place. Then Bhishma, that foremost of all wielders of arms, adroitly asked him the cause of his arrivalat Hastinapura. Asked by him, Drona represented everything as it had happened, saying.--'O Sir, in times past I went to the great Rishi Agnivesa for obtaining from his weapons desirous also of learning the science of arms. Devoted to the service of my preceptor, I lived with him for many years in the humble guise of Brahmacharin, with matted locks on my head. At that time, actuated by the same motives, the prince of Panchala, the mighty Yajnasena, also lived in the same asylum. He became my friend, always seeking my wealfare. I liked him much. Indeed, we lived together for many many years. Othou of Kuru's race, from our earliest years we had studied together and, indeed, he was my friend from boyhood, always speaking and doing what was agreeable to me. For gratifying me, O Bhishma, he used to tell me 'O Drona, I am the favourite child of my illustrious father. When the king installeth me as monarch of the Panchalas, the kingdom shall be thine. O friend, this, indeed, is my solemn promise! My dominion, wealth and happiness, shall all be dependent on thee!'-At last the time came for his departure. Having finished his studies, he bent his steps towards his country. I offered him my regards at the time, and, indeed, I remembered his words ever afterwards.
'Sometime after, in obedience to the injunctions of my father and tempted also by the desire of offspring, I married Kripa of short hair, who gifted with great intelligence, had observed many rigid vows, and was ever engaged in the Agnihotra and other sacrifices and rigid auste. rities. Gautami, in time, gave birth to a son named Aswatthaman of great prowess and equal in splendour unto the Sun himself. Indeed, I was pleased on having obtained Aswatthaman as much as my father had been on obtaining myself.
"And it so happened that one day the child Aswatthaman observing some rich men's sons drink milk, began to cry. At this I was so beside myself that I lost all knowledge of the point of the compass. Instead of asking him who had only a few kine (so that if he gave me one, he would no longer be able to perform his sacrifices and thus sustain a loss of virtue). I was desirous of obtaining a cow from one who had many, and for that I wandered from country to country. But my wanderings proved unsuccessful, for I failed to obtain a milch cow. After I had come back unsuccessful, some of my son's playmates gave him water mixed with powdered rice. Drinking this, the poor boy, from experience, was deceived into the belief that he had taken milk, and began to dance in joy. saving0, I have taken milk. I have taken milk ! _ Beholding him dance with joy amid these playmates smiling at his simplicity, I
