Week 11 Story: Dharma and Deceit

Drona

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Note: You can also read this story on my Portfolio!

Hey kids! You're back for another story? I see some fresh faces this time. Hi, welcome. Please make yourself at home. For those who are new here, I am Yama- the god of death. Lately, I've been telling these kids some of my favorite stories of death. Grab a blanket and some food if you want to, and we'll be ready to start!

    Today's story is of a great warrior and a guru, Dronacharya. Drona's death was something that transpired by a series of events. So let's start from the beginning. Drona was born to rishi Bharadwaja. He grew up in his father's ashrama. There he met Drupada, who was at the time, prince of Panchala. They became best friends. Drupada promised him that once he became king, he would give Drona anything.

    Years passed. Drona was a poor brahmin. He really just did not care about money. Brahmins back then used to take pride in being poor. It meant that they were away from the materialistic thing and closer to god. One day, Drona's son, Ashwatthama, asked his father how does milk tastes? Drona, at that moment, felt sorry for his son and also felt like an incapable father. Then, he remembered Drupada's promise.

    The next day he went to Drupada's court and reminded him of his promise. Drona asked for cows. Drupada's pride did not let him accept Drona as a friend, especially in front of his council. So, Drupada laughed. He laughed and made fun of Drona. He said to be someone's friend, the two need to be on the same level. Drupada said he couldn't be a friend of a poor Brahmin. Drona was humiliated. He swore to take revenge.

    Drona was training the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Once their training was over, it was time for the Guru Dakshina. Drona asked his students to defeat and bring Drupada to him. The princes did just that. Drupada was brought to Drona, defeated and crushed. Drona stood tall as Drupada was on his knees, and then, Drona asked for half the kingdom of Panchala. Drona smiled and said that he does not really need it, but since one can only be friends with one's equals, it is only fair for him to ask for half the kingdom. Drupada had no choice but to give into Drona's demands, but he also vowed revenge in his heart.

    Dhrishtadyumna was born from a yajna after Drupada prayed for a son that would revenge his humiliation and kill Drona. You know what's the strangest part, kids? Drona knew this. Drona knew that Dhrishtadyumna was foretold to kill him, and yet he took him as his disciple! I would never! Under the guidance of Drona, Dhri grew up to be a capable warrior. 

    

    Years later, at the Kurukshetra war, the Pandava army was getting killed left and right- which was a result of Drona being the commander. Chakravyuha that killed Abhimanyu was also Drona's strategy. Krishna knew that Drona had to be stopped soon, or the Pandavas would lose worthy soldiers. Krishna called the Pandavas in his tent and devised a plan to kill Drona. 

    

    The next day, Dronacharya was called and was told that his son Ashwatthama was killed by Bheem. Drona could not believe what he heard. He said he would believe it only if Yudhishtra told him the news as he knew Yudhishtra would never lie. Krishna knew this would happen and had already asked Bheem to kill an elephant whose name was also Ashwatthama. Now, Yudhishtra saying that Bheem killed Ashwatthama would not technically be a lie. It didn't feel right to him. So he told Drona, "Ashwatthama is dead," and he finished his sentence by whispering, "the elephant, not the human." During the latter part of the sentence, Krishna blew a conch shell horn, making sure Drona did not hear it.  Drona fell onto his knees. Devastated. He howled for his son grieving. 

    

    Dhrishtadyumna didn't waste any time and beheaded Drona at the very moment. Drona didn't realize that he died for quite some time. Maybe he did and did not care because he was still mourning his son's death. I went up to Drona as it was time to go. He looked at me, helpless. I felt shivers run down my spine. He looked at me and asked if he could see his son, Ashwatthama. I sighed. I sat down with him and told him that his son was alive, and there it was, a smile. Drona's face lit up. He did not care that he was dead, after all, his son was okay! Drona stood up and signaled a "let's go" while I was still on the ground, feeling sorry for him. I was moved. Drona and I walked in silence, away from the battleground. 

    

Author's Note: This was the story of Drona. I grew up watching Mahabharata and Drona's death always felt a little wrong to me. So, this is how I pictured Yama telling Drona's story. I am pretty sure that Yama also felt uneasy as he's the God of Dharma. He must've felt uneasy knowing that his son, Yudhishtra, deceived Drona; but he would also understand that it was Yudhishtra's dharma. He would understand that Yudhishtra did what he had to do, but would that make it right? 

Bibliography: Tiny Tales of Mahabharata by Laura Gibbs