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.
पाञ्चाल्यो राजपुत्रश्च यज्ञसेनो महाबलः। इष्वस्त्रहेतोर्न्यवसत्तस्मिन्नेव गुरौ प्रभुः
Pāñcālya, the mighty prince Yajñasena, also stayed with that master for the sake of learning archery.
स मे तत्र सखा चासीदुपकारी प्रियश्च मे। तेनाहं सह संगम्य वर्तयन्सुचिरं प्रभो
There he was my friend, helpful and dear to me; with him I spent a long time, O lord, in close association.
बाल्यात्प्रभृति कौरव्य सहाध्ययनमेव च। स मे सखा सदा तत्र प्रियवादी प्रियंकरः
From childhood, O Kauravya, we studied together; he was always my friend there, speaking kindly and doing what was pleasing.
अब्रवीदिति मां भीष्म वचनं प्रीतिवर्धनम्। अहं प्रियतमः पुत्रः पितुर्द्रोण महात्मनः
Bhīṣma spoke to me these words, increasing my joy: 'I am the most beloved son of my father, the great-souled Droṇa.'
अभिषेक्ष्यति मां राज्ये स पाञ्चाल्यो यदा तदा। तद्भोज्यं भवता राज्यमर्धं सत्येन ते शपे
'When that Pāñcālya anoints me in the kingdom, at that time, by truth I swear, half the kingdom shall be yours to enjoy.'
मम भोगाश्च वित्तं च त्वदधीनं सुखानि च। एवमुक्त्वाऽथ वव्राज कृतास्त्रः पूजितो मया
'My pleasures, my wealth, and my comforts shall all be under your control.' Having said this, he departed, accomplished in arms and honored by me.
तच्च वाक्यमहं नित्यं मनसा धारयंस्तदा। सोऽहं पितृनियोगेन पुत्रलोभाद्यशस्विनीम्
I always kept those words in my mind; but by my father's command, out of desire for a son, I took an unworthy step.
शारद्वतीं महाप्रज्ञामुपयेमे महाव्रताम्। अग्निहोत्रे च सत्रे च दमे च सततं रताम्
I married Śāradvatī, of great wisdom and firm vows, who was ever devoted to fire-offerings, sacrifices, and self-restraint.
लेभे च गौतमी पुत्रमश्वत्थामानमौरसम्। भीमविक्रमकर्माणमादित्यसमतेजसम्
From Gautamī I obtained a son, Aśvatthāman, my own offspring, whose deeds were mighty as Bhīma's and whose brilliance equaled the sun.
पुत्रेण तेन प्रीतोऽहं भरद्वाजो मया यथा। गोक्षीरं पिबतो दृष्ट्वा धनिनस्तत्र पुत्रकान्। अश्वत्थामारुदद्बालस्तन्मे संदेहयद्दिशः
I, Bharadvāja, was pleased with that son, just as I was with myself; but seeing the wealthy men's sons drink cow's milk, Aśvatthāman, as a child, cried, and that troubled me deeply.