ब्राह्मण उवाच
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा ततस् तस्मै प्रददौ भृगुनन्दनः ॥
प्रतिगृह्य ततो द्रोणः कृतकृत्यो ऽभवत् तदा ॥
संप्रहृष्टमनाश् चापि रामात् परमसंमतम् ॥
ब्रह्मास्त्रं समनुप्राप्य नरेष्व् अभ्यधिको ऽभवत् ॥
ततो द्रुपदम् आसाद्य भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् ॥
अब्रवीत् पुरुषव्याघ्रः सखायं विद्धि माम् इति ॥
brāhmaṇa uvāca
tathety uktvā tatas tasmai pradadau bhṛgunandanaḥ ||
pratigṛhya tato droṇaḥ kṛtakṛtyo 'bhavat tadā ||
saṃprahṛṣṭamanāś cāpi rāmāt paramasaṃmatam ||
brahmāstraṃ samanuprāpya nareṣv abhyadhiko 'bhavat ||
tato drupadam āsādya bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān ||
abravīt puruṣavyāghraḥ sakhāyaṃ viddhi mām iti ||
The brahmin said: 'Parashurama, having said "so be it," gave him the weapons; having received them, Drona achieved his purpose. And, obtaining from Rama the most highly esteemed Brahma-weapon, with a rejoicing heart, he became the foremost among men. Then, coming to Drupada, the valiant son of Bharadvaja, the tiger among men, said: "Know me as your friend."'
3944bf3800fb · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:19:51 PM UTC
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Here Drona, enriched with knowledge, approaches his old friend as an equal in worth. It is telling that, having become 'the foremost among men,' he goes to Drupada not for alms but to recall their friendship: he brings not need but merit. Here is the purity of his intent: he comes to his friend with an open heart, trusting in the constancy of their old affection. Telling too is that his greatness lies in skill, not in rank: outwardly poor, he is rich in knowledge. Thus the scripture shows Drona's trust in old friendship; and this very trust will soon be shattered against the pride of the friend who has ascended the throne.