“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Arrived at Hastinapura, that
best of Brahmanas, the son of Bharadwaja (Drona), continued to live privately in the house
of Gautama (Kripa). His mighty son (Ashwatthaama) at intervals of Kripa's teaching, used to
give the sons of Kunti lessons in Dhanurveda. But as yet none knew of Ashwatthaama's
capability.
“Drona had thus lived privately for some time in the
house of Kripa when one day the heroic princes, all in a company, came out of
Hastinapura. Coming out of the city, they began to play with a ball and roam
about in gladness of heart. It so happened that the ball with which they had
been playing fell into a well. Immediately, the princes tried their best to
recover it from the well. But all the efforts the princes made to recover it
proved fruitless. They then began to eye one another uneasily, and not knowing
how to recover it, their anxiety became great.
“Just at this time they saw a Brahmana near enough to
them, of darkish colour, weak and lean, purified by the performance of the
Agnihotra (yagna) and who had finished his daily rites of worship. Seeing that
illustrious Brahmana, the princes who had lost hop of success surrounded him
immediately. Drona (for that Brahmana was no other), seeing the princes unsuccessful, and conscious of his own skill,
smiled a little, and addressing them said, ‘Shame on your Kshatriya might, and
shame also on your skill in arms! You have been born in the race of Bharata! How
is it that you cannot recover the ball (from the bottom of this well)? If you promise me a dinner today, I will,
with these blades of grass, bring up not only the ball you have lost but this ring
also that I now throw down!’
“Thus saying, Drona that oppressor of enemies, taking
off his ring, threw it down into the dry well. Then Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti,
addressing Drona, said, ‘O Brahmana! You do, with Kripa's permission, obtain of
us that which would last you for life!’
“Thus addressed, Drona with smiles replied to the
Bharata princes, saying, ‘This handful of long grass I would invest, by my
mantras, with the virtue of weapons. Look these blades possess virtues that
other weapons, have not! I will, with one of these blades, pierce the ball, and
then pierce that blade with another, and that another with a third, and thus
shall I, by a chain, bring up the ball.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Then Drona did exactly
what he had said. The princes were all amazed and their eyes expanded with
delight. Regarding what they had witnessed to be very extraordinary, they said,
‘O learned Brahmana, you do bring up the ring also without loss of time.’’
“Then the illustrious Drona, taking a bow with an
arrow, pierced the ring with that arrow and brought it up at once. Taking the
ring thus brought up from the well still pierced with his arrow, he coolly gave
it to the astonished princes. Then the latter, seeing the ring thus recovered,
said, ‘We bow to you, O Brahmana! None else owns such skill. We long to know
who you are and whose son. What also can we do for you?’
“Thus addressed, Drona replied to the princes, saying,
‘You do travel to Bhishma and describe to him my appearance and skill. The
mighty one will recognize me.’
“The princes then saying, ‘So be it,’ travelled to Bhishma
and telling him of the essence of that Brahmana's speech, told everything about
his (extraordinary) feat. Hearing everything from the princes, Bhishma at once understood
that the Brahmana was none else than Drona, and thinking that he would make the
best Guru for the princes, went in person to him and welcoming him
respectfully, brought him over to the palace. Then Bhishma, that foremost of
all wielders of arms, cleverly asked him the cause of his arrival at
Hastinapura. Asked by him, Drona told everything as it had happened, saying, ‘O
sir (Bhishma), in old times I went
to Maharishi Agninishta for obtaining from him his weapons, desirous also of
learning the Dhanurveda. Devoted to the service of my Guru, I lived with him
for many years in the humble guise of a Brahmachaari, with matted locks on my
head. At that time, triggered by the same motives, the prince of Panchala, the
mighty Yagnasena (Drupada), also
lived in the same ashrama. He became my friend, always seeking my welfare. I
liked him much. Indeed, we lived together for many, many years. O you of Kuru's
race, from our earliest years we had studied together and, indeed, he was my
friend from boyhood, always speaking and doing what was agreeable to me. For pleasing
me, O Bhishma, he used to tell me, ‘O Drona, I am the favourite child of my respected
father. When the king installs me as monarch of the Panchalas, the kingdom
shall be yours. O friend, this, indeed, is my sincere promise. My territory,
wealth and happiness, shall all be dependent on you.’ At last the time came for
his departure. Having finished his studies, he made his steps towards his
country. I offered him my regards at the time, and, indeed, I remembered his
words ever afterwards.
“Some time after, in obedience to the direction of my
father and tempted also by the desire of offspring, I married Kripi of short
hair, who gifted with great intelligence, had observed many rigid vows (Vrata in Sanskrit), and was
ever engaged in the Agnihotra (yagna)
and other yagnas and rigid Tapas. Gautami, in time, gave birth to a son named
Ashwatthaama of great prowess and equal in splendour to the Sun himself.
Indeed, I was pleased on having obtained Ashwatthaama as much as my father had
been on obtaining me.
“It so happened that one day the child Ashwatthaam
observing some rich men's sons drink milk, began to cry. At this I was so emotionally
out of control that I lost all knowledge of the point of the compass. Instead
of asking him who had only a few cows (so that if
he gave me one, he would no longer be able to perform his sacrifices and thus
sustain a loss of Dharma), I was
desirous of obtaining a cow from one who had many, and for that I wandered from
country to country. But my wanderings proved unsuccessful, for I failed to
obtain a milking cow. After I had come back unsuccessful, some of my son's
playmates gave him water mixed with powdered rice. Drinking this, the poor boy (Ashwatthaama), was tricked into the belief that he had
taken milk, and began to dance in joy, saying, ‘O, I have taken milk. I have
taken milk!’
“Seeing him dance with joy amid these playmates
smiling at his simplicity, I was exceedingly touched. Hearing also the mocking
speeches of busy-bodies who said, ‘Shame upon the poor Drona, who strives not
to earn wealth, whose son drinking water mixed with powdered rice mistakes it
for milk and dances with joy, saying, ‘I have taken milk,--I have taken milk!’’--I
was quite out of control. Criticing myself much, I at last resolved that even if I should have to live thrown off and censured by
Brahmanas, I would not yet, from desire of wealth, be anybody's servant, which
is ever hateful. Thus resolved, O Bhishma, I went, for former
friendship, to the king of the Somakas, taking with me my dear child and wife.
Hearing that he had been installed in the sovereignty (of the Somakas), I regarded
myself as blessed beyond compare. Joyfully I went to that dear friend of mine
seated on the throne, remembering my former friendship with him and also his
own words to me.
“O respected one (Bhishma), approaching Drupada, I said, ‘O tiger among
men (Drupada), know me for thy
friend!’--Saying this, I approached him confidently as a friend should. But
Drupada, laughing in mockery threw me off as if I were a vulgar fellow.
Addressing me he (Drupada) said,
‘Your intelligence scarcely seems to be of a high order to the extent as
approaching me suddenly, you say you are my friend! Time that damages
everything, damages friendship also. My former friendship with you was for a
particular purpose. One of impure birth can never be a friend of one who is of pure
birth. One who is not a chariot-warrior can never be a friend of one who is
such. Friendship can only survive between persons that are of equal rank, but
not between those that are unequally situated. Friendship never survives for
ever in my heart. Time damages friendships, as also anger destroys them. You do
not stick, therefore, to that worn-off friendship between us. Think not of it
any longer. The friendship I had with you, O best of Brahmanas, was for a
special purpose. There cannot be friendship between a poor man and a rich man,
between an illiterate and educated, between a coward and a hero. Why do you,
therefore, desire, the revival of our former friendship? O you of simple
understanding, great kings can never have friendship with such poor and
luckless person as you? One who is not a king can never have a king for his
friend. I do not remember ever having promised you my kingdom. But, O Brahmana,
I can now give you food and shelter for one night.’
“Thus addressed by him, I left his presence quickly
with my wife, vowing to do that which I will certainly do soon enough. Thus,
insulted by Drupada, O Bhishma, I have been filled with anger, I have come to
the Kurus, desirous of obtaining intelligent and obedient pupils. I come to
Hastinapura to satisfy your wishes. O, tell me what I am to do.’
“Vaishampaayana
continued, ‘Thus addressed by the son of Bharadwaja (Drona),
Bhishma said to him, ‘String your bow, O Brahmana, and make the Kuru princes
accomplished in weapons. Worshipped by the Kurus, enjoy with a glad heart to your
fill every comfort in their house. You are the absolute lord, O Brahmana, of
what ever wealth the Kurus have and of their sovereignty and kingdom! The Kurus
are yours (from this day). Think
that as already accomplished which may be in your heart. You are, O Brahmana,
obtained by us as the fruit of our great good luck. Indeed, the favour you have
conferred upon me by your arrival is great.’”
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