Leinster, currently second in this year's RaboDirect PRO12 table, ran in four unanswered tries in the first 40 minutes through a Luke Fitzgerald double, Jamie Heaslip and Eoin Reddan.
O'Driscoll, who was playing his first Heineken Cup match of the season, had created the opening for both Fitzgerald tries and dotted down himself after the break to round off his man-of-the-match performance.
There was still time for Fitzgerald to complete his hat-trick ten minutes from time, with Ian Madigan also kicking ten points as Leinster took control of Pool One.
It was a similar tale of dominance by fellow Irish outfit Munster who got their Pool 6 campaign back on track with a bonus-point win over Perpignan.
Sean Dougall, Dave Kilcoyne and Keith Earls helped them to a 22-0 half-time lead before a penalty try and James Coughlan's effort secured a 36-8 win, although the win was marred by a knee injury to Conor Murray.
Ulster were another side in fine form, running in seven tries against fellow RaboDirect PRO12 team Benetton Treviso to strengthen their position at the top of Pool 5.
Luke Marshall (2), Paddy Jackson, John Afoa, Dan Tuohy, Sean Doyle and Andrew Trimble all crossed the Italians' line as Ulster took the bonus-point 48-0 victory.
In the weekend's other all RaboDirect PRO12 clash, Cardiff Blues got the better of fellow Pool 2 opponents Glasgow Warriors with a thrilling 29-20 win.
The Blues were 16-0 up thanks to Rhys Patchell's try and penalty as well as Leigh Halfpenny's five kicking points before Sean Maitland's try and Duncan Weir's boot gave the Warriors hope.
But Alex Cuthbert's interception try proved crucial, despite Leone Nakarawa adding a consolation try for the visitors.
Elsewhere, Dan Parks was in great kicking form for RaboDirect Pro 12 bottom side Connacht as they recorded a famous Heineken Cup 16-14 win over Toulouse, Kieran Marmion also crossing in the second-half.
Ospreys and Scarlets both recorded away defeats, losing 15-9 and 32-11 to Castres and Clermont Auvergne respectively.
While Zebre lost at home 10-39 to Saracens with Edinburgh lost 12-23 to Gloucester, Greig Tonks and David Denton with the Scottish side's tries.
But in the Amlin Challenge Cup, Newport Gwent Dragons kept their hopes of making the knockout stages alive with a 40-24 home win over Bordeaux-Begles on Friday night.
First-half scores from Patrick Leach, Matthew Pewtner and Hallam Amos gave them a 12-point cushion at the break before Toby Faletau and Ashley Smith sealed it late on.
TRY OF THE WEEKEND
With Toulouse having pulled a try back on the stroke of half-time to make it 7-6, Connacht would be forgiven for thinking a famous victory over the four-times Heineken Cup champions was going to slip away after the break.
But with Dan Parks quickly adding a penalty, the impressive Kieran Marmion then calmed nerves on 48 minutes as he started and finished a great team move.
With his pass giving backs Dave McSharry, Robbie Henshaw and Fionn Carr the room to make hay down the field, the 21-year-old kept up with the play, before burrowing over in the corner.
Park added the extras to extend the gap to 16-7 and an overall lead that they would not relinquish despite Toulouse adding another seven points.
BREAK OF THE WEEKEND
RaboDirect PRO12 table toppers Munster recorded yet another victory this season beating Perpignan 36-8 with their third try from Keith Earls' break proving the pick of the bunch.
With Paul O'Connell and Cathal Sheridan working well together to pinch possession in their own half, Earls was then handed the ball.
And he quickly swallowed up the 40-metre gap to race over the line for his eighth Heineken Cup try.
PLAY OF THE WEEKEND
They say class is permanent and Brian O'Driscoll certainly showed why he is regarded as one of Leinster and Ireland's best ever players when he fed in Fitzgerald for their second try of the match.
Already 7-0 to the good after seven minutes, Leinster were again peppering the Saints' line and when the ball was again fed back across to the left and O'Driscoll.
But appearing to drive off his right foot, he instead pulled out the party piece, with an audacious through-the-leg flicked pass to Rob Kearney before he fed Fitzgerald.
PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND
It wasn't just the assist to Fitzgerald that had O'Driscoll taking the plaudits however, as he rolled back the years with a commanding man-of-the-match performance against Northampton Saints.
The Irishman had only managed one appearance for the Province this season before Saturday's game due to injury but the 34-year-old was involved from the off, playing in Fitzgerald for the game's first two tries.
A deserved try followed after the break before he was replaced on 72 minutes, but O'Driscoll, playing in his swansong season before retirement, had already done more than enough to leave his mark.
Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the RaboDirect PRO12
63x46.png){kind=logo}