स विनिश्चित्य मनसा पाञ्चाल्यं प्रतिबुद्धिमान्। `शिष्यैः परिवृतः श्रीमान्पुत्रेण सहितस्तथा
Having resolved in his mind, the wise one, surrounded by his disciples and accompanied by his son, approached the Pāñcāla king.
जगाम कुरुमुख्यानां नागरं नागसाह्वयम्। तां प्रतिज्ञां प्रतिज्ञाय यां कर्ता नचिरादिव
He went to the city of the foremost Kurus, called Nāgasāhvaya, having made a vow to fulfill his promise without delay.
स नागपुरमागम्य गौतमस्य निवेशने। भारद्वाजोऽवसत्तत्र प्रच्छन्नं द्विजसत्तमः
Arriving at Nāgapura, Bhāradvāja, the best of Brahmins, dwelt secretly in the house of Gautama.
ततोऽस्य तनुजः पार्थान्कृपस्यानन्तरं प्रभुः। अस्त्राणि शिक्षयामास नाबुध्यन्त च तं जनाः
Then, after Kṛpa, the lord taught the Pārthas weapons, but no one recognized him.
एवं स तत्र गूढात्मा कंचित्कालमुवास ह। कुमारास्त्वथ निष्क्रम्य समेता गजसाह्वयात्
Thus, concealing his true identity, he lived there for some time; then the princes went out together from Gajasāhvaya.
क्रीडन्तो वीटया तत्र वीराः पर्यचरन्मुदा। `तेषां संक्रीडमानानामुदपानेऽङ्गुलीयकम्
The heroic princes played joyfully there with a ball; as they played, a ring fell into a well.
पपात धर्मपुत्रस्य वीटा तत्रैव चापतत्। गर्तान्बुना प्रतिच्छन्नं तारारूपमिवाम्बरे
The ball of Dharmaputra also fell there, dropping into a deep, concealed pit, shining like a star in the sky.
दृष्ट्वा चैते कुमाराश्च तं यत्नात्पर्यवारयन्।' ततस्ते यत्नमातिष्ठन्वीटामुद्धर्तुमादृताः। न च ते प्रत्ययद्यन्त कर्म वीटोपलब्धये
Seeing this, the princes eagerly tried to retrieve the ball; they made every effort, but could not succeed in recovering it.
ततोऽन्योन्यमवैक्षन्त व्रीडयावनताननाः। तस्या योगमविदन्तो भृशं चोत्कण्ठिताभवन्
Then, with faces lowered in shame, they looked at one another, not knowing how to recover it, and became greatly anxious.
तेऽपश्यन्ब्राह्मणं श्याममापन्नं पलितं कृशम्। कृत्यवन्तमदूरस्थमग्निहोत्रपुरस्कृतम्
They saw a dark-skinned, aged, thin Brahmin, engaged in his duties, standing not far away, with his sacred fire before him.
ते तं दृष्ट्वा महातमानमुपगम्य कुमारकाः। भग्नोत्साहक्रियात्मानो ब्राह्मणं पर्यवारयन्
Seeing that great man, the boys, their enthusiasm broken, approached and surrounded the Brahmin.
अथ द्रोणः कुमारांस्तान्दृष्ट्वा कत्यवशस्तदा। प्रहस्य मन्दं पैशल्यादभ्यभाषत वीर्यवान्
Then Droṇa, seeing those helpless princes, smiled gently and, coming from the land of the Pañcālas, addressed them with strength.
अहो वो धिग्बलं क्षात्रं धिगेतां वः कृतास्त्रताम्। भरतस्यान्वये जाता ये वीटां नाधिगच्छत
Alas, shame on your strength as warriors, shame on your mastery of weapons! Born in the line of Bharata, you have not attained even a simple prize.
वीटां च मुद्रिकां चैव ह्यहमेतदपि द्वयम्। उद्धरेयमिषीकाभिर्भोजनं मे प्रदीयताम्
I myself will retrieve both the prize and the ring with reeds as my arrows; let me be given food.
ततोऽब्रवीत्तदा द्रोणं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। कृपस्यानुमते ब्रह्मन्भिक्षामाप्नुहि शाश्वतीम्
Then Kunti's son Yudhishthira said to Drona: 'With Kripa's consent, O Brahmin, obtain perpetual alms.'
एषा मुष्टिरिषीकाणां मयाऽस्त्रेणाभिमन्त्रिता
Here is a handful of reeds, which I have enchanted with a weapon spell.
अस्या वीर्यं निरीक्षध्वं यदन्येषु न विद्यते। वेत्स्यामीषिकया वीटां तामिषीकां तथाऽन्यया
Observe the power of this, which is not found in others; I will fetch the prize with a reed, and the ring with another reed likewise.
ततो यथोक्तं द्रोणेन तत्सर्वं कृतमञ्जसा
Then, just as he said, Drona accomplished all that at once.
तदवेक्ष्य कुमारास्ते विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनाः। आश्चर्यमिदमत्यन्तमिति मत्वा वचोऽब्रुवन्
Seeing that, the princes, their eyes wide with astonishment, spoke, thinking, 'This is truly extraordinary!'
मुद्रिकामणि विप्रर्षे शीध्रमेतां समुद्धरथ
O sage among Brahmins, quickly retrieve this ring-jewel.
शरेण विद्ध्वा मुद्रां तामूर्ध्वमावाहयत्प्रभुः। स शरं समुपादाय कूपादङ्गुलिवेष्टनम्
Piercing the ring with an arrow, the master summoned it upward; taking the arrow, he drew out the ring from the well, wrapped around its shaft.
ददौ ततः कुमाराणां विस्मितानामविस्मितः। मुद्रिकामुद्धृतां दृष्ट्वा तमाहुस्ते कुमारकाः
Then, unastonished, he gave the ring he had retrieved to the astonished princes; seeing it, the boys said to him:
अभिवन्दामहे ब्रह्मन्नैतदन्येषु विद्यते। कोऽसि कस्यासि जानीमो वयं किं करवामहे
We bow to you, O Brahmin; this is not found in others. Who are you? Whose are you? Tell us, what should we do?
एवमुक्तस्ततो द्रोणः प्रत्युवाच कुमारकान्। आचक्षध्वं च भीष्माय रूपेण च गुणैश्च माम्
Thus addressed, Drona replied to the princes: 'Describe me to Bhishma, both in appearance and qualities.'
तथेत्युक्त्वा च गत्वा च भीष्ममूचुः कुमारकाः
Saying 'So be it,' the princes went and spoke to Bhishma.
ब्राह्मणस्य वचः कृत्स्नं तच्च कर्म तथाविधम्। भीष्मः श्रुत्वा कुमाराणां द्रोणं तं प्रत्यजानत
They told Bhishma all the Brahmin's words and such a deed; hearing this from the princes, Bhishma recognized him as Drona.
युक्तरूपः स हि गुरुरित्येवमनुचिन्त्य च। अथैनमानीय तदा स्वयमेव सुसत्कृतम्
Thinking, 'He is indeed fit to be a teacher,' Bhishma then brought him there himself and honored him greatly.
परिपप्रच्छ निपुणं भीष्मः शस्त्रभृतां वरः। हेतुमागमने तच्च द्रोणः सर्वं न्यवेदयत्
Bhishma, foremost among weapon-bearers, then skillfully questioned him; and Drona related to him all the reasons for his coming.
महर्षेरग्निवेश्यस्य सकाशमहमच्युत। अस्त्रार्थमगमं पूर्वं धनुर्वेदजिघृक्षया
O faultless one, I once went to the sage Agniveshya seeking knowledge of weapons, desiring to master the science of archery.
ब्रह्मचारी विनीतात्मा जटिलो बहुलाः समाः। अवसं सुचिरं तत्र गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतः
As a celibate, self-controlled, matted-haired, I stayed there for many years, devoted to serving my teacher.