Birth of Kripa and Kripi

Mahabharata Adiparva Sambhavaparva section 131

Sri Sadgurbhyoh namah

Dhritarashtra appointed Kripa, the foremost among those who know science of arms and weapons to teach his children and Pandu's children.

Janamejaya asks Vaisampayana, "Who is Kripa, what was his birth, how did he become knowledgeable in arms?"

Vaisampayana recounts, "Sage Gautama had a son named Saradwat. He was born with a bow and arrow in hand. He studied science of weapons extensively and does intense penance to acquire further knowledge in that area. Indra became alarmed that this Sage might overtake his position, and sends an apsara named Janapadi to disturb his penance. Sage Saradwat gets disturbed by the beauty of apsara, and as a result, two children are born in clump of heath. The sage runs away leaving the children. A king by name Santanu, out of pity, takes them home and rears them up. As pity is the reason that he took them, the male child is named Kripa (pity, mercy), and female child as Kripi.

After sometime sage Saradwat comes to King Santanu, and lets him know that they are his children and teaches Kripa whatever he knows about science of weapons. All the princes of the land started learning art of war and weapons from Kripa.

Hari OM