Mahabharata – 216
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
Aadivamsa avatarana Parva
Drona appointed as a preceptor of Kuru and Pandava princes Bhisma’s chance meeting with Drona informed him that Drona was out of employment.Drona’s attainment in the art of war was beyond question.
He learned it from Agnivesa.He also learnt the art of war from the great Parashurama Bhisma himself was a disciple of Parashurama.No wonder that Bhisma took fancy on Dronacharya.
Bhishma said to Dronacharya ------- Unlash your bow, Oh Brahmana! and make the Kuru princes accomplished in arms. Worshipped by the Kurus, enjoy yourself with a glad heart and have every comfort here.You are the absolute lord, Oh Brahmana!, of what ever wealth the Kurus have, share with them their sovereign power and kingdom! The Kurus will remain under your control.Take it for granted. You are, Oh Brahmana, obtained by us as the result of our great good luck. Indeed, the favour you had conferred upon me by your arrival is great.
Bhishma,accepted him as the preceptor and assured him food and shelter and made all the necessary arrangements for his livelihood.And taking with him his grandsons, the Pandavas and Kaurava princes, gave them to Dronacharya as pupils. Thus worshipped by Bhishma, Drona, the most intelligent of men, endowed with great energy said to him ---The most well versed in
the Vedas and in the art of weapons the Kripacharya is already here as the teacher of the princes.At this moment if you handover the princes to me as my pupils,he may be offended.It would be wise if you give me some wealth, and I returned to my ashrama gladly.On hearing Drona the best of the preceptors,Bhisma the chivalrous said to him –Let Kripacharya be here.I shall adore him with due respect and with all the necessary livelihood.But you be my grand sons preceptor as I feel you will be the best for the purpose. Bhisma arranged his quarters in the abode of the Kurus After he had rested a while,Bhisma bestowed upon him many precious gifts.
And the mighty Bhishma also joyfully gave to Dronacharya a house that was tidy and neat and brimming with paddy and every kind of wealth. And that first of archers, Drona, then joyfully, accepted the sons of Pandu and Dhritarashtra, as his pupils. And having accepted them all
as his pupils, one day Drona called them in a lonely place and said --- I have in my heart a particular purpose. Promise me truly, you sinless ones, that when you have become skilled in arms, you will accomplish it. Hearing these words, the Kuru princes remained silent. But Arjuna, the oppressor of foes vowed to accomplish be whatever it may. Drona then out of love took the fragrances of Arjuna’s head repeatedly shedding tears of joy all the while. And addressing
Aswatthama he said to him --- From today Arjuna will be your friend.You accept him as your friend.Then Arjuna said Bravo! Bravo!
And he embraced Aswatthama out of respect and said --- Oh best of the brahmanas! from today I am under you as per the dictates of virtue.I am your pupil I shall live with your blessings.And Arjuna worshipped Aswatthama’s feet. Then Drona endowed with great prowess
taught the sons of Pandu the use of many weapons both celestial and human. Then Duryodhana and other princes took the shelter of Drona for learning the art of weapons. Many other princes also gathered to that best of brahmanas for instruction in arms. The Vrishnis and the Andhakas, and princes from various lands, Karna of Suta caste, all became pupils of Drona. The most cruel Karna, from jealousy, frequently challenged Arjuna.He was supported by Duryodhana.He used to disregard the Pandavas.Karna used to come to Drona for learning the
art of archery. Arjuna, however, from devotion to the science of arms, always stayed ahead of all the Kuru princes. In skill, strength of arms, and endurance he excelled all his fellows. Indeed, although the instruction the preceptor gave, was the same in the case of all, yet in lightness and skill Arjuna became the foremost of all his fellow-pupils. And Drona was convinced that none of his pupils would be able to be equal to Arjuna.
Thus Drona continued giving lessons to the princes in the science of weapons. And while he gave to every one of his pupils a jug for fetching water. He gave to his own son Aswatthama a vessel. Aswatthama would return before other children.When no one had turned up except
Aswatthama Dronacharya would teach his own child certain tricks of using weapons. Arjuna saw into it. There after Arjuna used varunanastra a curious weapon to fill his jug quickly. So henceforth Arjuna also returned to his preceptor at the very time when Aswatthama reached his father. So Arjuna learnt whatever Dronacharya taught Aswatthama.Arjuna
thus became at par with Aswatthama.
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
Aadivamsa avatarana Parva
Drona appointed as a preceptor of Kuru and Pandava princes Bhisma’s chance meeting with Drona informed him that Drona was out of employment.Drona’s attainment in the art of war was beyond question.
He learned it from Agnivesa.He also learnt the art of war from the great Parashurama Bhisma himself was a disciple of Parashurama.No wonder that Bhisma took fancy on Dronacharya.
Bhishma said to Dronacharya ------- Unlash your bow, Oh Brahmana! and make the Kuru princes accomplished in arms. Worshipped by the Kurus, enjoy yourself with a glad heart and have every comfort here.You are the absolute lord, Oh Brahmana!, of what ever wealth the Kurus have, share with them their sovereign power and kingdom! The Kurus will remain under your control.Take it for granted. You are, Oh Brahmana, obtained by us as the result of our great good luck. Indeed, the favour you had conferred upon me by your arrival is great.
Bhishma,accepted him as the preceptor and assured him food and shelter and made all the necessary arrangements for his livelihood.And taking with him his grandsons, the Pandavas and Kaurava princes, gave them to Dronacharya as pupils. Thus worshipped by Bhishma, Drona, the most intelligent of men, endowed with great energy said to him ---The most well versed in
the Vedas and in the art of weapons the Kripacharya is already here as the teacher of the princes.At this moment if you handover the princes to me as my pupils,he may be offended.It would be wise if you give me some wealth, and I returned to my ashrama gladly.On hearing Drona the best of the preceptors,Bhisma the chivalrous said to him –Let Kripacharya be here.I shall adore him with due respect and with all the necessary livelihood.But you be my grand sons preceptor as I feel you will be the best for the purpose. Bhisma arranged his quarters in the abode of the Kurus After he had rested a while,Bhisma bestowed upon him many precious gifts.
And the mighty Bhishma also joyfully gave to Dronacharya a house that was tidy and neat and brimming with paddy and every kind of wealth. And that first of archers, Drona, then joyfully, accepted the sons of Pandu and Dhritarashtra, as his pupils. And having accepted them all
as his pupils, one day Drona called them in a lonely place and said --- I have in my heart a particular purpose. Promise me truly, you sinless ones, that when you have become skilled in arms, you will accomplish it. Hearing these words, the Kuru princes remained silent. But Arjuna, the oppressor of foes vowed to accomplish be whatever it may. Drona then out of love took the fragrances of Arjuna’s head repeatedly shedding tears of joy all the while. And addressing
Aswatthama he said to him --- From today Arjuna will be your friend.You accept him as your friend.Then Arjuna said Bravo! Bravo!
And he embraced Aswatthama out of respect and said --- Oh best of the brahmanas! from today I am under you as per the dictates of virtue.I am your pupil I shall live with your blessings.And Arjuna worshipped Aswatthama’s feet. Then Drona endowed with great prowess
taught the sons of Pandu the use of many weapons both celestial and human. Then Duryodhana and other princes took the shelter of Drona for learning the art of weapons. Many other princes also gathered to that best of brahmanas for instruction in arms. The Vrishnis and the Andhakas, and princes from various lands, Karna of Suta caste, all became pupils of Drona. The most cruel Karna, from jealousy, frequently challenged Arjuna.He was supported by Duryodhana.He used to disregard the Pandavas.Karna used to come to Drona for learning the
art of archery. Arjuna, however, from devotion to the science of arms, always stayed ahead of all the Kuru princes. In skill, strength of arms, and endurance he excelled all his fellows. Indeed, although the instruction the preceptor gave, was the same in the case of all, yet in lightness and skill Arjuna became the foremost of all his fellow-pupils. And Drona was convinced that none of his pupils would be able to be equal to Arjuna.
Thus Drona continued giving lessons to the princes in the science of weapons. And while he gave to every one of his pupils a jug for fetching water. He gave to his own son Aswatthama a vessel. Aswatthama would return before other children.When no one had turned up except
Aswatthama Dronacharya would teach his own child certain tricks of using weapons. Arjuna saw into it. There after Arjuna used varunanastra a curious weapon to fill his jug quickly. So henceforth Arjuna also returned to his preceptor at the very time when Aswatthama reached his father. So Arjuna learnt whatever Dronacharya taught Aswatthama.Arjuna
thus became at par with Aswatthama.
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