Mahabharata 1.123: trayoviṃśatyadhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.123.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
arjunastu paraṃ yatnamātasthe gurupūjane |
astre ca paramaṃ yogaṃ priyo droṇasya cābhavat || 1 ||

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus worshipped by Bhishma, Drona, that first of men, endued with great energy, took up his quarters in the abode of the Kurus and continued to live there, receiving their adorations. After he had rested a while, Bhishma, taking with him his grandsons, the Kaurava princes, gave them unto him as pupils, making at the same time many valuable presents. And the mighty one (Bhishma) also joyfully gave unto the son of Bharadwaja a house that was tidy and neat and well-filled with paddy and every kind of wealth. And that first of archers, Drona, thereupon joyfully, accepted the Kauravas, viz., the sons of Pandu and Dhritarashtra, as his pupils. And having accepted them all as his pupils, one day Drona called them apart and making them touch his feet, said to them with a swelling heart, 'I have in my heart a particular purpose. Promise me truly, ye sinless ones, that when ye have become skilled in arms, ye will accomplish it.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words, the Kuru princes remained silent. But Arjuna, O king, vowed to accomplish it whatever it was. Drona then cheerfully clasped Arjuna to his bosom and took the scent of his head repeatedly, shedding tears of joy all the while. Then Drona endued with great prowess taught the sons of Pandu (the use of) many weapons both celestial and human. And, O bull of the Bharata race, many other princes also flocked to that best of Brahmanas for instruction in arms. The Vrishnis and the Andhakas, and princes from various lands, and the (adopted) son of Radha of the Suta caste, (Karna), all became pupils of Drona. But of them all, the Suta child Karna, from jealousy, frequently defied Arjuna, and supported by Duryodhana, used to disregard the Pandavas. Arjuna, however, from devotion to the science of arms, always stayed by the side of his preceptor, and in skill, strength of arms, and perseverance, excelled all (his class-fellows). Indeed, although the instruction the preceptor gave, was the same in the case of all, yet in lightness and skill Arjuna became the foremost of all his fellow-pupils. And Drona was convinced that none of his pupils would (at any time) be able to be equal to that son of Indra.

"Thus Drona continued giving lessons to the princes in the science of weapons. And while he gave unto every one of his pupils a narrow-mouthed vessel (for fetching water) in order that much time may be spent in filling them, he gave unto his own son Aswatthaman a broad-mouthed vessel, so that, filling it quickly, he might return soon enough. And in the intervals so gained, Drona used to instruct his own son in several superior methods (of using weapons). Jishnu (Arjuna) came to know of this, and thereupon filling his narrow-mouthed vessel with water by means of the Varuna weapon he used to come unto his preceptor at the same time with his preceptor's son. And accordingly the intelligent son of Pritha, that foremost of all men possessing a knowledge of weapons, had no inferiority to his preceptor's son in respect of excellence. Arjuna's devotion to the service of his preceptor as also to arms was very great and he soon became the favourite of his preceptor. And Drona, beholding his pupil's devotion to arms, summoned the cook, and told him in secret, 'Never give Arjuna his food in the dark, nor tell him that I have told thee this.' A few days after, however, when Arjuna was taking his food, a wind arose, and thereupon the lamp that had been burning went out. But Arjuna, endued with energy, continued eating in the dark, his hand, from habit, going to his mouth. His attention being thus called to the force of habit, the strong-armed son of Pandu set his heart upon practising with his bow in the night. And, O Bharata, Drona, hearing the twang of his bowstring in the night, came to him, and clasping him, said, 'Truly do I tell thee that I shall do that unto thee by which there shall not be an archer equal to thee in this world.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thereafter Drona began to teach Arjuna the art of fighting on horse-back, on the back of elephants, on car, and on the ground. And the mighty Drona also instructed Arjuna in fighting with the mace, the sword, the lance, the spear, and the dart. And he also instructed him in using many weapons and fighting with many men at the same time. And hearing reports of his skill, kings and princes, desirous of learning the science of arms, flocked to Drona by thousands. Amongst those that came there, O monarch, was a prince named Ekalavya, who was the son of Hiranyadhanus, king of the Nishadas (the lowest of the mixed orders). Drona, however, cognisant of all rules of morality, accepted not the prince as his pupil in archery, seeing that he was a Nishada who might (in time) excel all his high-born pupils. But, O oppressor of all enemies, the Nishada prince, touching Drona's feet with bent head, wended his way into the forest, and there he made a clay-image of Drona, and began to worship it respectfully, as if it was his real preceptor, and practised weapons before it with the most rigid regularity. In consequence of his exceptional reverence for his preceptor and his devotion to his purpose, all the three processes of fixing arrows on the bowstring, aiming, and letting off became very easy for him.

"And one day, O grinder of foes, the Kuru and the Pandava princes, with Drona's leave, set out in their cars on a hunting excursion. A servant, O king, followed the party at leisure, with the usual implements and a dog. Having come to the woods, they wandered about, intent on the purpose they had in view. Meanwhile, the dog also, in wandering alone in the woods, came upon the Nishada prince (Ekalavya). And beholding the Nishada of dark hue, of body besmeared with filth, dressed in black and bearing matted locks on head, the dog began to bark aloud.

"Thereupon the Nishada prince, desirous of exhibiting his lightness of hand, sent seven arrows into its mouth (before it could shut it). The dog, thus pierced with seven arrows, came back to the Pandavas. Those heroes, who beheld that sight, were filled with wonder, and, ashamed of their own skill, began to praise the lightness of hand and precision of aim by auricular precision (exhibited by the unknown archer). And they thereupon began to seek in those woods for the unknown dweller therein that had shown such skill. And, O king, the Pandavas soon found out the object of their search ceaselessly discharging arrows from the bow. And beholding that man of grim visage, who was totally a stranger to them, they asked, 'Who art thou and whose son?' Thus questioned, the man replied, 'Ye heroes, I am the son of Hiranyadhanus, king of the Nishadas. Know me also for a pupil of Drona, labouring for the mastery of the art of arms.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'The Pandavas then, having made themselves acquainted with everything connected with him, returned (to the city), and going unto Drona, told him of that wonderful feat of archery which they had witnessed in the woods. Arjuna, in particular, thinking all the while, O king, Ekalavya, saw Drona in private and relying upon his preceptor's affection for him, said, 'Thou hadst lovingly told me, clasping me, to thy bosom, that no pupil of thine should be equal to me. Why then is there a pupil of thine, the mighty son of the Nishada king, superior to me?"

'Vaisampayana continued, 'On hearing these words, Drona reflected for a moment, and resolving upon the course of action he should follow, took Arjuna with him and went unto the Nishada prince. And he beheld Ekalavya with body besmeared with filth, matted locks (on head), clad in rags, bearing a bow in hand and ceaselessly shooting arrows therefrom. And when Ekalavya saw Drona approaching towards him, he went a few steps forward, and touched his feet and prostrated himself on the ground. And the son of the Nishada king worshipping Drona, duly represented himself as his pupil, and clasping his hands in reverence stood before him (awaiting his commands). Then Drona, O king, addressed Ekalavya, saying, 'If, O hero, thou art really my pupil, give me then my fees.' On hearing these words, Ekalavya was very much gratified, and said in reply, 'O illustrious preceptor, what shall I give? Command me; for there is nothing, O foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas, that I may not give unto my preceptor.' Drona answered, 'O Ekalavya, if thou art really intent on making me a gift, I should like then to have the thumb of thy right hand.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these cruel words of Drona, who had asked of him his thumb as tuition-fee, Ekalavya, ever devoted to truth and desirous also of keeping his promise, with a cheerful face and an unafflicted heart cut off without ado his thumb, and gave it unto Drona. After this, when the Nishada prince began once more to shoot with the help of his remaining fingers, he found, O king, that he had lost his former lightness of hand. And at this Arjuna became happy, the fever (of jealousy) having left him.

"Two of Drona's pupils became very much accomplished in the use of mace. These were Druvodhana and Bhima, who were, however, always jealous of each other. Aswatthaman excelled everyone (in the mysteries of the science of arms). The twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) excelled everybody in handling the sword. Yudhishthira surpassed everybody as a car-warrior; but Arjuna, however, outdistanced everyone in every respect--in intelligence, resourcefulness, strength and perseverance. Accomplished in all weapons, Arjuna became the foremost of even the foremost of car-warriors; and his fame spread all over the earth to the verge of the sea. And although the instruction was the same, the mighty Arjuna excelled all (the princes in lightness of hand). Indeed, in weapons as in devotion to his preceptor, he became the foremost of them all. And amongst all the princes, Arjuna alone became an Atiratha (a car-warrior capable of fighting at one time with sixty thousand foes). And the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra, beholding Bhimasena endued with great strength and Arjuna accomplished in all arms, became very jealous of them.

"O bull among men, one day Drona desirous of testing the comparative excellence of all his pupils in the use of arms, collected them all together after their education had been completed. And before assembling them together, he had caused an artificial bird, as the would be aim, to be placed on the top of a neighbouring tree. And when they were all together, Drona said unto them, 'Take up your bows quickly and stand here aiming at that bird on the tree, with arrows fixed on your bowstrings; shoot and cut off the bird's head, as soon as I give the order. I shall give each of you a turn, one by one, my children.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Drona, that foremost of all Angira's sons first addressed Yudhishthira saying, 'O irrepressible one, aim with thy arrow and shoot as soon as I give the order. Yudhishthira took up the bow first, as desired, O king, by his preceptor, and stood aiming at the bird. But, O bull of Bharata's race, Drona in an instant, addressing the Kuru prince standing with bow in hand, said, 'Behold, O prince, that bird on top of the tree.' Yudhishthira replied unto his preceptor, saying, 'I do.' But the next instant Drona again asked him, 'What dost thou see now, O prince? Seest thou the tree, myself or thy brothers?' Yudhishthira answered, 'I see the tree, myself, my brothers, and the bird.' Drona repeated his question, but was answered as often in the same words. Drona then, vexed with Yudhishthira, reproachingly said, 'Stand thou apart. It is not for thee to strike the aim.' Then Drona repeated the experiment with Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhritarashtra, one after another, as also with his other pupils, Bhima and the rest, including the princes that had come unto him from other lands. But the answer in every case was the same as Yudhishthira's viz., 'We behold the tree, thyself, our fellow-pupils, and the bird.' And reproached by their preceptor, they were all ordered, one after another, to stand apart.'"

"Thus Drona continued giving lessons to the princes in the science of weapons. And while he gave unto every one of his pupils a narrow-mouthed vessel (for fetching water) in order that much time may be spent in filling them, he gave unto his own son Aswatthaman a broad-mouthed vessel, so that, filling it quickly, he might return soon enough. And in the intervals so gained, Drona used to instruct his own son in several superior methods (of using weapons). Jishnu (Arjuna) came to know of this, and thereupon filling his narrow-mouthed vessel with water by means of the Varuna weapon he used to come unto his preceptor at the same time with his preceptor's son. And accordingly the intelligent son of Pritha, that foremost of all men possessing a knowledge of weapons, had no inferiority to his preceptor's son in respect of excellence. Arjuna's devotion to the service of his preceptor as also to arms was very great and he soon became the favourite of his preceptor. And Drona, beholding his pupil's devotion to arms, summoned the cook, and told him in secret, 'Never give Arjuna his food in the dark, nor tell him that I have told thee this.' A few days after, however, when Arjuna was taking his food, a wind arose, and thereupon the lamp that had been burning went out. But Arjuna, endued with energy, continued eating in the dark, his hand, from habit, going to his mouth. His attention being thus called to the force of habit, the strong-armed son of Pandu set his heart upon practising with his bow in the night. And, O Bharata, Drona, hearing the twang of his bowstring in the night, came to him, and clasping him, said, 'Truly do I tell thee that I shall do that unto thee by which there shall not be an archer equal to thee in this world.'

1.123.2

droṇena tu tadāhūya rahasyukto'nnasādhakaḥ |
andhakāre'rjunāyānnaṃ na deyaṃ te kathaṃcana || 2 ||

1.123.3

tataḥ kadācidbhuñjāne pravavau vāyurarjune |
tena tatra pradīpaḥ sa dīpyamāno nivāpitaḥ || 3 ||

1.123.4

bhuṅkta evārjuno bhaktaṃ na cāsyāsyādvyamuhyata |
hastastejasvino nityamannagrahaṇakāraṇāt |
tadabhyāsakṛtaṃ matvā rātrāvabhyasta pāṇḍavaḥ || 4 ||

1.123.5

tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ droṇaḥ śuśrāva bhārata |
upetya cainamutthāya pariṣvajyedamabravīt || 5 ||

1.123.6

prayatiṣye tathā kartuṃ yathā nānyo dhanurdharaḥ |
tvatsamo bhavitā loke satyametadbravīmi te || 6 ||

1.123.7

tato droṇo'rjunaṃ bhūyo ratheṣu ca gajeṣu ca |
aśveṣu bhūmāvapi ca raṇaśikṣāmaśikṣayat || 7 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thereafter Drona began to teach Arjuna the art of fighting on horse-back, on the back of elephants, on car, and on the ground. And the mighty Drona also instructed Arjuna in fighting with the mace, the sword, the lance, the spear, and the dart. And he also instructed him in using many weapons and fighting with many men at the same time. And hearing reports of his skill, kings and princes, desirous of learning the science of arms, flocked to Drona by thousands. Amongst those that came there, O monarch, was a prince named Ekalavya, who was the son of Hiranyadhanus, king of the Nishadas (the lowest of the mixed orders). Drona, however, cognisant of all rules of morality, accepted not the prince as his pupil in archery, seeing that he was a Nishada who might (in time) excel all his high-born pupils. But, O oppressor of all enemies, the Nishada prince, touching Drona's feet with bent head, wended his way into the forest, and there he made a clay-image of Drona, and began to worship it respectfully, as if it was his real preceptor, and practised weapons before it with the most rigid regularity. In consequence of his exceptional reverence for his preceptor and his devotion to his purpose, all the three processes of fixing arrows on the bowstring, aiming, and letting off became very easy for him.

1.123.8

gadāyuddhe'sicaryāyāṃ tomaraprāsaśaktiṣu |
droṇaḥ saṃkīrṇayuddheṣu śikṣayāmāsa pāṇḍavam || 8 ||

1.123.9

tasya tatkauśalaṃ dṛṣṭvā dhanurvedajighṛkṣavaḥ |
rājāno rājaputrāśca samājagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ || 9 ||

1.123.10

tato niṣādarājasya hiraṇyadhanuṣaḥ sutaḥ |
ekalavyo mahārāja droṇamabhyājagāma ha || 10 ||

1.123.11

na sa taṃ pratijagrāha naiṣādiriti cintayan |
śiṣyaṃ dhanuṣi dharmajñasteṣāmevānvavekṣayā || 11 ||

1.123.12

sa tu droṇasya śirasā pādau gṛhya paraṃtapaḥ |
araṇyamanusaṃprāptaḥ kṛtvā droṇaṃ mahīmayam || 12 ||

1.123.13

tasminnācāryavṛttiṃ ca paramāmāsthitastadā |
iṣvastre yogamātasthe paraṃ niyamamāsthitaḥ || 13 ||

1.123.14

parayā śraddhayā yukto yogena parameṇa ca |
vimokṣādānasaṃdhāne laghutvaṃ paramāpa saḥ || 14 ||

1.123.15

atha droṇābhyanujñātāḥ kadācitkurupāṇḍavāḥ |
rathairviniryayuḥ sarve mṛgayāmarimardanāḥ || 15 ||

"And one day, O grinder of foes, the Kuru and the Pandava princes, with Drona's leave, set out in their cars on a hunting excursion. A servant, O king, followed the party at leisure, with the usual implements and a dog. Having come to the woods, they wandered about, intent on the purpose they had in view. Meanwhile, the dog also, in wandering alone in the woods, came upon the Nishada prince (Ekalavya). And beholding the Nishada of dark hue, of body besmeared with filth, dressed in black and bearing matted locks on head, the dog began to bark aloud.

1.123.16

tatropakaraṇaṃ gṛhya naraḥ kaścidyadṛcchayā |
rājannanujagāmaikaḥ śvānamādāya pāṇḍavān || 16 ||

1.123.17

teṣāṃ vicaratāṃ tatra tattatkarma cikīrṣatām |
śvā caransa vane mūḍho naiṣādiṃ prati jagmivān || 17 ||

1.123.18

sa kṛṣṇaṃ maladigdhāṅgaṃ kṛṣṇājinadharaṃ vane |
naiṣādiṃ śvā samālakṣya bhaṣaṃstasthau tadantike || 18 ||

1.123.19

tadā tasyātha bhaṣataḥ śunaḥ sapta śarānmukhe |
lāghavaṃ darśayannastre mumoca yugapadyathā || 19 ||

"Thereupon the Nishada prince, desirous of exhibiting his lightness of hand, sent seven arrows into its mouth (before it could shut it). The dog, thus pierced with seven arrows, came back to the Pandavas. Those heroes, who beheld that sight, were filled with wonder, and, ashamed of their own skill, began to praise the lightness of hand and precision of aim by auricular precision (exhibited by the unknown archer). And they thereupon began to seek in those woods for the unknown dweller therein that had shown such skill. And, O king, the Pandavas soon found out the object of their search ceaselessly discharging arrows from the bow. And beholding that man of grim visage, who was totally a stranger to them, they asked, 'Who art thou and whose son?' Thus questioned, the man replied, 'Ye heroes, I am the son of Hiranyadhanus, king of the Nishadas. Know me also for a pupil of Drona, labouring for the mastery of the art of arms.'

1.123.20

sa tu śvā śarapūrṇāsyaḥ pāṇḍavānājagāma ha |
taṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavā vīrā vismayaṃ paramaṃ yayuḥ || 20 ||

1.123.21

lāghavaṃ śabdavedhitvaṃ dṛṣṭvā tatparamaṃ tadā |
prekṣya taṃ vrīḍitāścāsanpraśaśaṃsuśca sarvaśaḥ || 21 ||

1.123.22

taṃ tato'nveṣamāṇāste vane vananivāsinam |
dadṛśuḥ pāṇḍavā rājannasyantamaniśaṃ śarān || 22 ||

1.123.23

na cainamabhyajānaṃste tadā vikṛtadarśanam |
athainaṃ paripapracchuḥ ko bhavānkasya vetyuta || 23 ||

1.123.24

ekalavya uvāca |
niṣādādhipatervīrā hiraṇyadhanuṣaḥ sutam |
droṇaśiṣyaṃ ca māṃ vitta dhanurvedakṛtaśramam || 24 ||

1.123.25

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
te tamājñāya tattvena punarāgamya pāṇḍavāḥ |
yathāvṛttaṃ ca te sarvaṃ droṇāyācakhyuradbhutam || 25 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'The Pandavas then, having made themselves acquainted with everything connected with him, returned (to the city), and going unto Drona, told him of that wonderful feat of archery which they had witnessed in the woods. Arjuna, in particular, thinking all the while, O king, Ekalavya, saw Drona in private and relying upon his preceptor's affection for him, said, 'Thou hadst lovingly told me, clasping me, to thy bosom, that no pupil of thine should be equal to me. Why then is there a pupil of thine, the mighty son of the Nishada king, superior to me?"

1.123.26

kaunteyastvarjuno rājannekalavyamanusmaran |
raho droṇaṃ samāgamya praṇayādidamabravīt || 26 ||

1.123.27

nanvahaṃ parirabhyaikaḥ prītipūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ |
bhavatokto na me śiṣyastvadviśiṣṭo bhaviṣyati || 27 ||

1.123.28

atha kasmānmadviśiṣṭo lokādapi ca vīryavān |
astyanyo bhavataḥ śiṣyo niṣādādhipateḥ sutaḥ || 28 ||

1.123.29

muhūrtamiva taṃ droṇaścintayitvā viniścayam |
savyasācinamādāya naiṣādiṃ prati jagmivān || 29 ||

'Vaisampayana continued, 'On hearing these words, Drona reflected for a moment, and resolving upon the course of action he should follow, took Arjuna with him and went unto the Nishada prince. And he beheld Ekalavya with body besmeared with filth, matted locks (on head), clad in rags, bearing a bow in hand and ceaselessly shooting arrows therefrom. And when Ekalavya saw Drona approaching towards him, he went a few steps forward, and touched his feet and prostrated himself on the ground. And the son of the Nishada king worshipping Drona, duly represented himself as his pupil, and clasping his hands in reverence stood before him (awaiting his commands). Then Drona, O king, addressed Ekalavya, saying, 'If, O hero, thou art really my pupil, give me then my fees.' On hearing these words, Ekalavya was very much gratified, and said in reply, 'O illustrious preceptor, what shall I give? Command me; for there is nothing, O foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas, that I may not give unto my preceptor.' Drona answered, 'O Ekalavya, if thou art really intent on making me a gift, I should like then to have the thumb of thy right hand.'

1.123.30

dadarśa maladigdhāṅgaṃ jaṭilaṃ cīravāsasam |
ekalavyaṃ dhanuṣpāṇimasyantamaniśaṃ śarān || 30 ||

1.123.31

ekalavyastu taṃ dṛṣṭvā droṇamāyāntamantikāt |
abhigamyopasaṃgṛhya jagāma śirasā mahīm || 31 ||

1.123.32

pūjayitvā tato droṇaṃ vidhivatsa niṣādajaḥ |
nivedya śiṣyamātmānaṃ tasthau prāñjaliragrataḥ || 32 ||

1.123.33

tato droṇo'bravīdrājannekalavyamidaṃ vacaḥ |
yadi śiṣyo'si me tūrṇaṃ vetanaṃ saṃpradīyatām || 33 ||

1.123.34

ekalavyastu tacchrutvā prīyamāṇo'bravīdidam |
kiṃ prayacchāmi bhagavannājñāpayatu māṃ guruḥ || 34 ||

1.123.35

na hi kiṃcidadeyaṃ me gurave brahmavittama |
tamabravīttvayāṅguṣṭho dakṣiṇo dīyatāṃ mama || 35 ||

1.123.36

ekalavyastu tacchrutvā vaco droṇasya dāruṇam |
pratijñāmātmano rakṣansatye ca nirataḥ sadā || 36 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these cruel words of Drona, who had asked of him his thumb as tuition-fee, Ekalavya, ever devoted to truth and desirous also of keeping his promise, with a cheerful face and an unafflicted heart cut off without ado his thumb, and gave it unto Drona. After this, when the Nishada prince began once more to shoot with the help of his remaining fingers, he found, O king, that he had lost his former lightness of hand. And at this Arjuna became happy, the fever (of jealousy) having left him.

1.123.37

tathaiva hṛṣṭavadanastathaivādīnamānasaḥ |
chittvāvicārya taṃ prādāddroṇāyāṅguṣṭhamātmanaḥ || 37 ||

1.123.38

tataḥ paraṃ tu naiṣādiraṅgulībhirvyakarṣata |
na tathā sa tu śīghro'bhūdyathā pūrvaṃ narādhipa || 38 ||

1.123.39

tato'rjunaḥ prītamanā babhūva vigatajvaraḥ |
droṇaśca satyavāgāsīnnānyo'bhyabhavadarjunam || 39 ||

1.123.40

droṇasya tu tadā śiṣyau gadāyogyāṃ viśeṣataḥ |
duryodhanaśca bhīmaśca kurūṇāmabhyagacchatām || 40 ||

"Two of Drona's pupils became very much accomplished in the use of mace. These were Druvodhana and Bhima, who were, however, always jealous of each other. Aswatthaman excelled everyone (in the mysteries of the science of arms). The twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) excelled everybody in handling the sword. Yudhishthira surpassed everybody as a car-warrior; but Arjuna, however, outdistanced everyone in every respect--in intelligence, resourcefulness, strength and perseverance. Accomplished in all weapons, Arjuna became the foremost of even the foremost of car-warriors; and his fame spread all over the earth to the verge of the sea. And although the instruction was the same, the mighty Arjuna excelled all (the princes in lightness of hand). Indeed, in weapons as in devotion to his preceptor, he became the foremost of them all. And amongst all the princes, Arjuna alone became an Atiratha (a car-warrior capable of fighting at one time with sixty thousand foes). And the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra, beholding Bhimasena endued with great strength and Arjuna accomplished in all arms, became very jealous of them.

1.123.41

aśvatthāmā rahasyeṣu sarveṣvabhyadhiko'bhavat |
tathāti puruṣānanyāntsārukau yamajāvubhau |
yudhiṣṭhiro rathaśreṣṭhaḥ sarvatra tu dhanaṃjayaḥ || 41 ||

1.123.42

prathitaḥ sāgarāntāyāṃ rathayūthapayūthapaḥ |
buddhiyogabalotsāhaiḥ sarvāstreṣu ca pāṇḍavaḥ || 42 ||

1.123.43

astre gurvanurāge ca viśiṣṭo'bhavadarjunaḥ |
tulyeṣvastropadeśeṣu sauṣṭhavena ca vīryavān |
ekaḥ sarvakumārāṇāṃ babhūvātiratho'rjunaḥ || 43 ||

1.123.44

prāṇādhikaṃ bhīmasenaṃ kṛtavidyaṃ dhanaṃjayam |
dhārtarāṣṭrā durātmāno nāmṛṣyanta narādhipa || 44 ||

1.123.45

tāṃstu sarvānsamānīya sarvavidyāsu niṣṭhitān |
droṇaḥ praharaṇajñāne jijñāsuḥ puruṣarṣabha || 45 ||

"O bull among men, one day Drona desirous of testing the comparative excellence of all his pupils in the use of arms, collected them all together after their education had been completed. And before assembling them together, he had caused an artificial bird, as the would be aim, to be placed on the top of a neighbouring tree. And when they were all together, Drona said unto them, 'Take up your bows quickly and stand here aiming at that bird on the tree, with arrows fixed on your bowstrings; shoot and cut off the bird's head, as soon as I give the order. I shall give each of you a turn, one by one, my children.'

1.123.46

kṛtrimaṃ bhāsamāropya vṛkṣāgre śilpibhiḥ kṛtam |
avijñātaṃ kumārāṇāṃ lakṣyabhūtamupādiśat || 46 ||

1.123.47

droṇa uvāca |
śīghraṃ bhavantaḥ sarve vai dhanūṃṣyādāya satvarāḥ |
bhāsametaṃ samuddiśya tiṣṭhantāṃ saṃhiteṣavaḥ || 47 ||

1.123.48

madvākyasamakālaṃ ca śiro'sya vinipātyatām |
ekaikaśo niyokṣyāmi tathā kuruta putrakāḥ || 48 ||

1.123.49

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
tato yudhiṣṭhiraṃ pūrvamuvācāṅgirasāṃ varaḥ |
saṃdhatsva bāṇaṃ durdharṣa madvākyānte vimuñca ca || 49 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Drona, that foremost of all Angira's sons first addressed Yudhishthira saying, 'O irrepressible one, aim with thy arrow and shoot as soon as I give the order. Yudhishthira took up the bow first, as desired, O king, by his preceptor, and stood aiming at the bird. But, O bull of Bharata's race, Drona in an instant, addressing the Kuru prince standing with bow in hand, said, 'Behold, O prince, that bird on top of the tree.' Yudhishthira replied unto his preceptor, saying, 'I do.' But the next instant Drona again asked him, 'What dost thou see now, O prince? Seest thou the tree, myself or thy brothers?' Yudhishthira answered, 'I see the tree, myself, my brothers, and the bird.' Drona repeated his question, but was answered as often in the same words. Drona then, vexed with Yudhishthira, reproachingly said, 'Stand thou apart. It is not for thee to strike the aim.' Then Drona repeated the experiment with Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhritarashtra, one after another, as also with his other pupils, Bhima and the rest, including the princes that had come unto him from other lands. But the answer in every case was the same as Yudhishthira's viz., 'We behold the tree, thyself, our fellow-pupils, and the bird.' And reproached by their preceptor, they were all ordered, one after another, to stand apart.'"

1.123.50

tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ pūrvaṃ dhanurgṛhya mahāravam |
tasthau bhāsaṃ samuddiśya guruvākyapracoditaḥ || 50 ||

1.123.51

tato vitatadhanvānaṃ droṇastaṃ kurunandanam |
sa muhūrtāduvācedaṃ vacanaṃ bharatarṣabha || 51 ||

1.123.52

paśyasyenaṃ drumāgrasthaṃ bhāsaṃ naravarātmaja |
paśyāmītyevamācāryaṃ pratyuvāca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ || 52 ||

1.123.53

sa muhūrtādiva punardroṇastaṃ pratyabhāṣata |
atha vṛkṣamimaṃ māṃ vā bhrātṝnvāpi prapaśyasi || 53 ||

1.123.54

tamuvāca sa kaunteyaḥ paśyāmyenaṃ vanaspatim |
bhavantaṃ ca tathā bhrātṝnbhāsaṃ ceti punaḥ punaḥ || 54 ||

1.123.55

tamuvācāpasarpeti droṇo'prītamanā iva |
naitacchakyaṃ tvayā veddhuṃ lakṣyamityeva kutsayan || 55 ||

1.123.56

tato duryodhanādīṃstāndhārtarāṣṭrānmahāyaśāḥ |
tenaiva kramayogena jijñāsuḥ paryapṛcchata || 56 ||

1.123.57

anyāṃśca śiṣyānbhīmādīnrājñaścaivānyadeśajān |
tathā ca sarve sarvaṃ tatpaśyāma iti kutsitāḥ || 57 ||

1.123.58

tato dhanaṃjayaṃ droṇaḥ smayamāno'bhyabhāṣata |
tvayedānīṃ prahartavyametallakṣyaṃ niśamyatām || 58 ||

"Vaisampayana said, 'When everyone had failed, Drona smilingly called Arjuna and said unto him, 'By thee the aim must be shot; therefore, turn thy eyes to it. Thou must let fly the arrow as soon as I give the order. Therefore, O son, stand here with bow and arrow for an instant.' Thus addressed, Arjuna stood aiming at the bird as desired by his preceptor, with his bow bent. An instant after Drona asked him as in the case of others, 'Seest thou, O Arjuna, the bird there, the tree, and myself?' Arjuna replied, 'I see the bird only, but nor the tree, or thyself.' Then the irrepressible Drona, well-pleased with Arjuna, the instant after, again said unto that mighty car-warrior amongst the Pandavas, 'If thou seest the vulture, then describe it to me.' Arjuna said, I see only the head of the vulture, not its body.' At these words of Arjuna, the hair (on Drona's body) stood on end from delight. He then said to Partha, 'Shoot.' And the latter instantly let fly (his arrow) and with his sharp shaft speedily struck off the head of the vulture on the tree and brought it down to the ground. No sooner was the deed done than Drona clasped Phalguna to his bosom and thought Drupada with his friends had already been vanquished in fight.

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'When everyone had failed, Drona smilingly called Arjuna and said unto him, 'By thee the aim must be shot; therefore, turn thy eyes to it. Thou must let fly the arrow as soon as I give the order. Therefore, O son, stand here with bow and arrow for an instant.' Thus addressed, Arjuna stood aiming at the bird as desired by his preceptor, with his bow bent. An instant after Drona asked him as in the case of others, 'Seest thou, O Arjuna, the bird there, the tree, and myself?' Arjuna replied, 'I see the bird only, but nor the tree, or thyself.' Then the irrepressible Drona, well-pleased with Arjuna, the instant after, again said unto that mighty car-warrior amongst the Pandavas, 'If thou seest the vulture, then describe it to me.' Arjuna said, I see only the head of the vulture, not its body.' At these words of Arjuna, the hair (on Drona's body) stood on end from delight. He then said to Partha, 'Shoot.' And the latter instantly let fly (his arrow) and with his sharp shaft speedily struck off the head of the vulture on the tree and brought it down to the ground. No sooner was the deed done than Drona clasped Phalguna to his bosom and thought Drupada with his friends had already been vanquished in fight.

"Some time after, O bull of Bharata's race, Drona, accompanied by all of his pupils, went to the bank of the Ganga to bathe in that sacred stream. And when Drona had plunged into the stream, a strong alligator, sent as it were, by Death himself seized him by the thigh. And though himself quite capable, Drona in a seeming hurry asked his pupil to rescue him. And he said, 'O, kill this monster and rescue me.' Contemporaneously with this speech, Vibhatsu (Arjuna) struck the monster within the water with five sharp arrows irresistible in their course, while the other pupils stood confounded, each at his place. Beholding Arjuna's readiness, Drona considered him to be the foremost of all his pupils, and became highly pleased. The monster, in the meantime cut into pieces by the arrows of Arjuna, released the thigh of illustrious Drona and gave up the ghost. The son of Bharadwaja then addressed the illustrious and mighty car-warrior Arjuna and said, 'Accept, O thou of mighty arms, this very superior and irresistible weapon called Brahmasira with the methods of hurling and recalling it. Thou must not, however, ever use it against any human foe, for if hurled at any foe endued with inferior energy, it might burn the whole universe. It is said, O child, that this weapon hath not a peer in the three worlds. Keep it, therefore, with great care, and listen to what I say. If ever, O hero, any foe, not human, contendeth against thee thou mayst then employ it against him for compassing his death in battle.' Pledging himself to do what he was bid, Vibhatsu then, with joined hands, received that great weapon.

The preceptor then, addressing him again, said, 'None else in this world will ever become a superior bowman to thee. Vanquished thou shall never be by any foe, and thy achievements will be great.'"

1.123.59

madvākyasamakālaṃ te moktavyo'tra bhaveccharaḥ |
vitatya kārmukaṃ putra tiṣṭha tāvanmuhūrtakam || 59 ||

1.123.60

evamuktaḥ savyasācī maṇḍalīkṛtakārmukaḥ |
tasthau lakṣyaṃ samuddiśya guruvākyapracoditaḥ || 60 ||

1.123.61

muhūrtādiva taṃ droṇastathaiva samabhāṣata |
paśyasyenaṃ sthitaṃ bhāsaṃ drumaṃ māmapi vetyuta || 61 ||

1.123.62

paśyāmyenaṃ bhāsamiti droṇaṃ pārtho'bhyabhāṣata |
na tu vṛkṣaṃ bhavantaṃ vā paśyāmīti ca bhārata || 62 ||

1.123.63

tataḥ prītamanā droṇo muhūrtādiva taṃ punaḥ |
pratyabhāṣata durdharṣaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ ratharṣabham || 63 ||

1.123.64

bhāsaṃ paśyasi yadyenaṃ tathā brūhi punarvacaḥ |
śiraḥ paśyāmi bhāsasya na gātramiti so'bravīt || 64 ||

1.123.65

arjunenaivamuktastu droṇo hṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ |
muñcasvetyabravītpārthaṃ sa mumocāvicārayan || 65 ||

1.123.66

tatastasya nagasthasya kṣureṇa niśitena ha |
śira utkṛtya tarasā pātayāmāsa pāṇḍavaḥ || 66 ||

1.123.67

tasminkarmaṇi saṃsiddhe paryaśvajata phalgunam |
mene ca drupadaṃ saṃkhye sānubandhaṃ parājitam || 67 ||

1.123.68

kasyacittvatha kālasya saśiṣyo'ṅgirasāṃ varaḥ |
jagāma gaṅgāmabhito majjituṃ bharatarṣabha || 68 ||

"Some time after, O bull of Bharata's race, Drona, accompanied by all of his pupils, went to the bank of the Ganga to bathe in that sacred stream. And when Drona had plunged into the stream, a strong alligator, sent as it were, by Death himself seized him by the thigh. And though himself quite capable, Drona in a seeming hurry asked his pupil to rescue him. And he said, 'O, kill this monster and rescue me.' Contemporaneously with this speech, Vibhatsu (Arjuna) struck the monster within the water with five sharp arrows irresistible in their course, while the other pupils stood confounded, each at his place. Beholding Arjuna's readiness, Drona considered him to be the foremost of all his pupils, and became highly pleased. The monster, in the meantime cut into pieces by the arrows of Arjuna, released the thigh of illustrious Drona and gave up the ghost. The son of Bharadwaja then addressed the illustrious and mighty car-warrior Arjuna and said, 'Accept, O thou of mighty arms, this very superior and irresistible weapon called Brahmasira with the methods of hurling and recalling it. Thou must not, however, ever use it against any human foe, for if hurled at any foe endued with inferior energy, it might burn the whole universe. It is said, O child, that this weapon hath not a peer in the three worlds. Keep it, therefore, with great care, and listen to what I say. If ever, O hero, any foe, not human, contendeth against thee thou mayst then employ it against him for compassing his death in battle.' Pledging himself to do what he was bid, Vibhatsu then, with joined hands, received that great weapon.

1.123.69

avagāḍhamatho droṇaṃ salile salilecaraḥ |
grāho jagrāha balavāñjaṅghānte kālacoditaḥ || 69 ||

1.123.70

sa samartho'pi mokṣāya śiṣyānsarvānacodayat |
grāhaṃ hatvā mokṣayadhvaṃ māmiti tvarayanniva || 70 ||

1.123.71

tadvākyasamakālaṃ tu bībhatsurniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |
āvāpaiḥ pañcabhirgrāhaṃ magnamambhasyatāḍayat |
itare tu visaṃmūḍhāstatra tatra prapedire || 71 ||

1.123.72

taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā kriyopetaṃ droṇo'manyata pāṇḍavam |
viśiṣṭaṃ sarvaśiṣyebhyaḥ prītimāṃścābhavattadā || 72 ||

1.123.73

sa pārthabāṇairbahudhā khaṇḍaśaḥ parikalpitaḥ |
grāhaḥ pañcatvamāpede jaṅghāṃ tyaktvā mahātmanaḥ || 73 ||

1.123.74

athābravīnmahātmānaṃ bhāradvājo mahāratham |
gṛhāṇedaṃ mahābāho viśiṣṭamatidurdharam |
astraṃ brahmaśiro nāma saprayoganivartanam || 74 ||

1.123.75

na ca te mānuṣeṣvetatprayoktavyaṃ kathaṃcana |
jagadvinirdahedetadalpatejasi pātitam || 75 ||

1.123.76

asāmānyamidaṃ tāta lokeṣvastraṃ nigadyate |
taddhārayethāḥ prayataḥ śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mama || 76 ||

1.123.77

bādhetāmānuṣaḥ śatruryadā tvāṃ vīra kaścana |
tadvadhāya prayuñjīthāstadāstramidamāhave || 77 ||

1.123.78

tatheti tatpratiśrutya bībhatsuḥ sa kṛtāñjaliḥ |
jagrāha paramāstraṃ tadāha cainaṃ punarguruḥ |
bhavitā tvatsamo nānyaḥ pumām̐lloke dhanurdharaḥ || 78 ||

The preceptor then, addressing him again, said, 'None else in this world will ever become a superior bowman to thee. Vanquished thou shall never be by any foe, and thy achievements will be great.'"