Introduction
Drona is the son of Bharadwaja and the teacher of the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the use of weapons. He was the commander of the Kaurava army after Bhishma.
This article primarily follows the Mahabharata. Where a well-known detail comes from a Puranic or later source, the article identifies it.
Family
- Father: Bharadwaja, father of Drona
- Wife: Kripi
- Son: Ashwatthama
Poverty and Drupada
Drona married Kripi and had a son, Ashwatthama. He was so poor that he could not give his son milk. He went to his old friend Drupada, who insulted him. Drona then went to Hastinapura and was hired as the teacher of the princes.
The students
Drona taught the Kuru princes, and favoured Arjuna, whom he promised to make the best archer in the world. He refused to teach Karna, since he was a charioteer's son, and refused Ekalavya, a Nishada prince. When he learned that Ekalavya had surpassed Arjuna, he demanded his right thumb as a fee.
The war
Drona led the Kaurava army for five days after Bhishma's fall. He took part in the plan against Abhimanyu. On the fifteenth day, the Pandavas spread the news that Ashwatthama was dead. Drona asked Yudhishthira, who had never lied, and Yudhishthira replied that Ashwatthama had died, and added something inaudible about an elephant. Drona laid down his weapons and Dhrishtadyumna killed him.