पुत्रजन्म परीप्सन्वै पृथिवीमन्वयादिमाम्। प्रभावशिक्षाविनयाद्द्रोणस्यास्त्रबलेन च
Desiring the birth of a son, he wandered the earth, seeking those who, through power, knowledge, and discipline, possessed the strength of Drona's weapons.
कर्तुं प्रयतमानो वै न शशाक पराजयम्। अभितः सोऽथ कल्माषीं गङ्गातीरे परिभ्रमन्
Striving to accomplish this, he could not achieve victory; wandering about, he reached the dark banks of the Ganga.
ब्राह्मणावसथं पुण्यमाससाद महीपतिः। तत्र नास्नातकः कश्चिन्न चासीदव्रतो द्विजः
The king arrived at a sacred Brahmin dwelling; there was no one who had not completed his studies, nor any Brahmin without vows.
तथैव तौ महाभागौ सोऽपश्यच्छंसितव्रतौ। याजोपयाजौ ब्रह्मर्षी भ्रातरौ पृषतात्मजः
There, he saw those two illustrious brothers, Yaja and Upayaja, sons of rishis, steadfast in their vows.
संहिताध्ययने युक्तौ गोत्रतश्चापि काश्यपौ। अरण्ये युक्तरूपौ तौ ब्राह्मणावृषिसत्तमौ
Engaged in reciting the Samhitas, and of the Kashyapa lineage, those two Brahmins, best among the righteous, were fittingly attired in the forest.
स उपामन्त्रयामास सर्वकामैरतन्द्रितः। बुद्ध्वा तयोर्बलं बुद्धिं कनीयांसमुपह्वरे
He approached them, tireless in his pursuit of all desires, having discerned their strength and wisdom, especially the younger in the hermitage.
प्रपेदे छन्दयन्कामैरुपयाजं धृतव्रतम्। गुरुशुश्रूषणे युक्तः प्रियकृत्सर्वकामदम्
He approached Upayaja, steadfast in his vows, desiring to perform sacrifices for the fulfillment of his wishes; devoted to serving his teacher, pleasing, and able to grant all desires.
पाद्येनासनदानेन तथाऽर्घ्येण फलैश्च तम्। अर्हयित्वा यथान्यायमुपयाजोऽब्रवीत्ततः
He honored him properly with water for washing the feet, a seat, offerings, and fruits; then Upayaja spoke to him.
येन कार्यविशेषेण त्वमस्मानभिकाङ्क्षसे। कृतश्चायं समुद्योगस्तद्ब्रवीतु भवानिति
For what particular purpose do you seek us, and for which reason have you made this effort? Please tell us.
स बुद्ध्वा प्रीतिसंयुक्तमृषीणामुत्तमं तदा। उवाच छन्दयन्कामैर्द्रुपदः स तपस्विनम्
Recognizing the joy of the eminent sages, Drupada addressed the ascetic, desiring to request him.
येन मे कर्मणा ब्रह्मन्पुत्रः स्याद्द्रोणमृत्येव। उपयाज चरस्वैतत्प्रदास्यामि धनं तव
O Brahman, by what act may I obtain a son equal to Drona in prowess? Perform that rite, Upayaja, and I will give you wealth.
नाहं फलार्थी द्रुपद योऽर्थी स्यात्तत्र गम्यताम्
I am not one who seeks rewards, Drupada; let whoever desires them go there.
आराधयिष्यन्द्रुपदः स तं पर्यचरत्तदा। ततः संवत्सरस्यान्ते द्रुपदं द्विजसत्तमः
Drupada then served him, striving to please him; at the end of a year, the best of twice-born spoke to Drupada.
उपयाजोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं काले मधुरया गिरा। ज्येष्ठो भ्राता न मेऽत्याक्षीद्विचरन्विजने वने
Upayaja spoke at the proper time with gentle words: 'My elder brother never neglected me while wandering alone in the forest.'
अपरिज्ञातशौचायां भूमौ निपतितं फलम्। तदपश्यमहं भ्रातुरसांप्रतमनुव्रजन्
While following my brother, I saw a fruit fallen on the ground, whose purity was unknown.
विमर्शं हि फलादाने नायं कुर्यात्कथंचन। नापश्यत्फलं दृष्ट्वा दोषांस्तस्याऽऽनुबन्धिकान्
He never took fruit without careful consideration; seeing the fruit, he observed its faults and those connected to it.
विविनक्ति न शौचार्थी सोऽन्यत्रापि कथं भवेत्। संहिताध्ययनस्यान्ते पञ्चयज्ञान्निरूप्य च
He does not distinguish for purity; how could he do so elsewhere? At the end of studying the Samhitas and after determining the five sacrifices—
भैक्षमुञ्छेन सहितं भुञ्जानस्तु तदा तदा। कीर्तयत्येव राजर्षे भोजनस्य रसं पुनः
He would eat alms gathered by gleaning, and repeatedly praised the taste of food, O royal sage.
संहिताध्ययनं कुर्वन्वने गुरुकुले वसन्। भैक्षमुच्छिष्टमन्येषां भुङ्क्ते स्म सततं तथा
While studying the Samhitas, living in the teacher’s house in the forest, he would always eat the leftovers of others as alms.
कीर्तयन्गुणमन्नानामथ प्रीतो मुहुर्मुहुः। एवं फलार्थिनस्त्समान्मन्येऽहं तर्कचक्षुषा
Praising the quality of food, he was repeatedly delighted; thus, desiring fruit, I judge him to be the same, by the eye of reasoning.
तं वै गच्छेह नृपते त्वां स संयाजयिष्यति
Go to him, O king; he will perform the sacrifice for you.
उपयाजवचः श्रुत्वा याजस्याश्रममभ्यगात्। जुगुप्समानो नृपतिर्मनसेदं विचिन्तयन्
Hearing Upayaja’s words, the king approached Yaja’s hermitage, feeling repulsed and pondering in his mind.
भृशं संपूज्य पूजार्हमृषिं याजमुवाच ह। गोशतानि ददान्यष्टौ याज याजय मां विभो
He honored the sage Yaja, worthy of respect, and said: 'O Yaja, perform the sacrifice for me, and I will give you eight hundred cows.'
द्रोणवैरान्तरे तप्तं विषण्णं शरणागतम्। ब्रह्मबन्धुप्रणिहितं न क्षत्रं क्षत्रियो जयेत्
Tormented by enmity with Drona, dejected and seeking refuge, his mind set on a Brahmin, a Kshatriya cannot conquer the Kshatriya.
तस्माद्द्रोणभयार्तं मां भवांस्त्रातुमिहार्हति। येन मे कर्मणा ब्रह्मन्पुत्रः स्याद्द्रोणमृत्यवे
Therefore, you ought to protect me here from the fear of Drona, so that, by your action, O Brahman, I may have a son who will be the cause of Drona's death.
अर्जुनस्यापि वै भार्या भवेद्या वरवर्णिनी। स हि ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो ब्राह्मे क्षात्रेऽप्यनुत्तमः
Let a woman of excellent complexion become Arjuna's wife, for he is the foremost among those who know Brahman, unsurpassed in both Brahmanical and Kshatriya qualities.
ततो द्रोणस्तु माऽजैषीत्सखिविग्रहकारणात्। क्षत्रियो नास्ति तुल्योऽस्य पृथिव्यां कश्चिदग्रणीः
Then Drona should not defeat me because of rivalry among friends; there is no Kshatriya on earth equal to him, none who leads.
भारताचार्यमुख्यस्य भारद्वाजस्य धीमतः। द्रोणस्य शरजालानि रिपुदेहहराणि च
The showers of arrows and the weapons that destroy enemy bodies of Drona, the wise chief preceptor of the Bharatas, son of Bharadvaja—
षडरत्नि धनुश्चास्य खड्गमप्रतिम तथा। स हि ब्राह्मणवेषेण क्षात्रं वेगमसंशयम्
He possesses a six-jewel bow and an incomparable sword; indeed, though clad as a Brahman, he wields Kshatriya power without doubt.
प्रतिहन्ति महेष्वासो भारद्वाजो महामनाः। कार्तवीर्यसमो ह्येष खट्वाङ्गप्रतिमो रणे
The great-minded Bharadvaja, mighty with bow, strikes down his foes; he is equal to Kartavirya and comparable to Khatvanga in battle.