निशिलेनास्य तत्सर्वं गुह्यमाख्यातवान्पिता। सोऽचिरेणैव कालेन परमाचार्यतां गतः
His father revealed to him all those secrets with a sword, and in a short time he attained the highest mastery as a teacher.
कृपमाहूय गाङ्गेयस्तव शिष्या इति ब्रुवन्। पौत्रान्परिसमाधाय कृपमाराधयत्तदा
Calling Kṛpa, the son of Gaṅgā addressed him, saying, 'These are your disciples,' and entrusted his grandsons to Kṛpa, honoring him at that time.
ततोऽधिजग्मुः सर्वे ते धनुर्वेदं महारथाः। धृतराष्ट्रात्मजाश्चैव पाण्डवाः सह यादवैः
Then all those great chariot-warriors, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the Pāṇḍavas, and the Yādavas, learned the science of archery.
वृष्णयश्च नृपाश्चान्ये नानादेशसमागताः। `कृपमाचार्यमासाद्य परमास्त्रज्ञतां गतः
The Vṛṣṇis and other kings who had gathered from various regions, having approached Kṛpa as their teacher, attained supreme knowledge of weapons.
इष्वस्त्रज्ञान्पर्यपृच्छदाचार्यान्वीर्यसंमतान्। नाल्पधीर्नामहाभागस्तथा नानस्त्रकोविदः
He questioned the teachers, esteemed for their valor, about the science of weapons; not one of weak mind, nor one lacking great fortune, nor one unskilled in weapons.
नादेवसत्वो विनयेत्कुरूनस्त्रे महावलान्। इति संचिन्त्य गाङ्गेयस्तदा भरतसत्तमः
No one lacking divine strength could instruct the mighty Kurus in weapons—thus, the son of Gaṅgā, foremost among the Bharatas, reflected at that time.
द्रोणाय वेदविदुषे भारद्वाजाय धमते। पाण्डवान्कौरवांश्चैव ददौ शिष्यान्नरर्षभ
To Droṇa, the learned son of Bharadvāja, he entrusted the Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas as disciples, O best of men.
शास्त्रतः पूजितश्चैव सम्यक्तेन महात्मना। स भीष्मेण महाभागस्तुष्टोऽस्त्रविदुषां वरः
Honored according to the scriptures by that great-souled one, Bhīṣma, the most fortunate and foremost among those skilled in weapons, was pleased.
प्रतिजग्राह तान्सर्वाञ्शिष्यत्वेन महायशाः। शिक्षयामास च द्रोणो धनुर्वेदमशेषतः
That renowned Droṇa accepted them all as his disciples and began to teach them the science of archery in its entirety.
तेऽचिरेणैव कालेन सर्वशस्त्रविशारदाः। बभूवुः कौरवा राजन्पाण्डवाश्चामितौजसः
In a short time, O King, the Kauravas and the mighty Pāṇḍavas became experts in all weapons.
कथं समभवद्द्रोणः कथं चास्त्राण्यवाप्तवान्। कथं चागात्कुरून्ब्रह्मन्कस्य पुत्रः स वीर्यवान्
How did Droṇa come to be? How did he obtain the weapons? How did he come to the Kurus, O Brāhmaṇa, and whose son was that mighty one?
कथं चास्य सुतो जातः सोश्वत्थामाऽस्त्रवित्तमः। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण प्रकीर्तय
And how was his son born, that most skilled in weapons, Aśvatthāmā? I wish to hear this in detail—please recount it.
गङ्गाद्वारं प्रति महान्बभूव भगवानृषिः। भरद्वाज इति ख्यातः सततं संशितव्रतः
Near the gateway of the Gaṅgā, there was a great and venerable sage, always firm in his vows, known as Bharadvāja.
सोऽभिषेक्तुं गतो गङ्गां पूर्वमेवागतां सतीम्। महर्षिभिर्भरद्वाजो हविर्धाने चरन्पुरा
Once, Bharadvāja, moving about in the sacrificial enclosure, went to bathe in the Gaṅgā, which had already arrived, accompanied by great sages.
ददर्शाप्सरसं साक्षाद्धृताचीमाप्लुतामृषिः। रूपयौवनसंपन्नां मददृप्तां मदालसाम्
There, the sage beheld an Apsaras, Ghṛtācī, immersed in the water—endowed with beauty and youth, intoxicated and languid with passion.
तस्या वायुर्नदीतीर वसनं पर्यवर्तत। व्यपकृष्टाम्बरां दृष्ट्वा तामृषिश्चकमे ततः
On the riverbank, the wind turned aside her garment; seeing her with her clothing drawn away, the sage then desired her.
तत्र संसक्तमनसो भरद्वाजस्य धीमतः। हृष्टस्य रेतश्चस्कन्द तदृषिर्द्रोण आदधे
There, as the mind of the wise Bharadvāja became attached and delighted, his seed was released, and that sage took it up in a vessel.
ततः समभवद्द्रोणः कलशे तस्य धीमतः। अध्यगीष्ट स वेदांश्च वेदाङ्गानि च सर्वशः
From that vessel, Droṇa was born to the wise one; he thoroughly learned the Vedas and all the branches of knowledge.
अग्नेरस्त्रमुपादाय यदृषिर्वेद काश्यपः। अध्यगच्छद्भरद्वाजस्तदस्त्रं देवकार्यतः
Kashyapa, the seer, having obtained the weapon of Agni, taught that weapon to Bharadvaja for the purpose of the gods.
अग्निवेश्यं महाभागं भरद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। प्रत्यपादयदाग्नेयमस्त्रमस्त्रविदां वरः
Bharadvaja, the illustrious and powerful sage, imparted the fiery weapon to Agniveshya, who was foremost among those skilled in arms.
कनिष्ठजातं स मुनिर्भ्राता भ्रातरमन्तिके। अग्निवेश्यस्तथा द्रोणं तदा भरतसत्तम।' भारद्वाजं तदाग्नेयं महास्त्रं प्रत्यपादयत्
That sage, Agniveshya, who was the younger brother, then gave that great fiery weapon to Drona, the best of the Bharatas, in the presence of his brother.
भरद्वाजसखा चासीत्पृषतो नाम पार्थिवः। तस्यापि द्रुपदो नाम तथा समभवत्सुतः
There was a king named Prishata, a friend of Bharadvaja; and Drupada was his son.
स नित्यमाश्रमं गत्वा द्रोणेन सह पार्थिवः। चिक्रीडाध्ययनं चैव चकार क्षत्रियर्षभः
That prince, always going to the hermitage, played and studied together with Drona, the bull among Kshatriyas.
ततो व्यतीते पृषते स राजा द्रुपदोऽभवत्। पञ्चालेषु महाबाहुरुत्तरेषु नरेश्वरः
After Prishata passed away, his son Drupada became king among the Panchalas in the north, possessing mighty arms.
भरद्वाजोऽपि भगवानारुरोह दिवं तदा। तत्रैव च वसन्द्रोणस्तपस्तेपे महातपाः
At that time, the venerable Bharadvaja ascended to heaven, and Drona, possessing great austerity, remained there practicing penance.
वेदवेदाङ्गविद्वान्स तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषः। ततः पितृनियुक्तात्मा पुत्रलोभान्महायशाः
He, learned in the Vedas and their branches, his sins burned away by austerity, then, directed by his ancestors and desiring a son, became renowned.
शारद्वतीं ततो भार्यां कृपीं द्रोणोऽन्वविन्दत। अग्निहोत्रे च धर्मे च दमे च सतत रताम्
Then Drona took Kripi, daughter of Shardvat, as his wife, who was always devoted to the Agnihotra, to righteousness, and to self-restraint.
अलभद्गौतमी पुत्रमश्वत्थामानमेव च। स जातमात्रो व्यनदद्यथैवोच्चैःश्रवा हयः
He obtained a son from Gautami, named Ashvatthama, who, as soon as he was born, neighed loudly like the divine horse Ucchaihshravas.
तच्छ्रुत्वान्तर्हितं भूतमन्तरिक्षस्थमब्रवीत्। अश्वस्येवास्य यत्स्थाम नदतः प्रदिशो गतम्
Hearing that sound, a hidden being dwelling in the sky said, 'As a horse, his voice has resounded in all directions.'
अश्वत्थामैव बालोऽयं तस्मान्नाम्ना भविष्यति। सुतेन तेन सुप्रीतो भारद्वाजस्ततोऽभवत्
'Therefore, this boy shall be called Ashvatthama by name.' Bharadvaja was greatly pleased with his son.