स म्यक् पूजयित्वा तं विप्रं विप्रर्षभस्तदा। ददौ प्रतिश्रयं तस्मै सदा सर्वातिथिव्रतः
Having duly honored that Brahmin, the best of Brahmins, always devoted to the vow of hospitality, gave him shelter.
ततस्ते पाण्डवाः सर्वे सह कुन्त्या नरर्षभाः। उपासाञ्चक्रिरे विप्रं कथयन्तं कथाः शुभाः
Then all the Pandavas, together with Kunti, those best of men, attended upon the Brahmin as he told auspicious stories.
कथयामास देशांश्च तीर्थानि सरितस्तथा। राज्ञश्च विविधाश्चर्यान्देशांश्चैव पुराणि च
He narrated the regions, the sacred places, the rivers, and the various wonders of kings, as well as the ancient lands.
स तत्राकथयद्विप्रः कथान्ते जनमेजय। पञ्चालेष्वद्भुताकारं याज्ञसेन्याः स्वयंवरम्
There, at the end of the stories, the sage recounted to Janamejaya the extraordinary self-choice ceremony of Yajñasenī among the Panchalas.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य चोत्पत्तिमुत्पत्तिं च शिखण्डिनः। अयोनिजत्वं कृष्णाया द्रुपदस्य महामखे
He described the birth of Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the birth of Śikhaṇḍin, the unnatural birth of Kṛṣṇā, and the great sacrifice of Drupada.
तदद्भुततमं श्रुत्वा लोके तस्य महात्मनः। विस्तरेणैव पप्रच्छुः कथां ते पुरुषर्षभाः
Hearing that most wondrous account about the great-souled one, those foremost men asked for the story in detail.
कथं द्रुपदपुत्रस्य धृष्टद्युम्नस्य पावकात्। वेदीमध्याच्च कृष्णायाः संभवः कथमद्भुतः
How did Dhṛṣṭadyumna, son of Drupada, arise from the fire, and how did Kṛṣṇā's wondrous birth occur from the altar?
कथं द्रोणान्महेष्वासात्सर्वाण्यस्त्राण्यशिक्षत। `धृष्टद्युम्नो महेष्वासः कथं द्रोणस्य मृत्युदः।' कथं विप्र सखायौ तौ भिन्नौ कस्य कृतेन वा
How did Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the mighty archer, learn all weapons from Droṇa, and how did he become the cause of Droṇa's death? O sage, how did those two friends become estranged, and for what reason?
एवं तैश्चोदितो राजन्स विप्रः पुरुषर्षभैः। कथयामास तत्सर्वं द्रौपदीसंभवं तदा
Thus prompted by those foremost men, O king, the sage narrated all that, the birth of Draupadī, at that time.
गङ्गाद्वारं प्रति महान्बभूवर्षिर्महातपाः। भरद्वाजो महाप्राज्ञः सततं संशितव्रतः
A great rain occurred at Gaṅgādvāra, and Bharadvāja, the highly wise and ever austere sage, was there.
सोऽभिषेक्तुं गतो गङ्गां पूर्वमेवागतां सतीम्। ददर्शाप्सरसं तत्र घृताचीमाप्लुतामृषिः
He went to bathe in the Gaṅgā, and saw the virtuous apsaras Ghṛtācī, who had arrived before, immersed in the river.
तस्या वायुर्नदीतीरे वसनं व्यहरत्तदा। अपकृष्टाम्बरां दृष्ट्वा तामृषिश्चकमे तदा
As she stood on the riverbank, the wind carried away her garment; seeing her thus, the sage desired her.
तस्यां संसक्तमनसः कौमारब्रह्मचारिणः। चिरस्य रेतश्चस्कन्द तदृषिर्द्रोण आदधे
His mind became attached to her, though he was a youthful celibate; after a long time, his seed was released, and the sage took it.
ततः समभवद्द्रोणः कुमारस्तस्य धीमतः। अध्यगीष्ट स वेदांश्च वेदाङ्गानि च सर्वशः
From that, Droṇa was born as a boy to that wise one; he learned the Vedas and all the branches of knowledge.
भरद्वाजस्य तु सखा पृषतो नाम पार्थिवः। तस्यापि द्रुपदो नाम तदा समभवत्सुतः
Bharadvāja had a friend named Pṛṣata, a king; at that time, Drupada was born as his son.
स नित्यमाश्रमं गत्वा द्रोणेन सह पार्षतः। चिक्रीडाध्ययनं चैव चकार क्षत्रियर्षभः
That son of Pṛṣata, always visiting the hermitage, played and studied together with Droṇa, though he was a foremost Kṣatriya.
ततस्तु पृषतेऽतीते स राजा द्रुपदोऽभवत्। द्रोणोऽपि रामं शुश्राव दित्सन्तं वसु सर्वशः
After Pṛṣata passed away, his son became King Drupada; Droṇa heard of Rāma distributing wealth to all.
वनं तु प्रस्थितं रामं भरद्वाजसुतोऽब्रवीत्। आगतं वित्तकामं मां विद्धि द्रोणं द्विजोत्तम
When Rāma went to the forest, Bharadvāja's son addressed him: 'Know me, Droṇa, O best of twice-born, as one who has come desiring wealth.'
शरीरमात्रमेवाद्य मया समवशेषितम्। अस्त्राणि वा शरीरं वा ब्रह्मन्नेकतमं वृणु
Today, only my body remains; choose either weapons or my body, O Brahman, whichever you wish.
अस्त्राणि चैव सर्वाणि तेषां संहारमेव च। प्रयोगं चैव सर्वेषां दातुमर्हति मे भवान्
You should grant me all the weapons, their destruction, and the use of all of them.
तथेत्युक्त्वा ततस्तस्मै प्रददौ भृगुनन्दनः। प्रतिगृह्य तदा द्रोणः कृतकृत्योऽभवत्तदा
Having said, 'So be it,' the son of Bhrigu then gave it to him; and having received it, Drona was then satisfied.
संप्रहृष्टमना द्रोणो रामात्परमसम्मतम्। ब्रह्मास्त्रं समनुज्ञाप्य नरेष्वभ्यधिकोऽभवत्
Drona, his mind elated, having obtained from Rama the highly esteemed Brahma weapon with permission, became superior among men.
ततो द्रुपदमासाद्य भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। अब्रवीत्पुरुषव्याघ्रः सखायं विद्धि मामिति
Then Bharadvaja's mighty son approached Drupada and said, 'Know me as your friend, O tiger among men.'
नाश्रोत्रियः श्रोत्रियस्य नारथी रथिनः सखा। नाराजा पार्थिवस्यापि सखिपूर्वं किमिष्यते
A non-learned man is not the friend of a learned one; nor is a charioteer the friend of a chariot-warrior; nor is a king the friend of a non-king—what friendship can there be before equality?
स विनिश्चित्य मनसा पाञ्चाल्यं प्रति बुद्धिमान्। जगाम कुरुमुख्यानां नगरं नागसाह्वयम्
Having thus resolved in his mind regarding the Panchala king, the wise one went to the city of the Kurus, named Nagasahvaya.
तस्मै पौत्रान्समादाय वसूनि विविधानि च। प्राप्ताय प्रददौ भीष्मः शिष्यान्द्रोणाय धीमते
To him, when he arrived, Bhishma gave grandsons and various treasures, presenting them to the wise Drona as disciples.
द्रोणः शिष्यांस्ततः पार्थानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। समानीय तु ताञ्शिष्यान्द्रुपदस्यासुखाय वै
Then Drona spoke these words to his disciples, the sons of Pandu, having assembled them for Drupada's discomfort.
आचार्यवेतनं किंचिद्धृदि यद्वर्तते मम। कृतास्त्रैस्तत्प्रदेयं स्यात्तदृतं वदतानघाः। सोऽर्जुनप्रमुखैरुक्तस्तथाऽस्त्विति गुरुस्तदा
There is something in my heart as the teacher's fee; O sinless ones, when you have mastered the weapons, that should be given—speak the truth.' Then, with Arjuna at their head, the disciples replied, 'So be it, teacher.'
यदा च पाण्डवाः सर्वे कृतास्त्राः कृतनिश्चयाः। ततो द्रोणोऽब्रवीद्भूयो वेतनार्थमिदं वचः
And when all the Pandavas had mastered the weapons and were firm in resolve, then Drona again spoke these words regarding his fee.
पार्षतो द्रुपदो नाम छत्रवत्यां नरेश्वरः। तस्मादाकृष्य तद्राज्यं मम शीघ्रं प्रदीयताम्
'Drupada, son of Prishata, is king in Chatravati; bring me his kingdom swiftly as my fee.'