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.
रामं प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठं दित्सन्तं विविधं वसु। अहं धनमनन्तं हि प्रार्थये विपुलव्रत
'O Rāma, best among warriors, who gives various kinds of wealth, I, steadfast in vows, seek from you inexhaustible wealth.'
हिरण्यं मम यच्चान्यद्वसु किंचिदिह स्थितम्। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो मया दत्तं सर्वमेतत्तपोधन
'O possessor of ascetic wealth, all the gold and other riches that are here with me have been given by me to the Brahmins.'
तथैवेयं धरा देवी सागरान्ता सपत्तना। कश्यपाय मया दत्ता कृत्स्ना नगरमालिनी
'In the same way, this earth, the goddess, bounded by the ocean and filled with cities, has been given entirely by me to Kaśyapa.'
शरीरमात्रमेवाद्य ममेदमवशेषितम्। अस्त्राणि च महार्हाणि शस्त्राणि विविधानि च
'Now only my body remains to me, along with my precious weapons and various arms.'
अस्त्राणि वा शरीरं वा ब्रह्मञ्शस्त्राणि वा पुनः। वृणीष्व किं प्रयच्छामि तुभ्यं द्रोण वदाशु तत्
'Whether you wish for my weapons, my body, or my arms again, O Brāhmaṇa, choose—what shall I give you, Droṇa? Speak quickly.'
अस्त्राणि मे समग्राणि ससंहाराणि भार्गव। स प्रयोगरहस्यानि दातुमर्हस्यशेषतः
'Grant me all your weapons, O Bhārgava, with their methods of withdrawal, and their secret applications—give them to me in full.'
एतद्वसु वसूनां हि सर्वेषां विप्रसत्तम।' तथेत्युक्त्वा ततस्तस्मै प्रादादस्त्राणि भार्गवः। सरहस्यव्रतं चैव धनुर्वेदमशेषतः
'This, among all wealth, is indeed the highest, O best of Brahmins.' Having said 'So be it,' Bhārgava then gave him the weapons, along with the secret vows and the complete science of archery.
प्रतिगृह्य तु तत्सर्वं कृतास्त्रे द्विजसत्तमः। प्रियं सखायं सुप्रीतो जगाम द्रुपदं प्रति
Having received all this, and being accomplished in weapons, the best of Brahmins, pleased, set out toward Drupada, his dear friend.
ततो द्रुपदमासाद्य भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। अब्रवीत्पार्थिवं राजन्सखायं विद्धि मामिह
Then, approaching Drupada, the mighty Bhāradvāja said to the king: 'Know me here as your friend.'
इत्येवमुक्तः सख्या स प्रीतिर्पूर्वं जनेश्वरः। भारद्वाजेन पाञ्चाल्यो नामृष्यत वचोऽस्य तत्
Thus addressed as a friend, the lord of men, the Pāñcāla king, did not tolerate these words of Bhāradvāja, though there had been former affection.
स क्रोधामर्षजिह्मभ्रूः कषायीकृतलोचनः। ऐश्वर्यमदसंपन्नो द्रोणं राजाऽब्रवीदिदम्
With brows knit in anger and resentment, his eyes reddened, intoxicated with the pride of power, the king spoke these words to Droṇa.
अकृतेयं तव प्रज्ञा ब्रह्मन्नातिसमञ्जसा। यन्मां व्रवीषि प्रसभं सखा तेऽहमिति द्विज
'Your understanding, O Brāhmaṇa, is not quite proper; for you say to me, forcibly, "I am your friend," though it is not so.'
न हि राज्ञामुदीर्णानामेवंभूतैर्नरैः क्वचित्। सख्यं भवति मन्दात्मञ्श्रिया हीनैर्धनच्युतैः
'For kings, exalted as they are, do not form friendships with such men—those who are weak, deprived of prosperity, and fallen from wealth.'
सौहृदान्यपि जीर्यन्ते कालेन परिजीर्यतः। सौहृदं मे त्वया ह्यासीत्पूर्वं सामर्थ्यबन्धनम्
'Even friendships decay with time, as age overtakes them; my friendship with you was formerly bound by ability.'
न सख्यमजरं लोके हृदि तिष्ठति कस्यचित्। कामश्चैतन्नाशयति क्रोधो वैनं रहत्युत
In this world, friendship does not remain ageless in anyone’s heart; desire destroys it, and anger certainly separates it.
मैवं जीर्णमुपास्स्व त्वं सख्यं भवदुपाधिकृत्। आसीत्सख्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ त्वया मेऽर्थनिबन्धनम्
Do not cling to this worn-out friendship, which you yourself have limited; O best of Brahmins, our friendship once existed, but it was bound by interest.
न दरिद्रो वसुमतो नाविद्वान्विदुषः सखा। न शूरस्य सखा क्लीबः सखिपूर्वं किमिष्यते
A poor man is not the friend of the wealthy, nor an ignorant man of the learned; a coward is not the friend of a hero—what is the use of former friendship?
ययोरेव समं वित्तं ययोरेव समं श्रुतम्। तयोर्विवाहः सख्यं च न तु पुष्टविपुष्टयोः
Marriage and friendship are proper only between those whose wealth and knowledge are equal, not between the prosperous and the destitute.
नाश्रोत्रियः श्रोत्रियस्य नारथी रथिनः सखा। नाराजा पार्थिवस्यापि सखिपूर्वं किमिष्यते
A non-ritualist is not the friend of a ritualist, nor a charioteerless man of a charioteer; not even a king is the friend of another king—what is the use of former friendship?
द्रुपदेनैवमुक्तस्तु भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। मुहूर्तं चिन्तयित्वा तु मन्युनाऽभिपरिप्लुतः
Thus addressed by Drupada, the mighty Bhāradvāja, filled with anger, pondered for a moment.