Birth of Drone, Draupadee and Dhrishtdyumn

All people returned to their homes and Paandav continued to live their as before.

Janamejaya asked - "What did Paandav do after killing Bakaasur?" Vaishampaayan Jee said - "They continued to live there in the house of the same Braahman for some time. After a few days a Braahman came there and the host gave him also a staying place. Kuntee asked him to narrate his traveling experiences. he told them about several countries, shrines, rivers, kings and places. And in the end he told them about the Swayamvar of Yagyasen's daughter, the princes of Paanchaal - the births of Dhrishtdyumn and Shikhandee and of the birth of of Krishnaa (Draupadee) from the Yagya, not from a woman.

Hearing this Paandav wished to know more about this. They asked - "O Braahman, How Dhrishtdyumn and Draupadee took birth from the fire? How Dhrishtdyumn learnt weapons from Drone? And how and for whom and for what reason was the friendship between Drone and Drupad broken off?" The Braahman narrated the whole story of the birth of Draupadee.

Drone and Drupad

The Braahman said - "A Rishi named Bhaaradwaaj used to live in the region where Gangaa River enters the plains. One day when he came for his ablutions, he saw Ghritaachee Apsaraa standing over the banks of the river. It so happened that her robes displaced by wind and Bharadwaaj's semen came out. And as it came out he kept it in a Drone (pot). A son was born from it and was called Drone (pot-born). Bharadwaaj had a friend named Prishat who was the King of Paanchaal. When Drone was born to Bharadwaaj, Drupad was born to Prishat. Drupad used to go to Bharadwaaj's place to play and study with Drone. After Prishat had died, Drupad became King. At this time Drone heard that Parashuraam was giving away his wealth, so he went to him and asked for his wealth. Parashuraam said - "I have already given my wealth to Braahman, Prithvi to Kashyap Jee, now I have only my body and my weapons. Take either one." Drone asked for his weapons including their use and their withdrawal. He gave them to him and went away to Mahendra Parvat. He got Brahm Astra also from him.

After getting weapons Drone went to Drupad and said to him - "Know that I am your friend." But Drupad was blind with pride of his kingdom and wealth, so he said - "One of low birth cannot be a friend of one who is pure by birth, nor a non-warrior can be a friend of a warrior. That is why this friendship cannot be revived." So Drone went to Hastinaapur and Bheeshm took him as the Guru of Kaurav and Paandav. Drone used his students to humiliate Drupad. Arjun brought him to Drone and he again asked his friendship to Drupad. Then said - "Since who is not a king cannot be a friend of king that is why I divide the kingdom in two - the northern part of Bhaageerathee is mine and you rule the southern part." Then Drupad accepted his friendship saying, "Let it be so as you say." Thus they became friends and went away their ways but this humiliation didn't go from Drupad's mind. He started wandering around sadly."

The Braahman continued - "Thus Drupad wandered around in search of some good Braahman who could perform sacrificial rites for getting children. He was sighing, "If I had children surpassing all in accomplishments.". After a long thought he reached on conclusion that he could not defeat Drone by his kingly power. So wandering around he came to a place where good Braahman lived. He found there two Braahman - Yaaj and Upayaaj sprung from the race oof Kashyap. First he went to Upayaaj considering him more knowledgeable requesting him to perform a Yagya which could give him a son who could kill Drone. He promised him to give 10,000 cows or whatever he wished, but he refused saying, "I cannot perform such Yagya."

Drupad didn't take that reply as final, and he requested him again. After one year, he said to him politely - "One day my elder brother took up a fallen fruit at a place whose purity was not established. I noticed his unworthy activity. It means that he doesn't care for purity or impurity, when he had accepted that fruit, he can accept other things of impure nature also. When we lived in our Guru's house he used to eat remnants of other people's feasts. He does not dislike any food. So go to him, he will perform your Yagya."

Although Drupad had low opinion about Yaaj, still he went to him and requested him to do the Yagya for him. He said to him - "I will give you 80,000 cows. My heart is burning from the enmity of Drone. he has Brahm Astra and because of it he has won me in battle. There is no Kshatriya superior to him in this world. His bow is full 6 cubits long. He is like second Parashuraam. Brahm power is greater than Kshatriya power that is why I have come to you. I want a son who is invincible and can kill Drone. I am ready to give you 10,000 cows." Yaaj said - "So be it." Then Yaaj recollected the ceremonies related to it and found that it would be a great ceremony so he asked Upayaaj to help him and he agreed to help him, so they started the Yagya.

Yaaj asked him to gather necessary things for the Yagya, which he did. After everything was complete, he started the Yagya and he called the Queen - "Come here, O Queen, a son and a daughter have come to you." Hearing this the Queen said - "My mouth is still filled with saffron, my body still bears many sweet smells. I am hardly fit for accepting the sacrificial butter. Wait for me a little, O Yaaj." Yaaj said - "Whether you come or wait, why shouldn't these objects of sacrifice be accomplished when the oblation has been prepared by me and sanctified by Upayaaj?

As the Braahman poured the libation, there arose a child resembling a celestial, terrible in looks, crown on his head, encased in armor, sword in his hand and bearing a bow and arrows. Immediately after birth, he ascended a chariot and went about in it for some time. Paanchaal people got very happy to see him. After him, there arose from the sacrificial platform a daughter called Paanchaalee. Her eyes were black, as large as lotus petals, her complexion was dark, and her hair were blue and curly. She also looked like a celestial girl has born on earth. Fragrance of her body, which was like the fragrance of blue lotus, spread for full two miles. At her birth an Aakaashvaanee said - "This girl will be the first of women and will be the cause of destruction of many Kashatriya. She will accomplish the purpose of the gods." Seeing her again Paanchaal got very happy.

Seeing them, the Queen said - "Let them know only me as their mother." Yaaj said - "So be it." Braahman named the boy as Dhrishtdyumn because of his audacity and because of his being born like a Dyumn along with natural armor and weapon; and the girl as Krishnaa because of her dark complexion. Thus the twins were born from the great Yagya. Drone brought the Paanchaal Prince to his house and taught him all the weapons in return of the half kingdom of Drupad taken by him. He took him as his destiny and observed what he was supposed to do."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Hearing all this Paandav lost their peace of mind. Kuntee observed their in attentiveness said to Yudhishthir - "We have already lived here for so long, and seeing other forest etc will not give us more pleasure, so let us go to Paanchaal. We have not seen that country. It is heard that alms are also easily available in that country. Besides we should not live at one place for long time. I do not whether your younger brothers are willing to go there or not."

Then Kuntee asked this to her other four sons and they also agreed to go there. When Kuntee and her sons were living there, Vyaas Jee went there to see them. He asked their welfare and discoursed them on several issues. He also said - There was a Rishi who had a very beautiful daughter, but because of her Karm in her past life she became unfortunate. She did not get married. She gratified Shankar Jee with her Tap. Shankar Jee asked her - "O beautiful girl, Ask what do you want. I am Shankar to give you anything you want." She said - "I wish for a husband who is accomplished in every respect." Shiv Jee said - "You will have five husbands from among the Bharat princes." The girl said - "But I wish for only one husband through your grace." Shiv Jee said - "Since you have said this full five times "Give me a husband.", you will have five husbands in your another life." So the same girl is born now in house of Drupad. She has been appointed as the wife for you all. So go there, live there and you will be happy to have her as your wife."

Having said this to Paandav, Vyaas Jee went away his way.