Bhagavad Gita · Mahabharata Codex

Drona

द्रोण · droṇa

Teacher of arms to both the Pandavas and the Kauravas; second commander of the Kaurava army

He taught Arjuna everything he knew, and now stands in the army Arjuna must defeat.

Drona is a brahmin who mastered the science of weapons. Poor, and insulted by his boyhood friend King Drupada, he came to Hastinapura and was made teacher of the Kuru princes. Arjuna was his finest student and dearer to him than anyone but his own son Ashvatthama. He owes his living to the Kuru throne and fights for it. The first speech of the Gita, Duryodhana's, is addressed to him.