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{{About|Pandavas and Kauravas' teacher}}
{{short description|Guru of the Pandava and Kaurava in Hindu epic, Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| image = Drona.jpg
| caption = Drona, the second Commander-in-chief of Kaurava Army
| family = {{bulleted list|[[Bharadwaja]] (father)|Ghritachi (spiritual mother)}}
| relatives = {{bulleted list|[[Garga (sage)|Garga]] (half-brother)|[[Ilavida]] (half-sister)|Katyayini (half-sister)|[[Kripa]] (brother in law)}}
| spouse = [[Kripi]]
| children = [[Ashwatthama]]
| lbl21 = Disciples
| data21 = {{hlist|[[Pandavas]]|[[Kauravas]]}}
| name =
| series =
| home =
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr = Information
}}
'''Droṇa''' ({{lang-sa|द्रोण|Droṇa}}), also referred to as '''Dronacharya''' ({{lang-sa|द्रोणाचार्य|Droṇācārya}}), was royal [[preceptor]] to the [[Kaurava]]s and [[Pandava]]s. He was a friend of [[Guru Sukracharya]], the [[guru]] of [[Asura]]s, including [[Mahabali]]. He was the son of the sage [[Bharadwaja]] and a descendant of the sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]]. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the divine weapons or [[Astra (weapon)|Astras]]. He was also the second commander-in-chief of kaurava army from 11th day to 15th day. He failed 4 times in capturing [[Yudhisthira]] (11th, 12th day, 14th day when [[Arjuna]] was busy fighting to kill [[Jayadratha|Jaydratha]] and 14th night. He was beheaded by [[Dhrishtadyumna]] when he was meditating to release his soul on the battlefield.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

==Birth and early life==
On a river side, Bharadwaja saw an [[apsara]] named [[Ghritachi]]. He was filled with desire and his seed fell into a pot or basket. Inside it, a baby boy developed who was named Drona as he was born in a pot.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp076.htm Vishnu Purana -Drauni or Asvathama as Next saptarishi] Retrieved 2015-02-15</ref>{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

Drona spent his childhood in his father's Ashrama. He was taught by Agnivesa, a disciple of his father, the knowledge of the Agneya weapon. There he met [[Drupada]], the prince of Panchala. They became best friends and Drupada promised Drona that he would give him anything. They studied together under [[Bharadwaja|Bharadwaj]]. Later, Drupada returned to his palace and Drona went to [[Parashurama|Parshuram]], an incarnation of [[Vishnu]], and learnt weapon skills. He also gained many celestial weapons.<ref>Ganguly [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/ The Mahabharata] Retrieved 2015-02-15</ref>

Time passed and Drupada became the king of Panchala. Drona married [[Characters in the Mahabharata|Kripi]], the sister of [[Kripa]] and had a son named [[Ashwatthama]]. Drona was not interested in material wealth and became poor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Drona (Dronacharya) {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary and Characters from Mahabharata|url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_character.php?id=76|access-date=2020-09-15|website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref>

===Drona's Insult===
Once, Drona's son [[Ashwatthama]] was playing with his friends. His friends were drinking milk and he wanted to drink it too. But his friends mixed flour with water and gave it to him. This enraged Drona and he remembered [[Drupada|Drupada's]] promise. He went to Drupada's palace and asked him to give cows. But Drupada, filled with pride and ego, refused. He also insulted Drona by asking how a beggar could be his friend. This outraged Drona and he wanted to take revenge from Drupada.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Drona – Teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas|url=http://www.india-intro.com/religion/mahabharat/210-mahabharat-the-story-of-drona-teacher-of-kauravas-and-pandavas.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024835/http://www.india-intro.com/religion/mahabharat/210-mahabharat-the-story-of-drona-teacher-of-kauravas-and-pandavas.html|archive-date=13 July 2011}}</ref>

==Teaching the Kuru princes==
[[File:Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists - The Trial of the Princes.jpg|thumb|Drona orders Arjuna to shoot the arrow.]]
Burning in rage, Drona wanted to take revenge from Drupad. While at [[Hastinapur]], he came across the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] princes at play, and was able to use his abilities to help the princes solve some of their problems. He used grass to take out the ball from which they were playing. Amazed, the princes went to their grand uncle [[Bhishma]]. Bhishma instantly realized that this was Drona, and asked him to become the [[Guru]] of the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] princes, training them in advanced military arts.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC|title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata|last=Pattanaik|first=Devdutt|date=2010-01-01|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780143104254|page=59|language=en|chapter=19}}</ref>

Of all the Kaurava and Pandava brothers training under Drona, [[Arjuna]] emerged as the most dedicated, hard working and most naturally talented of them all, exceeding even Drona's own son [[Ashwathama|Ashwatthama]]. Arjuna assiduously served his teacher, who was greatly impressed by his devoted pupil. Arjuna surpassed Drona's expectations in numerous challenges.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01136.htm Mahabharata, Book I: Ādi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section CXXXV]</ref> As a reward, Drona gave Arjuna mantras to invoke the super-powerful divine weapon of [[Brahma]] known as [[Brahmastra|Brahmashirshastra]], but told Arjuna not to use this invincible weapon against any ordinary warrior.

When Arjun, inspired by his brother [[Bhima]]'s nocturnal eating, mastered archery in absolute darkness, Drona was moved. Drona was greatly impressed by Arjuna's concentration, determination, and drive, and promised him that he would become the greatest archer on earth. Drona gave Arjuna special knowledge of the divine [[Astra (weapon)|Astras]].{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

Drona was partial especially to [[Arjuna]] and [[Ashwatthama]]. Drona dearly loved his son [[Ashwatthama]] and as a guru, he loved [[Arjuna]] more than anyone.

===Ekalavya===
[[File:Ekalavya%27s_Guru_Dakshina.jpg|thumb|Eklavya sacrifices his thumb]]
A strong criticism against Dronacharya is towards his unkind treatment of [[Ekalavya]]. However, it can be argued that Dronacharya was merely abiding by his duty.

Ekalavya, the son of a [[Nishadha]] chief, approached Dronacharya seeking his instruction. But since his father was a general under Jarasandh, the ruler of [[Magadha]] (an enemy state), Dronacharya refused to train him alongside Kauravas and Panadavas. Undeterred, Ekalavya began study and practice by himself, having fashioned a clay idol of Dronacharya's to watch over his training. Solely by his determination, Ekalavya became an archer of exceptional skill.

One day, Ekalavya's focus in training was disturbed by the barking of a dog belonging to the Kuru princes. Ekalavya fired arrows that filled up the dog's mouth without spilling blood or causing injury to the dog. The Kuru princes were amazed by the trick and looked for the archer when they saw Ekalavya, who introduced himself as a pupil of Drona's. This enraged Arjuna, who accused Ekalavya of treachery and demanded Drona to punish him for illegitimate study. Drona was in a tangle: on the one hand, he greatly admired Ekalavya's skill and dedication; on the other hand, Ekalavya had indeed been training as his pupil without his consent, albeit being guided only by his idol. To resolve the matter, Drona accepted Ekalavya as his student, but demanded the thumb on his dominant hand as [[Dakshina#Gurudakshina|gurudakshina]], or teacher's payment, in order to limit his abilities and further growth in archery, thus pacifying Arjuna. Ekalavya, being an exemplary disciple, immediately cut off his thumb and presented it at Drona's feet. Moved by Ekalavya's sacrifice, Drona blessed him to attain mastery even without his thumb.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Srivastava|first=Diwaker Ikshit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmxCDwAAQBAJ&q=+eklavya|title=Decoding the Metaphor Mahabharata|date=2017-12-11|publisher=One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-93-5201-000-4|language=en}}</ref>

===Drona's Revenge===

After Drona completed the formal training of the Kuru princes, he demanded that they invade Panchala and bring him Drupada as their Gurudakshina. Arjuna succeeds in defeating Drupada and brings the captured king to Drona. Drona reminds Drupada about their days of friendship and his false promise before taking away half of the Panchala kingdom.<ref>[https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01141.htm Mahabharata, Book I: Ādi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section CXL]</ref> Drona would make Ashwatthama the king of the annexed half of the Panchala kingdom. This action would lead Drupada to perform a sacrificial yagna in order to beget a son who would kill Drona. The sages Upayaja and Yaja helped him to beget such a son Dhrishtadyumna. The sacrificial fire also yielded a woman, Draupadi <ref>[https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01170.htm Mahabharata, Book I: Ādi Parva, Chaitraratha Parva, Section CLXIX]</ref>

==Weapons of Drona==

Drona held the invincible sword of Lord [[Brahma]]. [[Bhishma]] once told the story of this sword to Pandava prince [[Nakula]]. This sword was the primordial weapon created by the gods for the destruction of evil. The name of the sword was [[Asi (Mahabharata)|Asi]], the personification and the primary energy behind all the weapons ever created. As per Bhishma, the constellation under which the sword was born is called Krittika, [[Agni]] is its deity, Rohini is its Gotra, [[Rudra]] is its high preceptor and whoever holds this weapon obtains victory for sure.<ref name="Asi the weapon of Lord Brahma">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a165.htm | title=Sword of Drona | access-date=13 May 2016}}</ref>

==Role in the Kurukshetra War==

Dronacharya had been the [[preceptor]] of most kings involved in the [[Kurukshetra War]], on both sides. Dronacharya strongly condemned [[Duryodhana]] exiling the Pandavas, as well as the Kauravas' general abuse towards the Pandavas. But being a servant of [[Hastinapura]], Dronacharya was duty-bound to fight for the Kauravas, and thus against his favorite Pandavas. After the fall of [[Bhishma]] on the tenth day, he became the Chief Commander of the Kuru army on 11th day of war.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Wo3JNkBTtIC&q=drona+the+commander&pg=PA594|title=The Mystery of the Mahabharata: Vol. V: The Explanation of the Epic Part II|publisher=India Research Press|language=en}}</ref>

Duryodhana manages to convince Drona to try to end the war by capturing [[Yudhishthira]]. Though he killed hundreds and thousands of Pandava soldiers, Drona failed to capture Yudhishthira on days eleven and twelve of the war, as [[Arjuna]] was always there to repel his advances.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-06-27|title=18 Days of The Mahabharata War – Summary of the War|url=https://vedicfeed.com/18-days-of-the-mahabharata-war-summary-of-the-war/|access-date=2020-09-01|website=VedicFeed|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07045.htm The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-vadha Parva: Section XLVI]</ref>

===Abhimanyu's killing===
[[File: The Pandavas' nephew Abhimanyu battles the Kauravas and their allies.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The Pandavas' nephew Abhimanyu battles the Kauravas and their allies]]

On the 13th day of battle, Dronacharya formed the ''[[Chakravyuha]]'' strategy to capture Yudhishtira, knowing that only Arjuna and [[Krishna]] would know how to penetrate it. The [[Trigartas]] were distracting Arjuna and Krishna into another part of the battlefield, allowing the main Kuru army to surge through the Pandava ranks.

Unknown to many, Arjuna's young son [[Abhimanyu]] had the knowledge to penetrate the formation but did not know the way out. At the request of Yudhishthira, Abhimanyu agreed to lead the way for the Pandava army and was able to penetrate the formation. However, he was trapped when [[Jayadratha]], the king of [[Sindhu]], held the Pandava warriors who were following him, at bay. Abhimanyu did not know how to get out of the [[Chakravyuha]], but embarked upon an all-out attack on the Kuru army, killing tens of thousands of warriors single-handedly. Drona is impressed with Abhimanyu and praises him endlessly, earning the ire of [[Duryodhana]]. With his army facing decimation and spurred on by Duryodhana's criticisms, Drona asked the Kaurava warriors to simultaneously attack Abhimanyu, to strike down his horses and his charioteer and to disable his chariot from different angles. Left without support, Abhimanyu began fighting from the ground. Exhausted after his long, prodigious feats, Abhimanyu was eventually killed.

After that, several who fought against Abhimanyu were criticized for their murder, such as [[Bhurishravas|Bhurishrava]], Drona, or [[Karna]].

===Fourteenth Day===
The devious murder of his son enraged Arjuna, who swore to kill [[Jayadratha]] the next day or immolate himself. Drona constructed 3 combined vyuhas to protect Jayadratha, first was the Shakata vyuha then was Padma Vyuha and last was the Srigantaka vyuha and at its rear was Jayadratha and stood at the head of the box formation or shakata vyuha

In the early part of the day, [[Arjuna]] and he duel, and Arjuna is unable to bypass his preceptor. With Krishna's prodding, Arjuna circumvents Drona. When Duryodhana rages at Drona, Drona replies and that he intends to capture Yudhishthira while Arjuna is away and would only hasten their victory.<ref name="GangulyDrona">K M Ganguly (1883–1896). [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05168.htm The Mahabharata, Book 7 Drona Parva] sacred-texts.com, October 2003, Retrieved 2016-08-29</ref> In a notable battle, Drona attempts to capture [[Yudhishthira]] but is stopped by [[Dhristadyumna]]. Drona severely wounds his friend's son, disarming him and forcing him to retreat. When he attempts to chase after Dhristadyumna, he is checked by [[Satyaki]], who insults his teacher's teacher and issues a challenge. Their combat is described as fierce and despite being able to hold off Drona for several hours, Satyaki eventually tires and has to be rescued by the [[Upapandavas]].<ref name ="GangulyDrona" />

Later in the day, Yudhishthira sends Satyaki to aid Arjuna. When Satyaki comes upon Drona, he circumvents him, saying he must follow in his teacher's footsteps. When Yudhishthira later sends [[Bhima]], Drona recounts what happened with Arjuna and Satyaki, and hence makes sure he does not allow Bhima also to circumvent him. Angrily rebuking him, Bhima shatters Drona's chariot with his mace. Drona takes up another chariot, only for Bhima to smash that one as well. In total, Bhima smashes eight of Drona's chariots and is able to bypass his guru.

== Death==
[[File:Sadiq, bhima uccide l'elefante asvatthama, india del nord, periodo mogul, 1598.jpg |thumb| Bhima kills an elephant named Asvatthama, By Artist Sadiq from Razmnama]]
On the 14th night (as the kuravas were not ready to stop) of the Mahabharata war, Drona is instigated by [[Duryodhana|Duryodhana's]] remarks of being a traitor as he was not able to protect Jaidrath. Sensing his end is near, he used the [[Brahmastra]] against the common Pandava soldiers. At that moment, all the [[Saptarshi|Sapta Ṛṣis]] appeared on the sky and requested Drona to retract this ultimate weapon used on ordinary soldiers. Dronacharya obeyed, retracting the weapon. The rishis continue and berate Drona for violating the rules of war, criticizing him for using divine weapons so indiscriminately. Drona reiterates that he is sworn to do all he can to protect [[Hastinapur]], and that, moreover, he wants to do so for all that [[Dhritarashtra]] has given him.<ref name ="GangulyDrona" />

On the 15th day, Drona kills many Pandava soldiers, including [[Virata|Virat]] in arrow-play and [[Drupada]] in a sword fight. Lamenting the deterioration of their friendship, Drona pays his respect to Drupada's corpse. Drona and his son [[Ashwatthama]] unleashed havoc upon the entire Pandava army that day.

Knowing it would be impossible to defeat an armed Drona and his son Ashwatthama that day, Krishna suggested the Pandavas a plan to disarm their teacher. His idea was that [[Bhima]] first kill an elephant named Ashwatthama, and then claim to Dronacharya that he has killed Dronacharya's son with the same name while keeping [[Ashwatthama]] the real son of Drona busy in battle somewhere else far from his father so that he can't save his father and ruin their plan. After killing the elephant, Bhima loudly proclaimed that he had killed "Ashwatthama". Disbelieving his claim, Drona approached Yudhishthira, knowing of Yudhishthira's firm adherence to [[Dharma]] and honesty. When Dronacharya asked for the truth, Yudhishthira responded with the cryptic "Ashwatthama is dead. But the elephant and not your son." Krishna also knew that it would be impossible for Yudhishthira to lie outright. So under his instructions, the other warriors blew trumpets and conchs, raising a tumultuous noise in such a way that Dronacharya only heard that "Ashwatthama was dead", and could not hear the latter part of Yudhishthira's reply. In other versions of the story, it is told that: Yudhishthira was just not loud enough in purpose when he spoke the latter part of his words, or that Drona, in shock and grief, simply could not process the latter part of Yudhishthira's statement.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}<ref>"Ashwatthama is dead" has become a proverbial phrase for a half-lie or half-truth intended to confuse the opponent or the public.</ref>

{{Multiple image
| align =
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| image1 = Death of Drona.jpg
| alt1 =
| caption1 = Dronacharya's spirit leaves his body
| image2 = Death of Drona by dhrishtadhyumna.jpg
| caption2 = Dhrishtadyumna cuts Drona's head (left upper corner)
| width1 = 150
| width2 = 150
}}

Then Drona descended from his chariot, laid down his arms and sat in meditation. Pandavas wanted to use this opportunity to arrest him, but enraged by the death of his father and several Panchala warriors, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] took this opportunity and beheads him, in a gross violation of the rules of war. Krishna justified the act saying Drona's role in killing of Abhimanyu.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Porwal|first=Gunjan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J2VuDwAAQBAJ&q=death+drona|title=Ashwatthama's Redemption: The Rise of Dandak|date=2018-09-12|publisher=Om Books International|isbn=978-93-5276-635-2|language=en}}</ref>

==Analysis and modern assessment==
In some [[folklore]], [[Sarasvati|Saraswati]] cursed Dronacharya with an unarmed and humiliating death for Drona's actions. Saraswati said that knowledge belonged to all, and that it was an acharya's duty to spread that knowledge everywhere.<ref name="GangulyDrona" /> Despite whatever reasons he gave, Drona cheated Ekalavya and Karna to achieve something for himself-to protect his promise to Arjuna that he would make Arjuna the world's greatest archer, as well as his [[oath]] to [[Hastinapur]].

Drona was somewhat parallel to [[Bhishma]] both in martial powers, and, compelled by the refuge they had given him, in his unwavering commitment to fighting for [[Hastinapur]] irrespective of who the ruler was and whether or not the cause was just. Like Bhishma, Drona is criticized for his pride and conceit, siding with [[adharma]] despite knowing of and acknowledging the righteousness of the [[Pandava]] cause. [[Krishna]] criticized this reasoning as mere pride-Drona wanted to put his obligation to Hastinapur over [[dharma]] so that no one questioned his honor.<ref name="Brodbeck">Brodbeck, Simon. The Mahābhārata Patriline: Gender, Culture, and the Royal Hereditary. Farnham, England: Ashgate, 2009. Print.</ref>

Dronacharya was criticized for many of his actions during the war:<ref name="Brodbeck" />

* First, as a [[Brahmin]], and secondly, as the princes' [[guru|teacher]], he should have removed himself from the battlefield.
* Dronacharya tried to use Brahmastra, celestial powerful weapons against the Pandavas' common foot-soldiers. But when Lord Krishna stopped him, Drona argued that his first obligation was to defeating his enemy and defending his soldiers, by whatever means he possessed.

Droncharya's overarching actions during the war are portrayed differently. When he became [[commander-in-chief]], the rules of war were averted. [[Astra (weapon)|Divine weapons]] were used against ordinary soldiers, war continued throughout the night, warriors no longer engaged each other one-on-one, etc. Specifically, he was willing to try to end the war by capturing [[Yudhishthira]], while [[Karna]] was not, as he considered it lacking honor. In other versions, Drona's differences in strategy are shown as a difference in [[philosophy]]- Drona believed, that as the commander-in-chief of the [[Kaurava]] army, his goal was to ensure the protection of his soldiers through any means necessary.<ref name="Brodbeck" />

He remains a revered figure in Hindu history, and a pillar of the Indian tradition of respecting one's teacher 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]].<ref>[http://www.webindia123.com/sports/awards/windron.htm Dronacharya Award]</ref>

It is believed that the city of [[Gurgaon]] (literally – "Village of the [[Guru]]") was founded as "Guru Gram" by Dronacharya on land given to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], the king of [[Hastinapura]] in recognition of his teachings of martial arts to the princes, and the '[[Dronacharya Tank]]', still exists within the [[Gurgaon]] city, along with a village called Gurgaon.<ref>[http://gurgaon.nic.in/history.htm [[Gurgaon]] History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013101146/http://gurgaon.nic.in/history.htm |date=13 October 2007 }}</ref> [[Indian Government]] ([[Haryana]]), on 12 April 2016 decided to reinstate and change the name of Gurgaon to Gurugram.

==See also==
{{commons category}}
*[[Hindu mythology]]
*[[Hinduism]]
*[[Wars of Hindu Mythology]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Sources==
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=bhishma+appoints+drona&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024835/http://www.india-intro.com/religion/mahabharat/210-mahabharat-the-story-of-drona-teacher-of-kauravas-and-pandavas.html The Story of Drona - the Teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas]
* Supereme Court of India on Dronacharya: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-06/india/28378711_1_tribals-sc-bench-dronacharya
{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Hindu saints]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Drona - Revision history

Ak 79 at 14:19, 9 August 2023