drona -the free encyclopedia

Upload: karthick-selva

Post on 02-Jun-2018

220 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    1/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona 1/10

    Drocrya as commander-in-chiefof the Kaurava army.

    DronaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    In the epic Mahbhrata, Drona(Sanskrit: , droa) orDronacharya(Sanskrit: , drocrya) was the royal guruto Kauravas and Pandavas. He was a master of advanced militaryarts, including the Devstras. Arjuna was his favorite student.Droa's love for Arjuna was second only to his love for his sonAhvatthma. He was considered to be a partial incarnation of

    Bhaspati.[1]

    Contents

    1 Birth and early life

    1.1 Guru Paraurma1.2 Droa and Drupada

    2 As a teacher

    2.1 The ball and thering

    2.2 Arjuna, the favorite pupil

    2.3 Treatment of Ekalavya and Kara

    2.3.1 Ekalavya

    2.3.2 Karna2.4 Revenge upon Drupada

    3 Drocrya in thewar

    3.1 Abhimanyu's killing

    4 Yudhihira's capture and Drocrya's death

    5 Modern assessment

    6 See also

    7 References

    7.1 Sources

    7.2 Citations

    Birth and early life

    Droaimplies that he was not gestated in a womb, but outside the human body in a droa(vessel or a basket).

    The story of Droa's birth is related dramatically in Mahbhrata, Book I: di Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section

    CXXXI.[2]Bharadvja went with his companions to the Gag River to perform his ablutions. There he behelda beautiful apsara named Ghritachi(Ghtc) who had come to bathe. The sage was overcome by desire, causing

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharadwajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwatthamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_mythological_wars#Devastrashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandavashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mah%C4%81bh%C4%81ratahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apsarahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharadwajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brihaspatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwatthamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_mythological_wars#Devastrashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandavashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauravashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mah%C4%81bh%C4%81ratahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dronacharya_as_commander_in_chief._jpg.jpg
  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    2/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona 2/10

    him to produce a reproductive fluid. Bharadvja Muni captured the fluid in a vessel called a Droa, andDrocrya himself sprang from the fluid thus preserved. Droa would later boast that he had sprung fromBharadvja without ever having been in a womb.

    Drocrya spent his youth in poverty, but studied religion and military arts such as archery, in which he gainedexpertise, together with the then prince of Pacla, Drupada. Drupada and Drocrya became close friends.

    Drocrya married Kipi, the sister of Kipa, the royal teacher of the princes of Hastinapura. Like Droahimself, Kip and her brother had not been gestated in a womb, but outside the human body (see Kip page).Kpi and Droa had a son, Avatthma.[3]

    Guru Paraurma

    Learning that Paraurma was giving away his possessions to brhmaas, Droa approached him.Unfortunately, Parasurama only had his weapons left. He offered to give Drona the weapons as well as theknowledge of how to use them. Thus, Drona obtained all of his weapons, including the very powerful

    Brahmastra. With Parasurama's knowledge, Drona became an acharya.[4]

    Droa and Drupada

    For the sake of his wife and son, Droa desired freedom from poverty. Remembering the promise given byDrupada, he decided to approach him to ask for help. However, King Drupada refused to even recognize theirfriendship.

    Drupada gave Droa a long and haughty explanation of why he was rejecting him. Friendship, said Drupada, ispossible only between persons of equal stature in life. As a child, he said, it was possible for him to be friendswith Droa, because at that time they were equals. But now Drupada had become a King, while Drocryaremained a luckless indigent. Under these circumstances, friendship was impossible. However, he said he wouldsatisfy Drocrya if he begged for alms befitting a Brahmin, rather than claiming his right as a friend. Droa

    went away silently, but in his heart he vowed revenge.[2][5]

    As a teacher

    Drocrya's legend as a great teacher and warrior is marred by notoriety from his strong moral and socialviews, which inspire great debates about morality and dharma in the Mahbhrata epic.

    The ball and the ring

    Drocrya went to Hastinapura, in a hope to open a school of military arts for young princes, with the help of

    King Dhtarra.[6][6]One day, he saw a number of young boys, the Kauravas and Pandavas, gathered arounda well. He asked them what the matter was, and Yudihira, the eldest, replied that their ball had fallen into thewell and they did not know how to retrieve it.

    Drocrya laughed, and mildly rebuked the princes for being helpless over such a plain problem. Droa firstthrew in a ring of his, collected some blades of grass, and uttered mystical Vedic chants. He then threw the

    blades into the well one after another, like spears. The first blade stuck to the ball, and the second stuck to thefirst, and so on, forming a chain. Droa gently pulled the ball out with this rope of grass.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_chanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yudhisthirahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandavashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauravashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhritarashtrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastinapurahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahminhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drupadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmastrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahminhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasuramahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwathamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kripahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastinapurahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kripahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kripihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drupadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchala
  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    3/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona 3/10

    The test of Dronacharya

    In a feat that was even more amazing to the boys, Droa then chanted Vedic mantras again and fired a grassblade into the well. It struck within the center of his floating ring and rose out of the well in a matter of moments,retrieving Droa's ring. Excited, the boys took Drocrya to the city and reported this incident to Bhma, theirgrandfather.

    Bhma instantly realized that this was Droa, and - his prowess having been exemplified - asked him to becomethe Guru of the Kuru princes, training them in advanced military arts. Droa then established his Gurukula nearthe city, where princes from numerous kingdoms around the country came to study under him. This village cameto be known as Guru-Gram ("guru" - teacher, "gram" - village), and has now developed into the city ofGurgaon.

    Arjuna, the favorite pupil

    Of all the Kaurava and Pava brothers training under Droa,Arjuna emerged as the most dedicated, hard-working and mostnaturally talented of them all, exceeding even Droa's own sonAvatthma. Arjuna assiduously served his teacher, who was greatly

    impressed by this devoted pupil.[7][7]

    Arjuna surpassed Droa's expectations in numerous challenges. WhenDrocrya tested the princes' alertness and ability by creating anillusion of a crocodile attacking him and dragging him away, most ofthe princes were left dumbfounded. Arjuna, however, swiftly firedarrows to slay the illusioned animal, and Drocrya congratulatedArjuna for passing this test. As a reward, Droa gave Arjuna mantrasto invoke the super-powerful divine weapon of Brahma known asBrahmstra, but told Arjuna not to use this invincible weapon against

    any ordinary warrior. The weapon had a sharp edge surroundedbelow by three heads of Lord Brahma.

    In a great challenge, Droa set up a wooden bird upon a tree, andfrom across the adjacent river, asked the princes to shoot it down bystriking its eye. When prince Yudihira tried first, Droa asked him what he saw. Yudihira replied that he sawDroa, his brothers, the river, the forest, the tree and the bird. Droa replied that Yudihira would fail and asksanother prince to step forward. The others, even Ashwatthama, gave the same reply, and Drocrya wasdisappointed with all. But when Arjuna stepped forth, he told Drocrya that he saw only the eye of the birdand nothing else. Droa asked him to shoot, and Arjuna did strike the bird down in the eye.

    Drona asked the cook never to serve food to Arjuna in the dark and also tells the cook that he should not tellArjuna about this order from Drona. One day Arjuna was eating food and the light was put off by the wind.Arjuna noted that even in complete darkness, by practice, hands would reach one's mouth. This struck Arjuna,and he started to practice archery in darkness. He began training by night to use his weapons in absolute

    darkness, and steadily achieved a great level of skill.[7][8][8][9]Droa was greatly impressed by Arjuna'sconcentration, determination and drive, and promised him that he would become the greatest archer on earth.Droa gave Arjuna special knowledge of the Devstras that no other prince possessed.

    After some time, Arjuna earned Ashwatthama's jealously. When Ashwatthama demanded that Drona give himproof of Arjuna's excellence, Drona complied. Droa gave each prince a pot to fill with water before heimparted lessons. He gave his son Avatthma a wide-necked pot unlike the others' narrow-necked ones, andgave him special knowledge, when others took time to return. But Arjuna used his knowledge of a mystical

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devastrashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yudhisthirahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmastrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwathamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurgaonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurukulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuru_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhishmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Test_of_Dronacharya.jpg
  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    4/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona 4/10

    water weapon, Varunastra to fill his pot swiftly and started returning as early as Ashwatthama. Ashwatthamaapologized to his father for doubting him. Drona responded that while he loved Ashwatthama as his son, as a

    guru, he loved Arjuna because of Arjuna's excellence.[7][8][8][9]

    Treatment of Ekalavya and Kara

    [10][11][12][13]

    Ekalavya

    A strong criticism of Drocrya springs from his behavior towards Ekalavya and his strong bias in favor of

    Arjuna.[14]

    Ekalavya was the son of a Nida chief (tribal), who came to Drocrya for instruction. Drocrya refused totrain him along with the katriya princes because Ekalavya was not a katriya prince. Many sources report thatin addition, Eklavya's father was a commander of the Kingdom of Magadha, which was ruled by Emperor

    Jarasandha. At that time, Jarasandha, having never been conquered by Pandu, had been building an empire inEast-India; relations between Hastinapur and Magadha were rough. Drona feared that Eklavya would havebecome an unconquerable warrior for a rival army and felt an obligation to defend the land that gave him asylum,even at the cost of teacher-student ethics. Hence, Drona rejected the request of Eklavya to be his teacher.Ekalavya began study and practice by himself, having fashioned a clay image of Drocrya. Solely by hisdetermination, Ekalavya became a warrior of exceptional prowess, with abilities to be better than the youngArjuna.

    One day, a dog's barking disturbed a focused Ekalavya. Without looking, Ekalavya fired arrows that sealed upthe dog's mouth. The Kuru princes saw this dog running, and wondered who could have done such a feat. They

    saw Ekalavya, who announced himself as a pupil of Droa.

    Arjuna reported this to Drona. Droa visited Ekalavya with the princes. Ekalavya promptly greeted Drona as hisguru. Heavily, Drocrya asked Ekalavya for a Dakia. When Ekalavya promised anything, Drocryaasked for Ekalavya's right thumb. Though his expression faltering, after confirming the request, Ekalavyaunhesitatingly cut off and handed to Drocrya, despite knowing that this would irreparably hamper his archeryskills. Cleverly, Drona both defends his promise to Arjuna as well as his obligation to protect Hastinapur bydisarming a potential threat.

    Karna

    Drocrya similarly rejected Karna, as he wasn't a prince. The school established by Drocrya belongedonly to the princes of Hastinapur and her allies. Humiliated, Karna vowed to learn nonetheless, and obtained theknowledge of weapons and military arts from Drona's own teacher Paraurma. Thus, Droa inadvertently laidthe foundation for Karna's great rivalry with Arjuna.

    Revenge upon Drupada

    On completing their training, Drocrya asked the Kauravas to bring him Drupada bound in chains.

    Duryodhana, Dusana, Yuyutsu, Vikara, and the remaining Kauravas even with dronas son Aswattamaattacked Pacla with the Hastinapur army.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastinapurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aswattama&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vikar%E1%B9%87a&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuyutsuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dushasanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duryodhanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drupadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauravashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasuramahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakshina#Gurudakshinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuru_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_asylumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarasandhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commanderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%E1%B9%A3atriyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishadhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekalavyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru
  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    5/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona 5/10

    Drocrya became the ChiefCommander of the Kuru Army for 5days of the war.

    They failed to defeat the Pacla army, whereupon Drocrya sent Arjuna and his brothers for the task. Thefive Pavas attacked Pacla with another army. Arjuna defeated Drupada, as ordered.

    Drocrya took half of Drupada's kingdom, thus becoming his equal. He forgave Drupada for his misdeeds,but Drupada desired revenge. He performed a Yaja to have a son who would slay Drocrya and a daughterwho would marry Arjuna. His wish was eventually fulfilled and thus were born Dhdyumna, the slayer ofDrocrya, and Draupad, the consort of the Pandavas.

    Drocrya in the war

    Drocrya had been the preceptor of most kings involved in theKuruketra, on both sides.

    Drocrya strongly condemned the sending into exile of Pavasby the wicked prince Duryodhana and his brothers and for theirabusive treatment of the Pavas, beside usurping their kingdom.But being a servant of Hastinpura, Drocrya was duty-bound to

    fight for the Kauravas, and thus against his favorite Pavas.

    Dronacharya was one of the most powerful and destructive warriorsin the Kurukshetra War. He was an invincible warrior, whom noperson on earth could defeat. He single-handedly slayed hundreds ofthousands of Pandava soldiers, with his powerful armory of weaponsand incredible skill.

    After the fall of Bhma, he became the Chief Commander of theKuru Army for 5 days of the war.

    He was also the mastermind behind a devious method to surroundand kill Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu, because he could not find any other

    means to defeat Abhimanyu in battle.[15]He was also extremely hurtby Abhimanyu, and stayed in battle, only because he had to.

    Abhimanyu's killing

    See Also: Abhimanyu, Arjuna

    On the 13th day of battle, the Kauravas challenged the Pavas to break a spiral shaped battle formationknown as the Chakravyuha(see Wars of Hindu Mythology). Drocrya as commander formed this strategy,knowing that only Arjuna and r Kia would know how to penetrate it. He asked the King of theSaaptaka army to distract Arjuna and r ka into another part of the battlefield, allowing the main Kuruarmy to surge through the Pava ranks.

    Arjuna's young son Abhimanyu had the knowledge to penetrate the formation but didn't know the way out. Atthe request of Yudhishtra, Abhimanyu agreed to lead the way for the Pava army and was able to penetratethe formation. However, he was trapped when Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu, held the Pava warriors whowere following him, at bay. Abhimanyu did not know how to get out of the Chakra Vyuham, but embarkedupon an all-out attack on the Kuru army, killing tens of thousands of warriors single-handedly. He even heldKarna and Drocrya himself at bay. Amazed at his prowess and courage, he was considered by the Kurus tobe his father's equal in greatness.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindhuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayadrathahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhimanyuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wars_of_Hindu_Mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakravyuhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandavahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauravahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhimanyuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhimanyuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhishmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duryodhanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurukshetra_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preceptorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draupadihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhristadyumnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yagnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drupadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandavashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Duryodhana_showing_his_army_to_Drona.jpg
  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    6/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona 6/10

    The Pavas' nephew Abhimanyu battles theKauravas and their allies

    Death of Drocrya

    With his army facing decimation, Droa asked Karna,Duna and others to simultaneously attackAbhimanyu, to strike down his horses and his charioteerand to disable his chariot from different angles. Leftwithout support, Abhimanyu began fighting from theground, whereupon all the Kuru warriors simultaneouslyattacked him. Exhausted after his long, prodigious feats,

    Abhimanyu was weakened, and grabbing one of thewheels of his chariot, blocked all the attacks, buteventually was killed by the simultaneous attack byseven kaurava warriors.

    All this was an extreme violation of the rules of war,whereby a lone warrior may not be attacked by morethan one, and not at all if he is disabled or withoutchariot. This devious murder of his son enraged Arjuna,

    who swore to kill Jayadratha, whom he saw as responsible for his son's death. If he failed to do so the next day,

    he would step into fire and commit suicide.Duryodhana lined up the entire Kuru army, with an entire akauhi (approximately 10,745 soldiers) in front ofArjuna, to thwart his mission. But Arjuna exhibited his great prowess, and before the end of the day slayedmore than two hundred thousand warriors, including the ruler of Kamboja, Sudakshin single-handedly. With thehelp of Krishna, Jayadratha was killed right before sunset.

    On the whole, Arjuna devastated a large portion of the Kuru army dramatically in just one day of fighting.

    Yudhihira's capture and Drocrya's death

    In the war, Yudhihira was targeted by Drocrya to get captured.For this plan to be successful, Duryodhana invited King Bhagadatta,who was a son of the asura Naraksura, in order to fight against thePavas.

    Bhagadatta was the King of Prajokiyatsa (in present-day Assam orBurma). As Krishna had killed his father Narakasur, Bhagadattaagreed to join the Kauravas opposing Ka. But in spite ofBhagadatta's support, Droa failed to capture Yudhihira alive. The

    Kuru commander and preceptor did, however, kill hundreds andthousands of Pava warriors, thus advancing Duryodhana's cause.

    On the 15th day of the Mahbhrata war, Droa got instigated byKing Dhritarastra's remarks of being a traitor. He used theBrahmadanda against the Pavas. Brahmadanda was a spiritualdivine weapon that contained the powers of seven greatest sages ofSantana Dharma (Sapta is). But Drocrya did not impart thisknowledge either to Arjuna or to Avatthma. Thus, he proved to beunconquerable on the 15th day of war.

    Kiha knew that it was not possible to defeat Drochrya when he had bow and arrow in his hands. Kihaalso knew that Drocrya loved his son Avatthma very dearly. So, Kiha suggested to Yudhihira andother Pava brothers that, if he were convinced that his son was killed on the battlefield, then Drocryawould be so sad that he would lay down all his arms on the ground and it would be easier to kill him.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwatthamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saptarshihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmadandahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhritarastrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagadattahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narakasurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prajokiyatsahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandavashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narakasurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asurahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagadattahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yudhisthirahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudakshinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kambojahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshohinihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayadrathahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_of_warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dushasanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Death_of_Drona.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Pandavas%27_nephew_Abhimanyu_battles_the_Kauravas_and_their_allies.jpg
  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    7/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona 7/10

    In order to find a way out, Kiha suggested Bhma to kill an elephant by name Avatthma and claim toDrocrya that he has killed Droacharya's son Avatthma. After killing the elephant as suggested; he loudlyproclaimed that he had killed Avatthma. Drocrya however, did not believe Bhma's words andapproached Yudhisthira. Droa knew of Yudhihira's firm adherence to Dharma and that he would never everutter a lie.

    When Drocrya approached Yudhihira and questioned him as to whether his son was dead, Yudhihiraresponded with the cryptic 'Avatthma is dead. But it is an elephant and not your son'.

    Kiha also knew that it was not possible for Yudhihira to lie outright. On his instructions, the other warriorsblew trumpets and conches, raising a tumultuous noise in such a way that Drocrya only heard that"Avatthma was dead", but could not hear the latter part of Yudhihira's reply.

    Out of grief, and believing his son to be dead, Drocrya descended from his chariot, laid down his arms andsat in meditation. Closing his eyes, his soul went to Heaven in search of Avatthma's soul. Dhihdyumnatook this opportunity and beheaded the unarmed Drochrya.

    Modern assessment[11]

    Drona partiality towards Arjuna is examined in many academic texts. Any great teacher would feel enthralled ifhis protege so excels as Arjuna did, thus, so was Droa. Drona thus acted unfairly, when he demanded as gurudakshina, the right thumb of Ekalavya. This treatment of Eklavya, as well as his rebuking of Karna, is criticizedas being biased against lower castes. In some folklore, Sarasvati cursed Drocrya with an unarmed,humiliating death for Drona's actions against Ekalavya and Karna. Sarasvati said that knowledge belonged to all,and that it was an acharya's duty to spread that knowledge everywhere. Despite whatever reasons he gave,

    Drona cheated Ekalavya and Karna to achieve something for himself-to protect his promise to Arjuna that hewould make Arjuna the world's greatest archer, as well as his oath to Hastinapur. The Supreme Court of Indiaalso condemned (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-06/india/28378711_1_tribals-sc-bench-dronacharya) the act of Drocrya as unethical, upholding everyone's right to knowledge.

    Droa was somewhat parallel to Bhma both in martial prowess, and in his unwavering commitment to fightingfor the kingdom of Hastinapur irrespective of who the ruler was and whether or not the cause was just. LikeBhishma, Drona is criticized for his pride and conceit, siding with evil despite knowing of and acknowledging therighteousness of the Pandava cause. However, he was compelled to side with the Kauravas because he wasindebted to their royal household, which had provided him and his family with shelter, wealth and an occupation.

    Krishna criticized this reasoning as mere pride-Drona wanted to put his obligation to Hastinapur over dharma sothat no one questioned his honor.

    Criticism is leveled at Drocrya for remaining a mute spectator and not having protested the humiliation ofDraupad by Dusana and Duryodhana following the fateful game of dice.

    Similarly, Drocrya was criticized for many of his actions during the war:

    First, as a brahmin, and secondly, as the princes' teacher, he should have removed himself from the

    battlefield.

    Drocrya tried to use divine weapons against the Pandava's common foot-soldiers. As he does so, a

    voice from the heavens told him not to use divine weapons so carelessly. As a teacher, he had even more

    of an obligation to not do so. However, Drona argued that his first obligation was to defeating his enemy

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astra_(weapon)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahminhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachisihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duryodhanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dushasanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draupadihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandavahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adharmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastinapurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhismahttp://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-06/india/28378711_1_tribals-sc-bench-dronacharyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastinapurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasvatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekalavyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakshina#Gurudakshinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjuna
  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    8/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona 8/10

    and defending his soldiers, by whatever means he possessed.

    It may also be concluded that he was responsible for the devious and brutal murder of Abhimanyu, as it

    was he who had suggested simultaneously attacking and disabling the tired, outnumbered, and trapped

    warrior

    Droncharya's overarching actions during the war are portrayed differently. Undoubtedly, when he became

    commander-in-chief, the rules of war were averted. Divine weapons were used against ordinary soldiers, warcontinued throughout the night, warriors no longer engaged each other one-on-one (like against Abhimanyu),etc. Specifically, he was willing to try and end the war by capturing Yudhishthira, while Karna was not, as heconsidered it lacking honor. In some versions of the Mahabharatha, this evidence is used to justify the castesystem, as the point is subtly made that the reason why Drona was willing to break the rules of war and engagein less honorable acts was because he was a brahmin, not a kshatriya. He is compared directly to Karna, who,not even knowing that he was a kshatriya, still intuitively understood the kshatriya code/way-of-life. In otherversions, Drona's differences in strategy are shown as a difference in philosophy-Drona believed, that as thecommander-in-chief of the Kaurava army, his goal was to ensure the protection of his soldiers through anymeans necessary. By choosing to uphold the rules of war and the concept of honorable acts over his soldiers'

    lives, he would be doing them a disservice.

    Ultimately, all of these actions do lead to Drona's death in the war. In that way, Drona paid the ultimate price forhis crimes. He remains a revered figure in Hindu history, and a pillar of the Indian tradition of respecting one'steacher as an equal not only of parents, but even of God.

    The Government of India annually awards the Dronacharya Award for excellence in sports tutelage to the best

    sports teachers and coaches in India.[16]

    It is believed that the city of Gurgaon (literally - "Village of the Guru") was founded as "Guru Gram" by

    Drocrya on land given to him by Dhtarra, the king of Hastinapur in recognition of his teachings of martialarts to the princes, and the 'Drocrya Tank', still exists within the Gurgaon city, along with a village called

    Gurgaon.[17]

    See also

    The Mahabharata, by Ka Dharma

    Hindu mythology, Hinduism

    Wars of Hindu Mythology

    References

    Sources

    Wikisource: The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva/Sambhava Parva

    The Story of Droa - the Teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas (http://www.india-

    intro.com/religion/mahabharat/210-mahabharat-the-story-of-drona-teacher-of-kauravas-and-pandavas.html)

    Supereme Court of India on Droacharya: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-

    06/india/28378711_1_tribals-sc-bench-dronacharya

    http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-06/india/28378711_1_tribals-sc-bench-dronacharyahttp://www.india-intro.com/religion/mahabharat/210-mahabharat-the-story-of-drona-teacher-of-kauravas-and-pandavas.htmlhttp://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Mahabharata,_Book_1:_Adi_Parva/Sambhava_Parvahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wars_of_Hindu_Mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna_Dharmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastinapurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhritarashtrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurgaonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dronacharya_Awardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauravahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshatriyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahminhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharathahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yudhishthirahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astra_(weapon)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander-in-chiefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhimanyu
  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    9/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona 9/10

    Citations

    Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drona&oldid=623797606"

    Categories: Characters in the Mahabharata

    Thispage was last modified on 2 September 2014 at 02:08.Textis available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may

    1. ^EpicMythology With Additions and Corrections by Edward Washburn Hopkins

    (http://books.google.com/books?id=-

    H0eiuvcG5IC&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62&dq=B%E1%B9%9Bhaspati+drona+incarnation&source=bl&ots=jPHg8F

    O2J-

    &sig=syzcbbrVgBYUjA3evtT1LHz8d80&hl=en&ei=PF4gTLzBIoPjnAeuyrRU&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=resul

    t&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=drona&f=false)

    2. ^ abMahbhrata, Book I: Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section CXXXI. (http://www.sacred-

    texts.com/hin/m01/m01132.htm)

    3. ^EpicMythology With Additions and Corrections By Edward Washburn Hopkins

    (http://books.google.com/books?id=-

    H0eiuvcG5IC&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62&dq=B%E1%B9%9Bhaspati+drona+incarnation&source=bl&ots=jPHg8F

    O2J-

    &sig=syzcbbrVgBYUjA3evtT1LHz8d80&hl=en&ei=PF4gTLzBIoPjnAeuyrRU&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=resul

    t&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=drona&f=false)

    4. ^TheMahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa by Kisara Mohan Ganguly

    5. ^Mahbhrata, Book I: di Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section CXXXII. (http://www.sacred-

    texts.com/hin/m01/m01132.htm)

    6. ^ abMahbhrata, Book I: Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section CXXXIII (http://www.sacred-

    texts.com/hin/m01/m01134.htm)

    7. ^ abcdMahbhrata, Book I: di Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section CXXXV (http://www.sacred-

    texts.com/hin/m01/m01136.htm)

    8. ^ abcdMahbhrata, Book I: Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section CXXXIV (http://www.sacred-

    texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htm)

    9. ^ abSection CXXXV (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01136.htm)

    10. ^http://www.geni.com/people/EKALAVYA HARINYADHANU/6000000019060906785

    11. ^ abGuru Purnima : A day to worship for Guru | Brahmanarthay (http://ebrahmins.co.in/blog/index.php/guru-

    purnima-a-day-to-worship-for-guru/)

    12. ^About: Ekalavya (http://dbpedia.org/page/Ekalavya)

    13. ^Ekalavya the GuruDrohi | Chiraan's Astrology (http://chiraan.com/2009/05/07/ekalavya-the-gurudrohi/)

    14. ^Mahbhrata, Book I: di Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section XXXIV (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htm)

    15. ^TheMahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XLVI (http://www.sacred-

    texts.com/hin/m07/m07045.htm)

    16. ^Droacharya Award (http://www.webindia123.com/sports/awards/windron.htm)

    17. ^Gurgaon History (http://gurgaon.nic.in/history.htm)

    http://gurgaon.nic.in/history.htmhttp://www.webindia123.com/sports/awards/windron.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07045.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htmhttp://chiraan.com/2009/05/07/ekalavya-the-gurudrohi/http://dbpedia.org/page/Ekalavyahttp://ebrahmins.co.in/blog/index.php/guru-purnima-a-day-to-worship-for-guru/http://www.geni.com/people/EKALAVYAhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01136.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01136.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01134.htmhttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01132.htmhttp://books.google.com/books?id=-H0eiuvcG5IC&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62&dq=B%E1%B9%9Bhaspati+drona+incarnation&source=bl&ots=jPHg8FO2J-&sig=syzcbbrVgBYUjA3evtT1LHz8d80&hl=en&ei=PF4gTLzBIoPjnAeuyrRU&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=drona&f=falsehttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01132.htmhttp://books.google.com/books?id=-H0eiuvcG5IC&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62&dq=B%E1%B9%9Bhaspati+drona+incarnation&source=bl&ots=jPHg8FO2J-&sig=syzcbbrVgBYUjA3evtT1LHz8d80&hl=en&ei=PF4gTLzBIoPjnAeuyrRU&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=drona&f=falsehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_3.0_Unported_Licensehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Categoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drona&oldid=623797606http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Characters_in_the_Mahabharata
  • 8/11/2019 Drona -The Free Encyclopedia

    10/10

    9/5/2014 Drona - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registeredtrademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

    http://www.wikimediafoundation.org/http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Privacy_policyhttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Terms_of_Use