Bhishma appointed Kripacharya to teach the princes. Kripacharya did the job for a few years and his disciples became proficient in the arts of warfare and also learnt other arts suitable for Kshatriya warriors. A need was felt for a more capable teacher to impart advanced training in use of weapons to the princes. Bhishma was eager to find such an able teacher. Once while the princes were playing with the ball, the ball fell into a well. While they gathered around the well trying to think of a way to retrieve the ball, there came a brahmin. He was standing there listening to the boys. He told the boys that by using skills or archery it was possible to get back the ball. The boys were surprised. The Brahmin shot several arrows one after another. The first arrow pierced the ball and other made a chain. With the help of the arrows the brahmin got back the ball from the well and gave it back to the princes. They were amazed at his skill in archery and wanted to know his name. The brahmin was Drona, who was the son of great rishi Bharadwaja and a disciple of Parashurama. Bhishma received him with great honour and requested him to be guru of the princes to teach them the use of weapons. Drona and Bhishma had been the Pupil of the same Guru i.e. Parashurama. Thus Drona became the teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas.

DRONA AND DRUPADA:

Drona, son of a great rishi, Bharadwaja, while studying in the ashram, was a friend of Drupada, the prince of Panchalas. Their friendship was great and Drupada had promised to help Drona when he became the king of Panchalas. Years passed, Drona married Kripa the daughter of Sage Gautama. A son, Aswatthama was born to him. Faced with extreme poverty, Drona sought help of Drupada, now the king of Panchalas. Drupada insulted Drona and sent him out of his court. It was while returning from the court of Drupada. Drona saw the Kaurava and Pandava princess-playing ball. Drona was the greatest archer of his age. He had learnt the art from Parashurama himself, He wanted revenge. When Bhishma appointed him as teacher of Kuru princes, Drona was happy. He spent year teaching use of weapons to the princes. Among them Arjuna showed extra ordinary devotion and interest to learn the art of archery and in no time became the favourite pupil of Acharya Drona. Drona promised Arjuna, that he would be the greatest archer on earth.