Drupada's Friendship with Drona and Drona's Family Life
Drona and Drupada grow up as friends, studying and playing together in the hermitage. But when their fathers die, Drupada becomes a king and Drona, obeying his father's instructions, becomes a householder, marrying Kripi and fathering a son with a strange omen.
Bharadvaja had a friend who was a king named Prishata. Prishata’s son was Drupada. This bull among Kshatriyas would always go to Bharadvaja’s hermitage to play and study with Drona. Their friendship was formed in the equality of childhood.
Time passed. Prishata died, and Drupada became the king, a mighty-armed lord of men over northern Panchala. The illustrious Bharadvaja also ascended to heaven.
Now alone, Drona obeyed the instructions of his father. Driven by the desire for a son, he married Kripi, the daughter of Sharadvat. Kripi, a descendant of the sage Goutama, was always engaged in agnihotra (the fire ritual), the pursuit of dharma, and self-control. She bore Drona a son.
As soon as the boy was born, he neighed like the divine horse Ucchaihshrava. On hearing this, an invisible voice spoke from the sky: “Since this boy neighed like a horse and his voice carried over a long distance, he will be known as Ashvatthama.”
Bharadvaja’s son was extremely pleased with his child. He continued to live there, raising his family, and through relentless practice, became extremely skilled in Dhanur Veda. He was a master of weapons, a husband, and a father. His childhood friend was now a king. Their paths had diverged, rooted in the stations they were born to hold.