Dhronacharya in Mahabharata : A Character Sketch
Dhronacharya: A Great Guru, A Betrayed Friend, A Fragile Father
Our lives are filled with interesting characters. They have virtues. They have vices. They can sometimes be inspirational, while at the same time ironical.
Beyond viewing them through the narrow lenses of heroes and villains, good or evil, characters in themselves are unique and come in different shades.
Unlike our popular imagination characters don’t perfectly fit in the “good” or “bad” category. Sometimes they can be idealistic, while at different scenarios, they can turn selfish and pragmatic.
Each character is a rainbow in themselves. There is the great, the good, the bad and the ugly all within the same heart and mind.
Mahabharata, is one such epic that is full of interesting characters. If we look religion beyond way of life and identity and more towards wellbeing and wisdom, even characters can turn lively and fascinating!
Apart from being the fountainhead of Bhagwat Geeta, Mahabharata is an epic that celebrates roles. The role of a King, the role of a teacher, the role of a friend, the role of a son, the role of an advisor, and much more.
As a kid, I enjoyed B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharata series. Fortunately, I got to revisit them again, and this is when I thought of doing some character sketches.
As a disclaimer, these character sketches are done out of my own personal passion viewed through my lenses. I, do not hereby claim any sort of legitimacy from scriptural point of view. The character sketch is largely based on as portrayed in the series.
Dhronacharya is another iconic and important character of the Mahabharata. He is undoubtedly a Great Guru, but is much beyond that.
1. A Great Guru
Dhronacharya was undoubtedly one of the greatest Gurus. He was well-versed in the skill of warfare as well as in many arts. Not only did he school Kauravas and Pandavas, but after seeing Arjun’s devotion towards learning, he did all he could to make sure Arjun realized his goal of becoming the “Greatest Archer” of the era.
Like Arjun was a devoted pupil, Dhronacharya was also a devoted guru. He was the mentor, who shaped and prepared the greatest warriors of an era.
While some people view Eklavya’s episode and refusal of Karna’s admission with controversial viewpoints, the series presents a balanced viewpoint where Dhronacharya is seen answering his son Ashwatthama that for transferring knowledge both “Gurdaksina” as well as being a “Suyogya Patra” or “Right Candidate” was vital.
Again, this depends upon whether or not we view the “skills of warfare and special weapons” as warfare knowledge or special skills which might cause destruction.
However, from a pupil point of view, Dhronacharya was a devoted Guru any learner would yearn for.
2. A Betrayed Friend
Beyond being a guru, Dhronacharya had another important relationship that continued to shape his life. His friendship with King Drupada. Unfortunately, after King Drupada brings in social status and decides to dishonor the friendship, bitterness sweeps in.
The series shows how the bitterness persists throughout their life, which ultimately shows the seeds of destruction of both the friends.
Dhronacharya, on a softer note, had been insulted due to his economic and social status, which led him to make sure that his son Ashwatthama was not sort of material riches.
Perhaps like any other relationship, friendship too can be bitter and destructive if not tended carefully and with respect.
3. A Fragile Father
The scene of Guru Dhronacharya being shot by an arrow when he leaves the battle believing that his son is dead portrays how deeply Dhronacharya had been attached to his son.
This is perfectly normal like any father would love his son. However, the series does provide a glimpse of Dhronacharya’s insecurities and what might have made him a “Fragile Father”.
The account of Ashwatthama being fed flour and water instead of milk has impacted Dhronacharya so much that he went to seek help from Drupada to get a cow. However, King Drupada put him down.
It seems that Dhronacharya, who was not materially rich had feeling like any other parent that he was “not doing enough”. He makes his son Ashwatthama, a king by getting Pandavas to capture Drupada, trying to make sure that he had given enough to Ashwatthama.
However, this feeling of “not doing enough” made Dhronacharya so fragile that he could not rein in Ashwatthama, when necessary.
As a result, Ashwatthama commits the greatest sins in Mahabharata by killing Pandavas’ sons and using the “Bhramastrya” on pregnant Uttara.
Ironically, series in a subtle way depicts how Ashwatthama, the son of one of most learned sages Dhronacharya becomes a sinner, despite Dhronacharya loving his son and providing him materially everything he could.
The series beautifully depicts the father-son relationships between Dhronacharya-Ashwatthama, Dhitarastrya-Duryodhana, and Shantanu-Bhisma.