Drona

Mahabharata Adiparva Sambhavaparva section 132
Sri Sadgurbhyoh namah

Bhishma, desirous of imparting higher education in the art of warfare and weapons choose Drona as the teacher (acharya) to Kauravas and Pandavas, after they learn from Kripa acharya.

Janamejaya asks Vaisampayana "Who is Drona ? How did he know about weapons more than Kripacharya?".

Vaisampayana recounts, "Sage Bharadwaja was an ascetic of rigid vows. He performed Agnihotra sacrifice and went to river Ganga to perform his ablutions. There an apsara named Ghritachi was taking her bath. Ghritachi comes out of the river with disheveled and disordered dress. Bharadwaja, on seeing her, is desirous of her and as a result he loses control. His vital seed is collected in a vessel called Drona, out of which springs forth a son, who is named as Drona. He is born outside of the womb of a woman.

He grows up in the hermitage of his father, learns veda, art of warfare, and science of weapons.

During this time, the King of Panchala, Prishata, had a son Prince Drupada, who also used to frequent the hermitage of Bharadwaja to learn about weapons. He was a friend of Drona.

Drupada became king of Panchala after his father, and Drona's father also passed away. Drona devoted his time to study of scriptures, teaching and study of weapons, austereties and penance.

Drona married Kripi, sister of Kripa, and they had a son. The son, upon birth made a cry that sounded like a neighing of divine horse Uchchaisravas. They named him Ashvathama (horse like cry).

During that time, the illustrious son of Jamadagni, Lord Parasurama, scion of the line of Bhrigu, conquerer of all , and possessor of entire earth, declared that he will give away all his wealth to whoever seeks. Sage Parasurama, gave away all his gold and other wealth to Brahmanas, and gave away the land he acquried to Sage Kasyapa. Drona approached him reverentially, and introduced himself as son of Bharadwaja. Parasurama a.k.a Jaamadagnya, says "I have nothing left now apart from my life and weapons, you are free to ask me any of these." Drona requests Parasurama to impart him the knowledge of all weapons, how hurl them, how to revoke them. Parasurama instructs him on all deadly astras.

Drona, satisfied with this, leaves for the capital of Panchala to meet his old friend Drupada. He reaches the Royal palace, and says to Drupada, "Drupada, my friend, I have come to meet you. You promised me half your kingdom when you become a king, I have come to claim that".

Drupada scoffs at him and says "How can you be my friend. Only equals can be friends. It is true that during childhood we were friends for a brief period. I am a king now, and you are nothing. If you insist I can give you shelter for a day, and meals to fill your stomach."

Hearing this, Drona is filled with tears , fury and wrath. He says "Very well" and leaves the palace. He starts walking towards Hastinapur (Kingdom of Kauravas, now Delhi), having decided what is his next step

Hari OM.