The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 132

Section CXXXII. ( *Sambhava Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "Then, O king, the mighty son of Bharadwaja presented himself before Drupada, and addressing that monarch, said, 'Know me for thy friend? Thus addressed by his friend, the son of Bharadwaja with a joyous heart, the lord of Panchala was ill able to bear that speech. The king, intoxicated with the pride of wealth, contracted his brows in wrath, and with reddened eyes spake these words unto Drona, 'O Brahmana, thy intelligence is scarcely of a high order, inasmuch as thou sayest unto me, all on a sudden, that thou art my friend! O thou of dull apprehension, great kings can never be friends with such luckless and indigent wights as thou. It is true there was friendship between thee and me before, for we were then both equally circumstanced. But Time that impaireth everything in its course, impaireth friendship also. In this world, friendship never endureth for ever in any heart. Time weareth it off and anger destroyeth it too. Do thou not stick therefore to that worn-off friendship. Think not of it anylonger. The friendship I had with thee, O thou first of Brahmanas, was fora particular purpose. Friendship can never subsist between a poor man and a rich man, between a man of letters and an unlettered hind, between a hero and a coward. Why dost thou therefore desire the continuance of our former friendship? There may be friendship or hostility between persons equally situated as to wealth or might. The indigent and the affluent can neither be friends nor quarrel with each other. One of impure birth can never be a friend to one of pure birth; one who is not a charioteer can never bema friend to one who is so; and one who is not a king can never have a king for his friend. Therefore, why dost thou desire the continuance of our former friendship?'" Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Drupada, the mighty son of Bharadwaja became filled with wrath, and reflecting for a moment, made up his mind as to his course of action. Seeing the insolence of the Panchala king, he wished to check it effectually. Hastily leaving the Panchala capital, Drona bent his steps towards the capital of the Kurus, named after the elephant." Thus ends the hundred and thirty-second Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.