Apasmāra

Drona was satisfied that all his students were skilled enough to use weapons, and therefore their training period was over. It was time to ask for Gurudhakshina from them. After assembling them together, he told them,“Defeat Drupada, the King of Panchala in  battle and bring him to me. This will be the Gurudhakshina (offering to the preceptor) that will satisfy me the most.” The Kuru princes marched to Panchala with their army and laid siege to the capital of Panchala. The troops were led by Duryodhana, his brothers and Karna. As the Kurus approached Drupada's capital, they informed the King of their desire for battle. King Drupada, not tolerating the attack on his kingdom, mounted his chariot and along with his brothers met the Kuru army head on. Duryodhana and his followers then competed with one another to see who could capture King Drupada first. Before the battle started, Arjuna saw the vanity of Duryodhana and his brothers. He therefore informed Drona, "O best of the b...

Seeing the princes enter adolescence, Bhishma began searching for a suitable teacher to tutor them in the science of warfare. One day, while the Kuru princes were playing with ball, it fell into the well. They gathered around the well to figure out a way to retrieve the ball. Drona who was on his way to meet kripa(brother-in-law), noticed the boys. Drona teased them by saying that it was shameful that the princes belonging to the Bhrata race could not retrieve the ball. He said that he would throw his ring also in the well and retrieve both the ball and the ring, using just a blade of grass, if only the princes could offer him a dinner that evening. Drona threw his ring into the dry well. He showed the princes the blades of grass he was carrying in his hand and told them that he would empower those grasses with his Mantras, make one blade of grass pierce the ball, create a chain using a few more blades and then pull up the ball. bring up the ball. He did exactly that....

Sage Bharadwaja was living at the source of the river Ganga, observing rigid vows. Once when he went to the river to perform his ablutions, he met Ghritachi, a celestial woman known as an Apsara. Seeing the beautiful woman emerging from the river after taking her bath, the sage was consumed with a burning desire. On seeing her clothes coming off her body, his vital fluid came out. The sage held it in a vessel called Drona. Eventually, Drona, the child, sprang out of the fluid preserved by the sage.  The child thus born studied the Vedas and other scriptures.  Bharadwaja taught his knowledge of arms to his illustrious disciple Agnivesa, who was born from fire. Agnivesa, in turn, taught the Science of Weapons to Drona. King Prishata, a great friend of Bharadwaja had a son by name  Drupada.  Drupada, came to the hermitage of Bharadwaja to study under the sage. He was studying in the company of Drona. They became good friends. Their friendship became so intim...

While Bhishma making preparations for his brother wedding. The eldest princess of kashi, Amba summoned him to her presence and said, "O Prince! You have carried away the three of us by force from our father's kingdom and are trying to marry us to your brother. However, even before the Swayamvara, I was in love with Salya,  king of Saubha, whose life you spared in battle. I had fully resolved to choose him as my husband in the Swayamvara. Knowing this, and the path of Dharma, you will realize that I cannot marry your brother. Please do what you feel is right." Bhishma saw the force of her argument. He said, "You should have made this clear when I abducted you! However, it does not matter much. I will make arrangements for you to be escorted to the kingdom of Salya. I will dower you like I would have for a sister of mine. Have no fear, you will be able to marry Salya." In accordance with his promise, Bhishma sent Amba to the court of Salya, escorted by his c...