Drupada was the son of Prishta and prince of Panchal. He and Drona were together in Gurukul days and were close friends in childhood. Drona was a poor brahmin whereas Drupada belonged to a royal family. Drupada once said to Drona that whatever is his, its half is his. Drupada's this promise was at the root of all the events which happened afterwards. This promise shows that at young age, Drupada was just like an ordinary child having clean heart and caring friend without realizing what consequences they could bring upon. As he was aware of the status of Drona, he said things to make Drona to not feel sad about his current status. This behaviour of Drupada represents an innocent child who has goodwill for his friends and want to see them happy.
Drona married Kripi, the sister of Kripacharya. He was blessed with a son named Ashwatthama. Because of no living means, Kripi was not able to give him even milk. Once Drona saw her giving him flour water telling him as milk. Drona got very sad in such great difficult time. He remembered his friend Drupada and his promise. He went to Drupada and reminded about his promise made in childhood and asked him a cow from his share. Drupada refused his friendship and said "I can give as many cow as you ask if you ask as a brahmin but not as a friend. Friendship is always between the people of same status, we have no equality between us". Listening this insulting tone Drona got infuriated and left the court in anger.
Hurt and humiliated by Drupada’s words, Drona decided to become Drupada’s equal. A very dramatic decision. Born of righteous outrage. But is it a right decision? What are the consequences of such rage? Drona’s decision must be analyzed carefully.
In Vedic society, a king’s role was to maintain the caste hierarchy – ensure kings behaved as kings and priests behaved as priests. Drupada in many ways was doing his role. He could have been nicer but he was not doing anything wrong. He ended up upsetting Drona and an enraged Drona took a step that went against the rules of caste which, according to Vedic ideology, had the potential to destroy social order. Caste is an ugly word today. We can say that in breaking the code of caste Drona was a revolutionary. But his motivation is not righteous ! He breaks it not because he believes in social equality; he breaks it to teach his erstwhile friend a lesson.
This event shows Drupada's thoughts on friendship. His statement regarding friendship is the perception which exists in the ordinary person in the society. But there can be no justification of insulting an childhood friend leave alone a brahmin. Friendship of Krishna-Sudama, Duryodhana-Karna are examples that friendship could exist between people of unequal status. Being a king, he should not have a brahmin return from his court in anger. When in anger, a brahmin's curse could completely destroy his wealth and kingdom on the basis of which he denied the friendship.
Later Drona became teacher of pandava and kaurava. In Guru-Dakshina, he asked them to capture Drupada. The kauravas fail to capture him but the pandavas captured him alive and brought him in front of Drona. Drona spared his life and returned the southern half of his kingdom to him. This generous act of Drona humiliated Drupada more. Drupada became sorrowful, humiliated and full of grief.Drupada returned home burning for revenge, and , to procure it, he prevailed upon Yaja and Upyaja to perform a sacrifice, by the efficacy of which he obtained a son, Dhristadyumna, who would slay Drona in battle, and a daughter who would wed Arjuna as Drupada was impressed by archery skills of Arjuna. Had he realized what pain he gave to Drona and apologized for it, these events could have been avoided. But he could realize these as his wealth made him morally blind.
In this story, we see how humiliation fueled the fire of revenge in Drupada's mind. His daughter Draupadi became one of the main reasons of war. Had Drona not been insulted by him in his court, subsequent events which happened could have been tolerated. Not only Drupada took part in the Kurukshetra war, but also Shikhandee, Dhrishtdyumna and other sons of Drupada actively participated in the war from the pandavas side. Due to Shikhandee, Bhishma was slain and by Dhrishtdyumna, Drona was killed. In this way, Drupad was related to end of first two commander-in-chief of Kaurav Sena.
When Krishna was a child, he too had promised a fellow student,Sudama,half his wealth. The poor Brahmin did visit Krishna years later. He was too embarrassed to ask Krishna for anything. Yet, Krishna showered him with gifts. This difference between Krishna and Drupada is worth noting. There is affection in Krishna’s behavior. This is missing in Drupada. Drupada is too busy playing king. He is obsessed with hierarchies. Krishna is governed only by love. What Krishna possesses and Drupada lacks is a generosity of spirit.
Drupada fought in the Kurukshetra war on the side of the Pandavas whereas Drona was on the side of the Kauravas. On the 15th day of the war, the great duel between Drona and Drupada was fought. Before the war, Drona sked Drupada, "This is our final chance to meet each other, let's greet each other". But Drupad replied, "You are not even worthy of my greetings, Drona". Drupada was slain by Drona in the fight of that day. On the same day, Drona was also killed by Dhristadyumna. Details of how Drona was conspired is not relevant in this context.
His one rude behaviour costed him pain of life. End of Drona became his major goal in life. His character failed as a friend and it affected his whole life and kingdom. Insulting a brahmin is a sin and as a king and a kshatriya, he should have been careful with his behaviour. We find the Drupad's character was full of ego and pride for his wealth. He also becomes full of vengeance as he considers the act of generosity as an act of humiliation.
Drona married Kripi, the sister of Kripacharya. He was blessed with a son named Ashwatthama. Because of no living means, Kripi was not able to give him even milk. Once Drona saw her giving him flour water telling him as milk. Drona got very sad in such great difficult time. He remembered his friend Drupada and his promise. He went to Drupada and reminded about his promise made in childhood and asked him a cow from his share. Drupada refused his friendship and said "I can give as many cow as you ask if you ask as a brahmin but not as a friend. Friendship is always between the people of same status, we have no equality between us". Listening this insulting tone Drona got infuriated and left the court in anger.
Hurt and humiliated by Drupada’s words, Drona decided to become Drupada’s equal. A very dramatic decision. Born of righteous outrage. But is it a right decision? What are the consequences of such rage? Drona’s decision must be analyzed carefully.
In Vedic society, a king’s role was to maintain the caste hierarchy – ensure kings behaved as kings and priests behaved as priests. Drupada in many ways was doing his role. He could have been nicer but he was not doing anything wrong. He ended up upsetting Drona and an enraged Drona took a step that went against the rules of caste which, according to Vedic ideology, had the potential to destroy social order. Caste is an ugly word today. We can say that in breaking the code of caste Drona was a revolutionary. But his motivation is not righteous ! He breaks it not because he believes in social equality; he breaks it to teach his erstwhile friend a lesson.
This event shows Drupada's thoughts on friendship. His statement regarding friendship is the perception which exists in the ordinary person in the society. But there can be no justification of insulting an childhood friend leave alone a brahmin. Friendship of Krishna-Sudama, Duryodhana-Karna are examples that friendship could exist between people of unequal status. Being a king, he should not have a brahmin return from his court in anger. When in anger, a brahmin's curse could completely destroy his wealth and kingdom on the basis of which he denied the friendship.
Later Drona became teacher of pandava and kaurava. In Guru-Dakshina, he asked them to capture Drupada. The kauravas fail to capture him but the pandavas captured him alive and brought him in front of Drona. Drona spared his life and returned the southern half of his kingdom to him. This generous act of Drona humiliated Drupada more. Drupada became sorrowful, humiliated and full of grief.Drupada returned home burning for revenge, and , to procure it, he prevailed upon Yaja and Upyaja to perform a sacrifice, by the efficacy of which he obtained a son, Dhristadyumna, who would slay Drona in battle, and a daughter who would wed Arjuna as Drupada was impressed by archery skills of Arjuna. Had he realized what pain he gave to Drona and apologized for it, these events could have been avoided. But he could realize these as his wealth made him morally blind.
In this story, we see how humiliation fueled the fire of revenge in Drupada's mind. His daughter Draupadi became one of the main reasons of war. Had Drona not been insulted by him in his court, subsequent events which happened could have been tolerated. Not only Drupada took part in the Kurukshetra war, but also Shikhandee, Dhrishtdyumna and other sons of Drupada actively participated in the war from the pandavas side. Due to Shikhandee, Bhishma was slain and by Dhrishtdyumna, Drona was killed. In this way, Drupad was related to end of first two commander-in-chief of Kaurav Sena.
When Krishna was a child, he too had promised a fellow student,Sudama,half his wealth. The poor Brahmin did visit Krishna years later. He was too embarrassed to ask Krishna for anything. Yet, Krishna showered him with gifts. This difference between Krishna and Drupada is worth noting. There is affection in Krishna’s behavior. This is missing in Drupada. Drupada is too busy playing king. He is obsessed with hierarchies. Krishna is governed only by love. What Krishna possesses and Drupada lacks is a generosity of spirit.
Drupada fought in the Kurukshetra war on the side of the Pandavas whereas Drona was on the side of the Kauravas. On the 15th day of the war, the great duel between Drona and Drupada was fought. Before the war, Drona sked Drupada, "This is our final chance to meet each other, let's greet each other". But Drupad replied, "You are not even worthy of my greetings, Drona". Drupada was slain by Drona in the fight of that day. On the same day, Drona was also killed by Dhristadyumna. Details of how Drona was conspired is not relevant in this context.
His one rude behaviour costed him pain of life. End of Drona became his major goal in life. His character failed as a friend and it affected his whole life and kingdom. Insulting a brahmin is a sin and as a king and a kshatriya, he should have been careful with his behaviour. We find the Drupad's character was full of ego and pride for his wealth. He also becomes full of vengeance as he considers the act of generosity as an act of humiliation.
