Of rigid
vows and great wisdom, he bore the name Bharadwaja. One day, on coming to
the Ganga to perform his ablutions, the Rishi saw the Apsara Ghritachi,
who had come before, standing on the bank after her ablutions were over.
And it so happened that a wind arose and disrobed the Apsara standing
there. And the Rishi beholding her thus disrobed, felt the influence of
desire. Though practising the vow of continence from his very youth, as
soon as he felt the influence of desire, the Rishi's vital fluid came out.
And as it came out, he held it in a pot (drana), and of that fluid thus
preserved in a pot was born a son who came to be called Drona (the pot-
born). And Drona studied all the Vedas and their several branches. And
Bharadwaja had a friend named Prishata who was the king of Panchalas. And
about the time that Drona was born, Prishata also obtained a son named
Drupada. And that bull amongst Kshatriyas, Prishata's son, going every day
to that asylum of Bharadwaja, played and studied with Drona. And after
Prishata's death, Drupada succeeded him on the throne. Drona about this
time heard that (the great Brahmana hero) Rama (on the eve of his retiring
into the weeds) was resolved to give away all his wealth. Hearing this,
the son of Bharadwaja repaired unto Rama who was about to retire into the
woods and addressing him, said, 'O best of Brahmanas, know me to be Drona
who hath come to thee to obtain thy wealth.' Rama replied, saying, 'I have
given away everything.
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