The Story of Kripa and Drona (Mahabharata Series 30)

The Story of Kripa and Drona

Once, when King Shantanu had gone hunting with his soldiers, one of the soldiers came across two infants crying helplessly without any guardian. Nearby lay a bow, arrows, and a deer-skin garment. Observing these, the soldier surmised that the children must be the offspring of a Brahmin skilled in archery. He carefully carried both the infants and the weapons and presented them before the king.

Shantanu, moved by compassion, took the children to his palace. There he performed the appropriate rites such as Jatakarma and Namakarana. Since the children were raised under his grace and compassion (kripa), he named the boy Kripa and the girl Kripi.

Sharadvan Reveals Himself

Sharadvan, who had earlier fled from his hermitage out of fear after the incident with the celestial maiden, was living elsewhere, engaged in the practice of archery. One day, through his yogic insight, he came to know that his children were being raised under the protection of King Shantanu.

Secretly approaching his son, he revealed to him his lineage and family traditions. He also instructed him in the four principal methods of Dhanurveda and the hidden secrets of various weapons. Having thus imparted his knowledge, Sharadvan returned to his hermitage.

In the science of archery, four principal methods are recognized:

Mukta – the release of arrows.

Amukta – the use of handheld weapons such as swords.

Muktāmukta – the use of weapons that can be recalled or withdrawn after being launched.

Mantra-mukta – the use of divine weapons invoked through mantras, which cannot be withdrawn once released.

Having received this knowledge from his father, Kripa soon became a master of the science of archery. In later years, many royal princes—including the sons of Dhritarashtra, the sons of Pandu, and princes of the Yadava and Vrishni dynasties—studied the art of warfare under him.

Arrival of Dronacharya

However, Bhishma realized that the princes required even more advanced training. Therefore, he sought to bring to Hastinapura the greatest master of archery in the world.

He invited Drona, who was renowned as an unparalleled authority in the sciences of warfare. Bhishma respectfully requested him to become the preceptor of the Kuru princes. Pleased by the honor shown to him, Drona accepted Bhishma’s request and took the princes of the Kuru dynasty as his disciples.

Within a short time, he trained them to become highly skilled warriors.

The Birth of Drona

There once lived a great sage named Bharadvaja, who was deeply devoted to austerities and sacred vows. He resided in a hermitage on the banks of the sacred river Ganga.

Once, desiring to perform the grand sacrifice known as Agnishtoma, Bharadvaja went to the river for ritual purification, accompanied by several other sages. At that moment, a celestial nymph named Ghritachi, renowned for her beauty and youth, had just completed her bath in the river.

As she emerged from the waters and began to change her wet garments, she accidentally slipped, causing her clothes to fall away. At the sight of the celestial maiden in such a state, Bharadvaja’s mind was momentarily disturbed, and his divine energy was released.

Being a great ascetic who always adhered to strict discipline, the sage preserved that sacred energy with proper rites and placed it within a drona—a wooden vessel.

After some time, from that vessel emerged a radiant child. Since the child had been born from a drona, he was named Drona.

Drona’s Education

Drona grew in Bharadvaja’s hermitage like the waxing moon in the bright fortnight. He mastered the Vedas and Vedangas and became proficient in the science of archery as well.

Earlier, Bharadvaja had taught the science of archery to his disciple Agnivesha, a sage believed to have been born from the sacrificial fire. He had also instructed him in the secret of the Agneya Astra.

Following Bharadvaja’s instructions, Agnivesha later taught Drona the science of archery, the use of divine weapons, and the secrets of many powerful astras, making him a master of the martial sciences.

The Friendship of Drona and Drupada

King Prishata of Panchala was a close friend of Sage Bharadvaja. Prishata had a son named Drupada, whom he sent to Bharadvaja’s hermitage for education.

During their time there, Drona and Drupada developed a deep friendship. Their bond grew so strong that they could hardly remain apart. The two friends would often discuss their dreams and plans for the future.

However, after the death of King Prishata, Drupada ascended the throne of Panchala. Around the same time, Bharadvaja too departed from this world.

Drona continued to live in his father’s hermitage, devoted to austerities. Following his father’s final instructions and desiring to have a son, he married Kripi, the daughter of the sage Gautama and the sister of Kripa.