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.
न स्नातकोऽवसीदेत वर्तमानः स्वकर्मसु। इति संचिन्त्य मनसा तं देशं बहुशो भ्रमन्
A twice-born should not fall into distress while engaged in his duties—thinking thus in my mind, I wandered much in that region.
विशुद्धणिच्छन्गाङ्गेय धर्मोपेतं प्रतिग्रहम्। अन्तादन्तं परिक्रम्य नाध्यगच्छं पयस्विनीम्
Desiring pure gifts, righteous and free from fault, I searched everywhere but could not find a giver of milk.
यवपिष्टोदकेनैनं लोभयेयं कुमारकम्। पीत्वा पिष्टरसं बालः क्षीरं पीतं मयाऽपि च
With water mixed with flour I tempted the boy; after drinking the flour-water, the child thought he too had drunk milk.
ननर्तोत्थाय कौरव्य हृष्टो बाल्याद्विमोहितः। तं दृष्ट्वा नृत्यमानं तु बालैः परिवृतं सुतम्
Then, rising up, O Kauravya, delighted and deceived by childhood, he danced, surrounded by other boys, my son.
हास्यतामुपसंप्राप्तं कश्मलं तत्र मेऽभवत्। द्रोणं धिगस्त्वधनिनं यो धनं नाधिगच्छति
Seeing him thus, I felt shame and sorrow; 'Fie on Droṇa, who, though alive, cannot obtain wealth!'
पिष्टोदकं सुतो यस्य पीत्वा क्षीरस्य तृष्णया। नृत्यतिस्म मुदाविष्टः क्षीरं पीतं मयाऽप्युत
Whose son, longing for milk, dances joyfully after drinking flour-water, thinking, 'I too have drunk milk'?
इति संभाषतां वाचं श्रुत्वा मे बुद्धिरच्यवत्। आत्मानं चात्मना गर्हन्मनसेदं व्यचिन्तयम्
Hearing these words spoken among them, my mind was shaken; blaming myself, I thought thus in my heart.
अपि चाहं पुरा विप्रैर्वर्जितो गर्हितो वसे। परोपसेवां पापिष्ठां न च कुर्यां धनेप्सया
Moreover, I, once shunned and reproached by the Brahmins, should not, out of greed for wealth, perform the sinful service of others.
इति मत्वा प्रियं पुत्रं भीष्मादाय ततो ह्यहम्। पूर्वस्नेहानुरागित्वात्सदारः सौमकिं गतः
Thinking thus, I took my beloved son Bhishma, and, out of former affection and attachment, I went with my wife to Saumaki.
अभिषिक्तं तु श्रुत्वैव कृतार्थोऽस्मीति चिन्तयन्। प्रियं सखायं सुप्रीतो राज्यस्थं समुपागमम्
Upon hearing that he had been anointed king, I thought, 'My purpose is fulfilled,' and, very pleased, I approached my dear friend who now held the kingdom.