Sambhava Chapters 10-22 (118-130)
Births of Pandavas, Kripa, Kripi, Drona, Ashvatthama and Parashurama's Retirement
Intro
Sambhava is the origin story of the Kuru dynasty. Sambhava tells the story of the Pandavas and Kurus birth. Many principal characters are introduced. The story of Drona and Drupada, best friends turned enemies, sets the entire chain of destructive events in motion is told.
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Chapter 118-129 [Abridged]
Pandu’s wives Kunti and Madri.
Births of Pandavas
Pandu’s Death
Care of the Twins
1.
Vaishampayana said,
‘Pandu’s reign came and went.
Pandu took what’s his by force.
2.
Pandu’s sons by Madri are the twins Nakula and Sahadeva.
Pandu’s sons by Kunti are Yudhishthira, Bhimasena and Arjuna.
3.
Pandu passed whilst in the act in the forest.
Madri heard Pandu’s last gasps and sobbed in remorse.
4.
Driven mad by grief Madri entered Pandu’s crematory fire.
In relief Kunti reared Madri’s sons Nakula and Sahadeva thereafter.’
Notes
[2] All of Pandu’s sons are born of divine conception through his wives Madri and Kunti by way of Kunti’s curious mantra that a brahman whom she attended day and night left her with.
In any case, Yudhishthira is born to Dharma. The God of wind, Vayu, is Bhima’s father. Indra is Arjuna’s father. Madri, taking advantage of Kunti’s mantra, invoked both of the Ashvins - the old horse headed physicians to the Gods - and had the twins Nakula and Sahadeva by them. Incidentally the twins will be called out as the best sword fighters amongst Drona’s pupils. Imagining identical twins who share a mind flashing steel is a frightening thought. During Jayadratha’s abduction of Draupadi, Nakula is seen descending from his chariot with sword and hand, scattering the heads of Jayadratha’s soldiers like seeds.
Sahadeva was a secondary hero in the story of Jatasura.
The story of Kunti’s firstborn son Karna, born in secret and given up for adoption before marrying Pandu, is told -
Chapter 130
Artificial Births of Kripa & Kripi & Drona. Rise of Drona. Birth of Ashvatthama. Acquisition of Supreme Weapons.
1-4.
A sage named Gautama raised a son and daughter named Kripa and Kripi.
Kripa was a master in military science.
5-23.
Kripi married Drona the famed Kaurava preceptor.
But Kripa was the Kauravas first martial mentor.
24.
Bhishma was not satisfied by Kripa the military professor.
When Bhishma sought a replacement, he found Drona far better.
25.
Bhishma courted Drona’s service with humble patience.
Bhishma wanted one who fully understood martial science.
26.
Gangeya‘s thought process followed a chain of strength in kin.
Drona learned the Vedas.
Drona was Bharadvaja’s son.
Therefore Drona must be great.
Bhishma did not over-complicate.
27.
Bhishma offered to Drona both Pandavas and Kaurava cousin.
They would become proficient in every martial style.
28.
Bhishma wanted the holy warriors to have vigilant knowledge of weaponry.
Bhishma awakened the students to great glory.
29.
Drona accepted the wilder cousins as disciples.
Drona’s students soon became expert militants.’
30.
Janamejaya said,
‘Tell me how was Drona born?
Tell me how did Drona become an expert in arms?
31.
Tell me how his famous son Ashvatthama was born?
I am all ears to hear a glorious yarn.’
32.
Vaishampayana said,
‘A sage named Bharadvaja lived near the source of the river Ganges.
Bharadvaja took strict vows so serious.
33.
One day Bharadvaja gave ablution to the river Ganges.
Bharadvaja made primordial harmonic sounds to match the river’s hum purr.
34-35.
As Bharadvaja poured ghee into the water body the river surged with a roar.
As the surge passed Bharadvaja saw a beautiful young well-endowed woman swum ashore.
She was an Apsara named Ghritachi.
Bharadvaja felt the primal urge to be thirsty.
36-39.
Bharadvaja ogled Ghritachi as she walked on the riverbank with hungry greed.
An overly excited Bharadvaja ejaculated semen before the Apsara disappeared from sight into the reed.
A stunned Bharadvaja placed his emission into the vessel from which he poured ghee.
A body formed in the vessel and the one named Drona was born in the cottage.
Drona hungered for knowledge.
Drona studied the Vedas and Vedangas like college.
Bharadvaja taught Drona to use fiery weapons.
Drona learned to deploy devastating Agneya phenomenon.
40.
At the time Drona was born Bharadvaja had a friend named Prishata whose wife gave birth to a son named Drupada.
Prishata was a Lord.
41.
Everyday Drupada played with Drona in the yard.
Everyday Drupada studied alongside Drona in class.
42.
Soon King Prishata passed.
So Prince Drupada became king of the Panchalas.
43.
At the same time Prishata left, Bharadvaja also went to death.
Drona continued to live at the hermitage and gave penance.
44.
Drona’s ceaseless study of the Vedas and Vedangas soon burned away all his sin.
Soon Drona became greedy for offspring.
45.
Drona gave Sharadvana’s daughter Kripi a ring.
Kripi stoked the Agnihotra and treated Drona like a king.
46.
Gautama’s daughter Kripi had a difficult birth.
As Kripi’s son emerged, he neighed like Ucchaishrava - the mythical horse.
47-48.
The baby’s coarse cry was heard from afar on.
A voice called out in response to bless Drona’s newborn son.
‘Ashvatthama’s strength would grow every day on earth.
Someday Ashvatthama will show everyone his worth.’
49-50.
Drona dwelled learning military science without tiring.
Soon Drona heard Jamadagni’s son Parashurama retiring.
51.
Rama’s retirement meant he was giving up all possessions before leaving to the forest.
Drona set his heart and mind on acquiring Rama’s best.
52.
Drona left with a legion of disciples to the Mahendra mountains desiring to find Rama in the mood for charity.
Drona blazed with austerity.
53.
Soon Bharadvaja’s son saw the renowned killer in a shady wood.
Bhrigu’s descendant Parashurama drenched the earth twenty-one times in blood.
54.
Drona approached Rama on bended knee.
Drona said, ‘I was born in the Angirasa dynasty.’
55.
Drona bowed his head to the earth and twice touched Rama’s feet.
‘As you retire, knowledge I seek.’
56-59.
Bharadvaja’s son Drona said to Jamadagni’s son, Parashurama, slayer of kshatriyas.
‘I am Bharadvaja’s son, born from a pot instead of a womb.
I desire your illustrious wealth to safekeep.
I am worthy of a leap.
I beg.
I pray.
I give penance every day.’
60.
Rama said,
‘I’ve no doubts about your devotion.
But I’ve given my wealth to Brahmans already.
61.
To Kashyapa the sage I’ve left the earth and ocean.
62.
My body is all that remain.
Apart from my weapons nothing is left to gain.
63.
Please tell me Drona what pleases you.
Do you want my arms too?’
64.
Drona said,
‘Yes please give all your weapons to me.
Please tell me how to sic their destructive energy on my enemy.’
65.
‘Ok. Let it be that way’, Rama said.
From Rama Drona received a cache of raw-boned weapons with Rama’s how to use lessons.
66.
Drona grinned armed to the teeth.
Drona thought of his dear friend King Drupada giddy with glee.
Drona left the mountain dreaming about a handsome preceptor’s fee.
Notes
[1] Vaishampayana ibid.
[26] Gangeya is Bhishma. Bhishma's mother was the river Ganges.
[39] Agni is fire. The Agneya is the weapon.
[44] Vedas and Vedangas are scriptures.
[45] Agnihotra is sacrificial fire. Sahadeva keeps the sacrificial fires for the Pandavas stoked.
Sharadvana is Gautama, father of Kripi and Kripa. In the abridged section, Kripi and Kripa also have non-womb births - like the Kauravas and Drona.
[50] Parashurama is an incarnation of Vishnu. Oft-referred to as Rama - Parashurama is not the Rama of the Ramayana.
Parashurama killed all the kshatriyas twenty-one times - the blood of the warriors filling the five lakes around the Kurukshetra - the battleground of the war between the Pandavas and Kauravas takes place.
[51] Rama is Parashurama.
[53] Bhrigu is a sage born from the left side of Brahma's heart. Brahma the creator is one of the three principal deities in Hinduism - along with Shiva, the destroyer, and Vishnu, the preserver.
[56] Jamadagni is Parashurama's father.
[61] Kashyapa is a mythical sage who fathered many of the Gods, Demons and animals through Daksha's daughter.