Mahabharata – 213
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
Aadivamsaavatarana Parva
Dronacharya III
Drona’s mighty son Aswatthama at intervals of Kripa's teaching, used to give the sons of Kunti lessons in the use of arms. But as yet none knew about Aswatthama. Drona thus lived in cognito for some time in the house of Kripacharya. One day the princes, together came out of
Hastinapura. They began to play with a ball and roamed about in gladness of heart. And it so happened that the ball with which they were playing fell into a well. And then the princes tried their best to recover it from the well. But all their efforts failed. They then began to eye one another nervously, not knowing how to recover it.Their anxiety became great. Just at this time they saw a Brahmana near by, of darkish complexion, aged and lean. He was performing the
fire sacrifice. And seeing that Brahmana, the princes who had lost their heart surrounded him immediately. Drona, saw the princes unsuccessful, and dejected.Their play was not yet complete. Conscious of his own skill, the brahmana 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? If you promise me a dinner today, I will, with these blades of grass, bring up the ball that you have
lost and this ring also. Saying this Drona took off his ring and threw it down into the well. Then Yudhishthira, addressing Drona, said --- Oh Brahmana with Kripa's permission, you obtain food
every day. Thus addressed, Drona with smiles replied to the boys, saying --- Look at this handful of long grass I will infuse them, by my mantras.See these blades possess powers that other weapons, do not have. 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.
Then Drona did exactly what he had said. And the princes were all amazed and their eyes expanded with delight. And regarding what they witnessed to be very extraordinary, they said, ----Oh great Brahmana! Do you 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. And taking the ring thus brought up from the well he coolly gave it to the astonished
princes. Then the princes, seeing the ring thus recovered, said --- We bow to you, Oh Brahmana! None else have such skill. We are keen to know who you are and whose son you are. What can we do for you?
Thus addressed, Drona replied to the princes, saying – You narrate to Bhishma every details. The mighty one will recognize me. The princes then said -- So be it.On returning to the palace
they narrated to Bhishma what had happened to them during their play and told him the essence of that Brahmana's speech. They related everything about his extraordinary accomplishment. Hearing everything from the princes, Bhishma at once understood that the Brahmana was none else than Drona. Thinking that he would be the best preceptor for
the princes, went in person to him and welcoming him respectfully, brought him over to the palace.
Dronacharya III
Drona’s mighty son Aswatthama at intervals of Kripa's teaching, used to give the sons of Kunti lessons in the use of arms. But as yet none knew about Aswatthama. Drona thus lived in cognito for some time in the house of Kripacharya. One day the princes, together came out of
Hastinapura. They began to play with a ball and roamed about in gladness of heart. And it so happened that the ball with which they were playing fell into a well. And then the princes tried their best to recover it from the well. But all their efforts failed. They then began to eye one another nervously, not knowing how to recover it.Their anxiety became great. Just at this time they saw a Brahmana near by, of darkish complexion, aged and lean. He was performing the
fire sacrifice. And seeing that Brahmana, the princes who had lost their heart surrounded him immediately. Drona, saw the princes unsuccessful, and dejected.Their play was not yet complete. Conscious of his own skill, the brahmana 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? If you promise me a dinner today, I will, with these blades of grass, bring up the ball that you have
lost and this ring also. Saying this Drona took off his ring and threw it down into the well. Then Yudhishthira, addressing Drona, said --- Oh Brahmana with Kripa's permission, you obtain food
every day. Thus addressed, Drona with smiles replied to the boys, saying --- Look at this handful of long grass I will infuse them, by my mantras.See these blades possess powers that other weapons, do not have. 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.
Then Drona did exactly what he had said. And the princes were all amazed and their eyes expanded with delight. And regarding what they witnessed to be very extraordinary, they said, ----Oh great Brahmana! Do you 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. And taking the ring thus brought up from the well he coolly gave it to the astonished
princes. Then the princes, seeing the ring thus recovered, said --- We bow to you, Oh Brahmana! None else have such skill. We are keen to know who you are and whose son you are. What can we do for you?
Thus addressed, Drona replied to the princes, saying – You narrate to Bhishma every details. The mighty one will recognize me. The princes then said -- So be it.On returning to the palace
they narrated to Bhishma what had happened to them during their play and told him the essence of that Brahmana's speech. They related everything about his extraordinary accomplishment. Hearing everything from the princes, Bhishma at once understood that the Brahmana was none else than Drona. Thinking that he would be the best preceptor for
the princes, went in person to him and welcoming him respectfully, brought him over to the palace.
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