāghrāya punaḥ punaḥ। prīti-pūrvaṁ pariṣvajya praruroda mudā tadā ॥44॥
Then, kissing Arjuna’s head again and again and embracing him with affection, Droṇa wept with joy.
tato droṇaḥ pāṇḍu-putrān astrāṇi vividhāni ca। grāhayām āsa divyāni mānuṣāṇi ca vīryavān ॥45॥
Then mighty Droṇa taught the Pāṇḍava princes various weapons, both divine and human.
rāja-putrās tathaivānye sametya bharatarṣabha। abhijagmus tato droṇam astrārthe dvija-sattamam। vṛṣṇayaś cāndhakāś caiva nānā-deśyāś ca pārthivāḥ ॥46॥
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.
sūta-putraś ca rādheyo guruṁ droṇam iyāt tadā। spardhamānas tu pārthena sūta-putro'tyamarṣaṇaḥ। duryodhanam upāśritya pāṇḍavān aty-amanyata ॥47॥
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.
