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.'
धार्तराष्ट्राश्च ते भीताः पाञ्चालान्पाण्डवादयः। धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च सहिताः पुनर्द्रोणेन चोदिताः
The sons of Dhritarashtra, together with the Pandavas and the Panchalas, being urged again by Drona, became fearful.
यज्ञसेनेन संगम्य कर्णदुर्योधनादयः। निर्जिताः संन्यवर्तन्त तथा ते क्षत्रियर्षभाः
Having encountered Yajnasena, Karna, Duryodhana, and others, those best of warriors were defeated and withdrew.
ततः पाण्डुसुताः पञ्च निर्जित्य द्रुपदं युधि। द्रोणाय दर्शयामासुर्बद्ध्वा ससचिवं तदा
Then the five sons of Pandu, having conquered Drupada in battle, brought him, bound with his ministers, and presented him to Drona.
महेन्द्र इव दुर्धर्षो महेन्द्र इव दानवम्। महेन्द्रपुत्रः पाञ्चालं जितवानर्जुनस्तदा
Arjuna, unconquerable like Mahendra, conquered the Panchala king as Mahendra conquered the demon.
तद्दृष्ट्वा तु महावीर्यं फल्गुनस्य महौजसः। व्यस्मयन्त जनाः सर्वे यज्ञसेनस्य बान्धवाः
Seeing the great might and energy of Phalguna, all the relatives of Yajnasena were astonished.
प्रार्थयामि त्वया सख्यं पुनरेव नराधिप। अराजा किल नो राज्ञः सखा भवितुमर्हति
'I ask you again for friendship, O lord of men; for a non-king should not be the friend of a king.'
अतः प्रयतितं राज्ये यज्ञसेन त्वया सह। राजाऽसि दक्षिणे कूले भागीरथ्याहमुत्तरे
Therefore, the kingdom has been divided between us, Yajnasena, with you on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi and I on the northern.
एवमुक्तो हि पाञ्चाल्यो भारद्वाजेन धीमता। उवाचास्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठं द्रोणं ब्राह्मणसत्तमम्
Thus addressed by the wise Bharadvaja, the Panchala king spoke to Drona, the best of Brahmins and foremost among masters of weapons.
एवं भवतु भद्रं ते भारद्वाज महामते। सख्यं तदेव भवतु शश्वद्यदभिमन्यसे
So be it, O wise Bhāradvāja; let that very friendship endure forever, as you desire.
एवमन्योन्यमुक्त्वा तौ कृत्वा सख्यमनुत्तमम्। जग्मतुर्द्रोणपाञ्चाल्यौ यथागतमरिन्दमौ
Having thus spoken to each other and established an unsurpassed friendship, Droṇa and Drupada, those subduers of foes, departed as they had come.