Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c24.58

c24.58

Kṛpa brings us down to the reign of Śantanu of Hastināpura. A Bharadvāja had his hermitage at Gaṅgādvāra¹ and was of Āṅgiras' lineage.² Pṛṣata was then king of N. Pañcāla and was his friend. Pṛṣata's son Drupada and Bharadvāja's son Droṇa were playmates,³ but Drupada on becoming king despised Droṇa. Droṇa was a great archer and warrior and taught Dhṛtarāṣṭra's sons and the Pāṇḍavas all the art of war.⁴ With the Pāṇḍavas' aid he conquered Drupada (p. 116), and apparently became himself king of N. Pañcāla. He married Kṛpī, and their son was Aśvatthāman.⁵ This Bharadvāja is said to have taught Agniveśa the art of the āgneya weapon, and Agniveśa taught it to Droṇa.⁶