[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c5.1033 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.1033 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c5.1033 - **Language:** English ### [c5.1033](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.1033) The aim of Droṇa was to get some capable disciples. He reached Hastināpura and stayed in disguise with Gautama for a while. Once the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas who were boys were engaged in the game of Kāra (a kind of cricket play) outside the palace premises. The ball fell in a well by chance. The princess stood round the well and began to ponder how to get the 'ball' out of the well. They tried all means but in vain. At that time a Brāhmaṇa of dark complexion, short and aged, came by that way. It was Droṇa. The boys gathered round the old man. Droṇa threw his ring also into the well and said: "Your kingly qualities are very poor. Your education in using weapons is not complete. If you give me a meal I will get both the ring and the ball together" The boys agreed to the conditions. Droṇa took a grass and evoked arrow into it by mantra (spell) and shot it at the 'Kāra'. The next grass was shot at the first grass. It struck the first grass. Thus he shot grasses one after another till the grass reached the brink of the well and by pulling the grass he took the ball out. In the same way he took the ring also out of the well. When they got the 'Kāra' the boys stood round Droṇa and asked him what he would like as the reward for his deed. Droṇa said that they need only tell Bhīṣma how a short man of dark complexion took the ball out of the well. Accordingly the boys went to Bhīṣma and told him everything. Immediately Bhīṣma understood that it was Droṇa. Bhīṣma thought that Droṇa was the best person to teach the princes. So Droṇa was brought to the palace and was engaged as the teacher in archery. (M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapters 130 and 131). - [Previous: c5.1032](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.1032) - [Next: c5.1034](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.1034) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5) ## Cites (1) - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.1033](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.1033) · Pramāṇa