Drona

Droṇa (Sanskrit: द्रोण, IAST: Droṇa), also referred to as Dronacharya (Sanskrit: द्रोणाचार्य, IAST: Droṇācārya), is a major character of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He initially serves as the royal preceptor of the Kauravas and the Pandavas of the Kuru dynasty, and later emerges as one of the epic’s principal counsellors and warriors. Drona is the son of the sage Bharadvaja, and a descendant of the sage Angirasa. Despite being master of advanced military arts and the divine weapons known as astras, Drona initially chooses a life of poverty until he is humiliated by his childhood friend Drupada, the king of Panchala. With the help of his students, he defeats Drupada and takes away half of the kingdom. During the Kurukshetra War, Drona serves as the second commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army from the 11th to the 15th day. On the latter day, he is deceived into believing that his son Ashvatthaman has been slain; overwhelmed with grief, he lays down his arms and enters meditation on the battlefield. In this defenseless state, he is beheaded by Dhrishtadyumna, his former pupil and the son of Drupada.