Having honored the Brahmin guest with all due respect, the best among Brahmins—ever steadfast in the vow of hospitality—offered him shelter. The Pandavas, together with their mother Kunti, attended to the Brahmin with great care, listening as he narrated auspicious tales. He spoke of distant regions, holy places, sacred rivers, and the wondrous deeds of kings, as well as the ancient lands of old. As his stories came to a close, the sage recounted for Janamejaya the extraordinary self-choice ceremony of Yajñasenī among the Panchalas. He described the miraculous births of Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin, the unusual birth of Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), and the great sacrifice performed by King Drupada. Hearing this marvelous tale about the noble ones, the Pandavas, filled with wonder, begged the sage to tell the story in detail. They asked: “How did Dhṛṣṭadyumna, son of Drupada, arise from the fire? How did the wondrous birth of Kṛṣṇā take place at the altar? How did Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the mighty archer, learn all the weapons from Droṇa, and how did he become the cause of Droṇa’s death? O revered sage, how did those two friends, Droṇa and Drupada, become estranged, and for what reason?” Thus prompted by the Pandavas, the sage began to narrate the story of Draupadī’s birth. He told how, at Gaṅgādvāra, there was a great rain, and the wise and ever-austere sage Bharadvāja was present. Going to bathe in the sacred Gaṅgā, he beheld the virtuous apsaras Ghṛtācī, who had arrived before and was immersed in the river. As she stood upon the riverbank, the wind carried away her garment, and seeing her thus, desire arose in the sage’s heart. Though he was a youthful celibate, his mind became attached to her; after some time, his seed was released, and the sage preserved it. From this, Droṇa was born—a boy of great wisdom who mastered the Vedas and all branches of knowledge. Bharadvāja had a friend, the king Pṛṣata, and at that time, Pṛṣata’s son Drupada was also born. Drupada, though a foremost Kṣatriya, often visited the hermitage, studying and playing with Droṇa. After Pṛṣata passed away, Drupada became king. Meanwhile, Droṇa heard that Rāma (Paraśurāma) was distributing his wealth to all. When Rāma retired to the forest, Bharadvāja’s son approached him and said, “Know me, Droṇa, O best of twice-born, as one who has come desiring wealth.” Rāma replied, “Now, only my body remains. Choose either my weapons or my body, O Brahmin, whichever you wish.” Droṇa requested, “Grant me all your weapons, their use, and their withdrawal.” Rāma consented, saying, “So be it,” and gave Droṇa the knowledge of all weapons. Elated at having received the esteemed Brahma weapon, Droṇa became preeminent among men. Armed with this knowledge, Droṇa approached Drupada and said, “Know me as your friend, O tiger among men.” But Drupada replied, “A non-learned man is not the friend of a learned one; nor is a charioteer the friend of a chariot-warrior; nor is a king the friend of a non-king—what friendship can there be without equality?” Thus, Droṇa resolved in his heart concerning the Panchala king and journeyed to the city of the Kurus, Nagasahvaya. There, Bhishma presented Droṇa with grandsons and treasures, making them his disciples. Droṇa gathered his students, the sons of Pandu, and said, “There is something in my heart as the teacher’s fee; O sinless ones, when you have mastered the weapons, that should be given—speak the truth.” The Pandavas, led by Arjuna, replied, “So be it, teacher.” When all the Pandavas had mastered the weapons and were resolute, Droṇa reminded them of his fee: “Drupada, son of Pṛṣata, is king in Chatravati; bring me his kingdom swiftly as my fee.” At Droṇa’s urging, the sons of Dhritarashtra, the Pandavas, and the Panchalas became fearful. Encountering Drupada, Karna, Duryodhana, and others, a fierce battle ensued, but the Pandavas emerged victorious, capturing Drupada and his ministers and presenting them bound to Droṇa. Arjuna, unconquerable as Mahendra, overcame Drupada just as the lord of the gods vanquished the demon. Witnessing Arjuna’s great might and energy, all the relatives of Yajñasena were astonished. Then Droṇa addressed Drupada: “I ask you again for friendship, O lord of men; for a non-king should not be the friend of a king. Therefore, the kingdom has been divided between us, Yajñasena, with you on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi and I on the northern.” Thus addressed, the Panchala king replied to Droṇa, “So be it, O wise Bhāradvāja; let that very friendship endure forever, as you desire.” Having spoken thus and established an unsurpassed friendship, Droṇa and Drupada, those subduers of foes, departed as they had come, their bond renewed.