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Drona, the son of a brahmana named Bharadwaja, after completing his study of 4he Vedas and the
Vedangas, devoted him self to the art of archery and became a great master.
Drupada, the son of the king of Panchala, who
was a friend of Bharadwaja, was a fellow-student of Drona in the hermitage and there grew
up between them the generous intimacy of youth.
Drupada, in his boyish enthusiasm, used often
to tell Drona that he would give him half his kingdom when he ascended the throne.After
completing his studies, Drona married the sister of Kripa, and a son Aswatthama was born
to them.
Drona was passionately attached to his wife and
son, and, for their sake, desired to acquire wealth, a thing which he had never cared for
before. Learning that Parasurama was distributing his riches among the brahmanas, he first
went to him; but he was too late as Parasurama had already given away all his wealth and
was about to retire to the forest.
But, anxious to do something for Drona, Parasurama offered to teach him the use of weapons, of which he was supreme master.
Author : Shri C. Raja Gopalachari
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