द्रोणेन वैरं द्रुपदः संस्मरन् न शशाम ह ॥
क्षात्रेण च बलेनास्य नापश्यत् स पराजयम् ॥
हीनं विदित्वा चात्मानं ब्राह्मणेन बलेन च ॥
पुत्रजन्म परीप्सन् वै स राजा तद् अधारयत् ॥
अहिच्छत्रं च विषयं द्रोणः समभिपद्यत ॥
एवं राजन्न् अहिच्छत्रा पुरी जनपदायुता ॥
युधि निर्जित्य पार्थेन द्रोणाय प्रतिपादिता ॥
droṇena vairaṃ drupadaḥ saṃsmaran na śaśāma ha ||
kṣātreṇa ca balenāsya nāpaśyat sa parājayam ||
hīnaṃ viditvā cātmānaṃ brāhmaṇena balena ca ||
putrajanma parīpsan vai sa rājā tad adhārayat ||
ahicchatraṃ ca viṣayaṃ droṇaḥ samabhipadyata ||
evaṃ rājann ahicchatrā purī janapadāyutā ||
yudhi nirjitya pārthena droṇāya pratipāditā ||
'Remembering his enmity with Drona, Drupada could not lay it to rest; and by kshatriya strength he saw no way to defeat him. Having recognized himself as inferior to Drona in brahminical power as well, that king, desiring the birth of a son capable of it, held this in mind. And the region of Ahichchhatra Drona obtained for himself. Thus, O king, the city of Ahichchhatra together with its territory, having been conquered in battle by Partha (Arjuna), was given over to Drona.'
a34cf267e8ee · published Jul 12, 2026, 4:53:33 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the circle of enmity closes, and at once a new one begins to turn. It is telling that Drupada, unable to overcome Drona either by force or by ascetic power, turns the whole of his thirst for revenge into a longing for an avenging son. This is evil perpetuating itself: an unforgiven injury does not die but seeks itself an heir; and from this longing will be born Dhrishtadyumna (destined to slay Drona) and Draupadi (around whom the war will blaze up). It is telling how far a single unwholesome act can reach: Drupada's old arrogant word bred Drona's grievance, the grievance bred captivity, the captivity bred a fresh thirst for revenge, and that in turn bred the birth of children whose fates will be woven into the great war. Scripture thus reveals the fearsome fertility of enmity: a single unforgiven wrong spawns a chain of calamities stretching across generations; and only forgiveness could cut it short — but forgiveness is precisely what both men lack.