Dronacharya

Dronacharya, commonly known as Drona, is a central figure in the Indian epic Mahabharata. He is described as an eminent master of military arts and archery, traditionally regarded as the son of the sage Bharadwaja. He becomes the royal preceptor for Hastinapura, training the princes of the Kuru clan—both the Pandavas and the Kauravas—in weapons, strategy, and the codes of conduct in war.

Drona is noted for his rigorous discipline and high standards of instruction. He is remembered for shaping Arjuna into a premier archer, while also being associated with controversial aspects of his pedagogy, including the episode surrounding Karna and the tale of Ekalavya, in which Ekalavya offers his thumb as guru-dakshina.

In the political and military crises of the Pandava-Kaurava feud, Dronacharya remains loyal to Hastinapura. He serves as a commander in the Kaurava army during the Kurukshetra War and fights valiantly. He is ultimately slain on the battlefield, with the most common account placing his death at the hands of Dhrishtadyumna. His passing is often regarded as a turning point in the war and in the broader narrative of dharma and duty.

Dronacharya’s life is cited in discussions of the teacher–student relationship, the responsibilities of power, and the moral complexities of allegiance. His name endures in cultural memory as a symbol of mastery and duty, as well as the ethical ambiguities that accompany pedagogy and war.