The Brahmana said: -
1. There lived at the source of the Gangas a great Rishi of rigid vows and great wisdom and of severest austerities; his name was Bharadvaja.
2. One day when the Rishi came to the Ganges to perform his ablutions, he saw the Apsara Gritachi who came before him and who now stood there after her ablutions.
3. A wind rose on the banks of the river and made the cloth (of the Apsara) fall from her body. Seeing her nude, the Rishi was filled with desire.
4. He was a Brahmachari from his boyhood and (therefore) as soon as his mind felt the influence of desire, his vital fluid dropped down. The Rishi held it in a Drona (water-pot).
5. From that pot was born a son, the learned Drona and he studied all the Vedas and the Vedangas.
6. Bharadvaja had a friend, who was a king by the name of Prishata. He had a son, called Drupada.
7. That son of Prishata, that best of the Kshatriyas, went daily to the hermitage and played and studies with Drona.
8. After Prishata’s death, Draupada succeeded him as king. (About this time) Drona heard that (Parashu) Rama was going to distribute away all his wealth.
9. Going from the forest, the son of Bharadvaja (Drona) thus spoke to Rama, O excellent Brahmana, know me to be Drona. I have come for obtaining wealth.
Rama said: -
10. O Brahmana, after giving away all I have now left only my body. Ask from me either my body or weapons.
Drona said: -
11. You should give me all your weapons vugethor with the knowledge of hurling and recalling them.
The Brahmana said: -
12. Saying “Be it so”, the descendant of Bhrigu gave him (the weapons) and having received them, Drona considered himself crowned with success.
13. Obtaining from Rama that great weapon called Brahmastra, Drona became exceeding glad and acquired superiority over all men.
14. Thereupon that powerful son of Bharadvaja went to that best of men Draupada and said, “Know me to be your friend.”
Drupada said: -
15. One of low birth can never be the friend of one whose lineage is pure. He who is not a carwarrior can never be the friend of one who is; he who is not a king can never be a friend one who is. Therefore why do you desire (to revived) our old friendship?
The Brahmana said: -
16. Being determined to humiliate the Panchala king, that intelligent man (Drona) went to the city of Hastinapur, the capital of the Kurus.
17. Thereupon Bhishma, taking with him his grandsons with much wealth, offered them to the intelligent Drona as his pupils.
18. With the intention of humiliating Draupada, Drona called together all his pupil and he spoke thus to them and to the sons of Kunti.
19. O sinless eyes, when you will be all experts in arms, you must give me as the preceptorial fee that which I cherish in my heart.” Arjuna and others said to the preceptor, “Be it so.”
20. When all the Pandavas became experts in arms and sure in aim, then Drona thus spoke demanding his preceptorial fee.
Drona said: -
21. The son of Prishata, Drupada is the king of Chatravati. Take from him that kingdom and bestow it soon on me.
The Brahmana said: -
22. Then the five sons of Pandu defeated Drupada in battle and taking him prisoner along with his ministers, they offered him to Drona.
Drona said: -
23. O king, I again solicit your friendship. He who is not a king should not be a friend of a king.
24. Therefore, O Yajnasena, I shall divide this kingdom amongst ourselves. You will be the king of the country lying on the south banks of the Bhagirathi and I shall be that on the north banks.
The Brahmana said: -
25. Being thus addressed by the intelligent son of Bharadvaja, the Panchala king spoke thus to that excellent Brahmana, that best of all wielders of aims Drona,
26. “O high-souled son of Bharadvaja, be blessed. Let it be. Let there be everlasting friendship between us as you desire.”
27. Thus addressing each other and establishing excellent friendship between themselves, Drona and the Panchala king those two chastisers of foes, went away to the place whence they came.
28. The thought of that humiliation didnot (however) leave the king’s mind for a single moment. Being miserable in mind, the king wasted away.
Thus ends the hundred and sixty eighth chapter, the birth of Draupadi, in the Chaitraratha of the Adi Parva.