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.
तत्रैव च वसन्धीमान्धनुर्वेदपरोऽभवत्। स शुश्राव महात्मानं जामदग्न्यं परंतपम्
There, that wise one, devoted to the science of archery, heard of the great-souled Jamadagni's son, the subduer of foes.
सर्वज्ञानविदं विप्रं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्। ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तदा राजन्दित्सन्तं वसु सर्वशः
He heard of that sage, master of all knowledge, foremost among bearers of weapons, who at that time was giving away all his wealth to Brahmanas, O King.
स रामस्य धनुर्वेदं दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि चैव ह। श्रउत्वा तेषु मनश्चक्रे नीतिशास्त्रे तथैव च
Hearing of Rama's mastery of archery and divine weapons, as well as his expertise in the science of polity, he set his mind on them.
ततः स व्रतिभिः शिष्यैस्तपोयुक्तैर्महातपाः। वृतः प्रायान्महावाहुर्महेन्द्रं पर्वतोत्तमम्
Then, surrounded by his devoted disciples, endowed with great austerity, the mighty-armed one set out for the great mountain Mahendra.
ततो महेन्द्रमासाद्य भारद्वाजो महातपाः। क्षत्रघ्नं तममित्रघ्नमपश्यद्भृगुनन्दनम्
Upon reaching Mahendra, the great ascetic Bharadvaja beheld Bhargava Rama, the destroyer of Kshatriyas and slayer of foes.
ततो द्रोणो वृतः शिष्यैरुपगम्य भृगूद्वहम्। आचख्यावात्मनो नाम जन्म चाङ्गिरसः कुले
Then Drona, accompanied by his disciples, approached the descendant of Bhrigu and announced his own name and birth in the Angirasa lineage.
निवेद्य शिरसा भूमौ पादौ चैवाभ्यवादयत्। ततस्तं सर्वमुत्सृज्य वनं जिगमिषुं तदा
After bowing with his head to the ground and respectfully saluting his feet, he then, desiring to go to the forest, abandoned all that.
जामदग्न्यं महात्मानं भारद्वाजोऽब्रवीदिदम्। भरद्वाजात्समुत्पन्नं तथा त्वं मामयोनिजम्
The great-souled Bhāradvāja spoke these words to Jāmadagnya: 'You are born of Bhāradvāja, and I too am not of another origin.'
आगतं वित्तकामं मां विद्धि द्रोणं द्विजोत्तम। तमब्रवीन्महात्मा स सर्वक्षत्रियमर्दनः
'Know me, O best of Brahmins, to be Droṇa, who has come seeking wealth.' Thus addressed, the great-souled subduer of all Kṣatriyas spoke to him.
स्वागतं ते द्विजश्रेष्ठ यदिच्छसि वदस्व मे। एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण भारद्वाजोऽब्रवीद्वचः
'Welcome to you, best of Brahmins! Tell me what you desire.' Thus addressed by Rāma, Bhāradvāja spoke these words.