Drona

   Drona (Bucket) is a Brahmin who played an important role in the Mahabharata epic. His unusual name derives from the fact that he was conceived in a bucket from the semen of his father, the RISHI Bharadvaja, who had been excited when the nymph Ghritaci accidentally showed herself to him naked. Drona was a descendant of Angiras, an ancient rishi, and the grandson of BRI-HASPATI, a god. Drona’s GURU was Agnivesha, son of the famous rishi AGASTYA.

   Drona taught martial techniques and military science to both the PANDAVAS and the KAURAVAS, but he joined the latter in the great war between the two groups. After their great uncle, BHISHMA’s , death, he became their commander. This was considered unusual, as he was a Brahmin and not a warrior by birth. In the battle Drona killed Drupada, the father of the Pandavas’ wife, DRAU-PADI. In turn he was killed by Drishtadyumna, Drupada’s son and brother to Draupadi.

   Further reading: J. A. B. van Buitenen, trans. and ed., The Mahabharata, 3 vols. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1973–78); E. Washburn Hopkins and E. Washburn. Epic Mythology (Delhi: Motilal Banarsi-dass, 1986); D. A. Sadarjoshi, Acharya Drona: A Human Drama from the Mahabharat (Calcutta: Alpha-Beta, 1963).