Bhīṣma, the son of Gaṅgā, revealed to Kṛpa all the secret arts of weaponry, instructing him with the sword and guiding him to the highest mastery as a teacher in a short time. Then, summoning Kṛpa, Bhīṣma entrusted his grandsons—the princes of the Kuru dynasty—to him, saying, “These are your disciples,” and honored Kṛpa in that moment. Under Kṛpa’s guidance, all the great chariot-warriors—the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the Pāṇḍavas, and the Yādavas—learned the science of archery. The Vṛṣṇis and other kings who had come from various regions also approached Kṛpa as their teacher and, under his tutelage, attained supreme knowledge of weapons. Seeking the best instruction for the princes, Bhīṣma questioned many esteemed teachers renowned for their valor and skill in arms. He found that none lacking in strength, fortune, or expertise could instruct the mighty Kurus in the science of weapons. Reflecting on this, Bhīṣma, foremost among the Bharatas, realized that only one with divine strength would be fit for the task. Thus, Bhīṣma entrusted the Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas to Droṇa, the learned son of Bharadvāja, to be their teacher. Honoring Droṇa according to the scriptures, Bhīṣma, the great-souled and most fortunate among warriors, was deeply pleased. Droṇa, renowned and accomplished, accepted all the princes as his disciples and began to teach them the entire science of archery. In a short time, both the Kauravas and the mighty Pāṇḍavas became experts in all weapons. At this point, a question arose: How did Droṇa come to be? How did he acquire his knowledge of weapons, and how did he come to the Kurus? Whose son was this mighty one? And how was his son, Aśvatthāmā—supreme among warriors—born? The story of these origins is as follows: Near the gateway of the Gaṅgā lived a great and venerable sage named Bharadvāja, steadfast in his vows. Once, as Bharadvāja was performing his rituals in the sacrificial enclosure, he went to bathe in the Gaṅgā, accompanied by other great sages. There, he beheld the Apsaras Ghṛtācī, radiant with beauty and youth, languid with passion as she bathed in the river. A playful gust of wind turned aside her garment, and seeing her thus, the sage’s heart was stirred with desire. In that moment, his seed was released, and the wise Bharadvāja collected it in a vessel. From this vessel, Droṇa was born to the sage, and he grew up thoroughly versed in the Vedas and all branches of knowledge. In earlier times, the seer Kashyapa had obtained the weapon of Agni and taught it to Bharadvāja for the benefit of the gods. Bharadvāja, illustrious and powerful, in turn imparted this fiery weapon to Agniveshya, foremost among those skilled in arms. Agniveshya, the sage and younger brother, then passed on that great weapon to Droṇa, best of the Bharatas, in his brother’s presence. There was a king named Prishata, a friend of Bharadvāja, whose son was Drupada. As boys, Drupada and Droṇa played and studied together in the hermitage, forging a bond as strong as brothers. After Prishata’s death, Drupada became king of the northern Pañchālas, renowned for his mighty arms. When Bharadvāja ascended to heaven, Droṇa, endowed with great austerity, remained in the hermitage practicing penance. Learned in the Vedas and their branches, his sins burned away by austerity, Droṇa became renowned, guided by his ancestors and desiring a son. Droṇa then took Kripi, daughter of Shardvat, as his wife—a woman devoted to the sacred fire, to righteousness, and to self-restraint. From Gautami, Droṇa obtained a son named Aśvatthāmā, who, at birth, neighed loudly like the divine horse Ucchaihshravas. Hearing this extraordinary sound, a hidden being in the sky declared, “As a horse, his voice has resounded in all directions. Therefore, this boy shall be called Aśvatthāmā.” Bharadvāja was greatly pleased with his grandson. Droṇa, ever devoted to the science of archery, heard of the great-souled Jamadagni’s son, Rāma (also known as Paraśurāma), subduer of foes, who at that time was giving away all his wealth to Brahmanas. Learning of Rāma’s mastery of archery, divine weapons, and the science of polity, Droṇa set his heart on gaining that knowledge. Surrounded by his devoted disciples and endowed with great austerity, Droṇa set out for Mount Mahendra, where he beheld Bhārgava Rāma, destroyer of Kṣatriyas and slayer of foes. Approaching Rāma, Droṇa announced his name and birth in the Angirasa lineage. Bowing low and respectfully saluting Rāma’s feet, Droṇa expressed his desire for wealth. The great-souled Bhāradvāja (Droṇa) spoke to Jāmadagnya (Rāma), saying, “You are born of Bhāradvāja, and I too am not of another origin. Know me, O best of Brahmins, to be Droṇa, who has come seeking wealth.” Thus addressed, the great-souled Rāma, subduer of all Kṣatriyas, welcomed him warmly, saying, “Welcome to you, best of Brahmins! Tell me what you desire.” So did Droṇa’s journey to knowledge and destiny unfold.