The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CXXXI (Sambhava Parva continued)

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

 SECTION CXXXI

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Desirous of giving his grandsons a superior

education, Bhishma was on the look-out for a teacher endued with energy

and well-skilled in the science of arms. Deciding, O chief of the

Bharatas, that none who was not possessed of great intelligence, none who

was not illustrious or a perfect master of the science of arms, none who

was not of godlike might, should be the instructor of the Kuru (princes),

the son of Ganga, O tiger among men, placed the Pandavas and the Kauravas

under the tuition of Bharadwaja's son, the intelligent Drona skilled in

all the Vedas. Pleased with the reception given him by the great Bhishma,

that foremost of all men skilled in arms, viz., illustrious Drona of

world-wide fame, accepted the princes as his pupils. And Drona taught

them the science of arms in all its branches. And, O monarch, both the

Kauravas and the Pandavas endued with immeasurable strength, in a short

time became proficient in the use of all kinds of arms.'

"Janamejaya asked, 'O Brahmana, how was Drona born? How and whence did he

acquire his arms? How and why came he unto the Kurus? Whose son also was

he endued with such energy? Again, how was his son Aswatthaman, the

foremost of all skilled in arms born? I wish to hear all this! Please

recite them in detail.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'There dwelt at the source of the Ganga, a great sage

named Bharadwaja, ceaselessly observing the most rigid vows. One day, of

old, intending to celebrate the Agnihotra sacrifice he went along with

many great Rishis to the Ganga to perform his ablutions. Arrived at the

bank of the stream, he saw Ghritachi herself, that Apsara endued with

youth and beauty, who had gone there a little before. With an expression

of pride in her countenance, mixed with a voluptuous languor of attitude,

the damsel rose from the water after her ablutions were over. And as she

was gently treading on the bank, her attire which was loose became

disordered. Seeing her attire disordered, the sage was smitten with

burning desire. The next moment his vital fluid came out, in consequence

of the violence of his emotion. The Rishi immediately held it in a vessel

called a drona. Then, O king, Drona sprang from the fluid thus preserved

in that vessel by the wise Bharadwaja. And the child thus born studied

all the Vedas and their branches. Before now Bharadwaja of great prowess

and the foremost of those possessing a knowledge of arms, had

communicated to the illustrious Agnivesa, a knowledge of the weapon

called Agneya. O foremost one of Bharata's race, the Rishi (Agnivesa)

sprung from fire now communicated the knowledge of that great weapon to

Drona the son of his preceptor.

"There was a king named Prishata who was a great friend of Bharadwaja.

About this time Prishata had a son born unto him, named Drupada. And that

bull among Kshatriyas, viz., Drupada, the son of Prishata, used every day

to come to the hermitage of Bharadwaja to play with Drona and study in

his company. O monarch, when Prishata was dead, this Drupada of mighty

arms became the king of the northern Panchalas. About this time the

illustrious Bharadwaja also ascended to heaven. Drona continuing to

reside in his father's hermitage devoted himself to ascetic austerities.

Having become well-versed in the Vedas and their branches and having

burnt also all his sins by asceticism, the celebrated Drona, obedient to

the injunctions of his father and moved by the desire of offspring

married Kripi, the daughter of Saradwat. And this woman, ever engaged in

virtuous acts and the Agnihotra, and the austerest of penances, obtained

a son named Aswatthaman. And as soon as Aswatthaman was born, he neighed

like the (celestial) steed Ucchaihsravas. Hearing that cry, an invisible

being in the skies said, 'The voice of this child hath, like the neighing

of a horse, been audible all around. The child shall, therefore, be known

by the name of Aswatthaman, (the horse-voiced). The son of Bharadwaja

(Drona) was exceedingly glad at having obtained that child. Continuing to

reside in that hermitage he devoted himself to the study of the science

of arms.

"O king, it was about this time that Drona heard that the illustrious

Brahmana Jamadagnya, that slayer of foes, that foremost one among all

wielders of weapons, versed in all kinds of knowledge, had expressed a

desire of giving away all his wealth to Brahmanas. Having heard of Rama's

knowledge of arms and of his celestial weapons also, Drona set his heart

upon them as also upon the knowledge of morality that Rama possessed.

Then Drona of mighty arms, endued with high ascetic virtues, accompanied

by disciples who were all devoted to vows ascetic austerities, set out

for the Mahendra mountains. Arrived at Mahendra, the son of Bharadwaja

possessed of high ascetic merit, beheld the son of Bhrigu, the

exterminator of all foes, endued with great patience and with mind under

complete control. Then, approaching with his disciples that scion of the

Bhrigu race Drona, giving him his name, told him of his birth in the line

of Angiras. And touching the ground with his head, he worshipped Rama's

feet. And beholding the illustrious son of Jamadagni intent upon retiring

into the woods after having given away all his wealth, Drona said, 'Know

me to have sprung from Bharadwaja, but not in any woman's womb! I am a

Brahmana of high birth, Drona by name, come to thee with the desire of

obtaining thy wealth.'

"On hearing him, that illustrious grinder of the Kshatriya race replied,

Thou art welcome, O best of regenerate ones! Tell me what thou desirest.

Thus addressed by Rama, the son of Bharadwaja replied unto that foremost

of all smiters, desirous of giving away the whole of his wealth, 'O thou

of multifarious vows, I am a candidate for thy eternal wealth,' 'O thou

of ascetic wealth, returned Rama, 'My gold and whatever other wealth I

had, have all been given away unto Brahmanas! This earth also, to the

verge of the sea, decked with towns and cities, as with a garland of

flowers, I have given unto Kasyapa. I have now my body only and my

various valuable weapons left. I am prepared to give either my body or my

weapons. Say, which thou wouldst have! I would give it thee! Say quickly!'

"Drona answered, O son of Bhrigu, it behoveth thee to give me all thy

weapons together with the mysteries of hurling and recalling them.'

"Saying, 'So be it,' the son of Bhrigu gave all his weapons unto

Drona,--indeed, the whole science of arms with its rules and mysteries.

Accepting them all, and thinking himself amply rewarded that best of

Brahmanas then, glad at heart, set out, for (the city of) his friend

Drupada.'"

SECTION CXXXII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then, O king, the mighty son of Bharadyaja 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 the Panchalas 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 had been 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 not stick, therefore, to that

worn-off friendship. Think not of it any longer. The friendship I had

with thee, O first of Brahmanas, was for a particular purpose. Friendship

can never subsist between a poor man and a rich man, between a man of

letters and an unlettered mind, between a hero and a coward. Why dost

thou 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 car-warrior can never be a friend to one who is

so; and one who is not a king 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.'"

SECTION CXXXIII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Arrived at Hastinapura, that best of Brahmanas, the

son of Bharadwaja, continued to live privately in the house of Gautama

(Kripa). His mighty son (Aswatthaman) at intervals of Kripa's teaching,

used to give the sons of Kunti lessons in the use of arms. But as yet

none knew of Aswatthaman's prowess.

"Drona had thus lived privately for some time in the house of Kripa when

one day the heroic princes, all in a company, came out of Hastinapura.

And coming out of the city, they began to play with a ball and roam about

in gladness of heart. And it so happened that the ball with which they

had been playing fell into a well. And thereupon the princes strove their

best to recover it from the well. But all the efforts the princes made to

recover it proved futile. They then began to eye one another bashfully,

and not knowing how to recover it, their anxiety became great. Just at

this time they beheld a Brahmana near enough unto them, of darkish hue,

decrepit and lean, sanctified by the performance of the Agnihotra and who

had finished his daily rites of worship. And beholding that illustrious

Brahmana, the princes who had despaired of success surrounded him

immediately. Drona (for that Brahmana was no other), seeing the princes

unsuccessful, and conscious of his own skill, smiled a little, and

addressing them said, 'Shame on your Kshatriya might, and shame also on

your skill in arms! You have been born in the race of Bharata! How is it

that ye cannot recover the ball (from the bottom of this well)? If ye

promise me a dinner today, I will, with these blades of grass, bring up

not only the ball ye have lost but this ring also that I now throw down!'

Thus saying, Drona that oppressor of foes, taking off his ring, threw it

down into the dry well. Then Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, addressing

Drona, said, 'O Brahmana (thou askest for a trifle)! Do thou, with

Kripa's permission, obtain of us that which would last thee for life!'

Thus addressed, Drona with smiles replied unto the Bharata princes,

saying, 'This handful of long grass I would invest, by my mantras, with

the virtue of weapons. Behold these blades possess virtues that other

weapons, have not! I will, with one of these blades, pierce the ball, and

then pierce that blade with another, and that another with a third, and

thus shall I, by a chain, bring up the ball.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Drona did exactly what he had said. And

the princes were all amazed and their eyes expanded with delight. And

regarding what they had witnessed to be very extraordinary, they said, O

learned Brahmana, do thou bring up the ring also without loss of time.'

"Then the illustrious Drona, taking a bow with an arrow, pierced the ring

with that arrow and brought it up at once. And taking the ring thus

brought up from the well still pierced with his arrow, he coolly gave it

to the astonished princes. Then the latter, seeing the ring thus

recovered, said, 'We bow to thee, O Brahmana! None else owneth such

skill. We long to know who thou art and whose son. What also can we do

for thee?'

"Thus addressed, Drona replied unto the princes, saying, 'Do ye repair

unto Bhishma and describe to him my likeness and skill. The mighty one

will recognize me.' The princes then saying, 'So be it,' repaired unto

Bhishma and telling him of the purport of that Brahmana's speech, related

everything about his (extraordinary) feat. Hearing everything from the

princes, Bhishma at once understood that the Brahmana was none else than

Drona, and thinking that he would make the best preceptor for the

princes, went in person unto him and welcoming him respectfully, brought

him over to the place. Then Bhishma, that foremost of all wielders of

arms, adroitly asked him the cause of his arrival at Hastinapura. Asked

by him, Drona represented everything as it had happened, saying, 'O sir,

in times past I went to the great Rishi Agnivesa for obtaining from him

his weapons, desirous also of learning the science of arms. Devoted to

the service of my preceptor, I lived with him for many years in the

humble guise of a Brahmacharin, with matted locks on my head. At that

time, actuated by the same motives, the prince of Panchala, the mighty

Yajnasena, also lived in the same asylum. He became my friend, always

seeking my welfare. I liked him much. Indeed, we lived together for many,

many years. O thou of Kuru's race, from our earliest years we had studied

together and, indeed, he was my friend from boyhood, always speaking and

doing what was agreeable to me. For gratifying me, O Bhishma, he used to

tell me, 'O Drona, I am the favourite child of my illustrious father.

When the king installeth me as monarch of the Panchalas, the kingdom

shall be thine. O friend, this, indeed, is my solemn promise. My

dominion, wealth and happiness, shall all be dependent on thee.' At last

the time came for his departure. Having finished his studies, he bent his

steps towards his country. I offered him my regards at the time, and,

indeed, I remembered his words ever afterwards.

"Some time after, in obedience to the injunctions of my father and

tempted also by the desire of offspring, I married Kripi of short hair,

who gifted with great intelligence, had observed many rigid vows, and was

ever engaged in the Agnihotra and other sacrifices and rigid austerities.

Gautami, in time, gave birth to a son named Aswatthaman of great prowess

and equal in splendour unto the Sun himself. Indeed, I was pleased on

having obtained Aswatthaman as much as my father had been on obtaining me.

"And it so happened that one day the child Aswatthaman observing some

rich men's sons drink milk, began to cry. At this I was so beside myself

that I lost all knowledge of the point of the compass. Instead of asking

him who had only a few kine (so that if he gave me one, he would no

longer be able to perform his sacrifices and thus sustain a loss of

virtue), I was desirous of obtaining a cow from one who had many, and for

that I wandered from country to country. But my wanderings proved

unsuccessful, for I failed to obtain a milch cow. After I had come back

unsuccessful, some of my son's playmates gave him water mixed with

powdered rice. Drinking this, the poor boy, was deceived into the belief

that he had taken milk, and began to dance in joy, saying, 'O, I have

taken milk. I have taken milk!' Beholding him dance with joy amid these

playmates smiling at his simplicity, I was exceedingly touched. Hearing

also the derisive speeches of busy-bodies who said, 'Fie upon the

indigent Drona, who strives not to earn wealth, whose son drinking water

mixed with powdered rice mistaketh it for milk and danceth with joy,

saying, 'I have taken milk,--I have taken milk!'--I was quite beside

myself. Reproaching myself much, I at last resolved that even if I should

have to live cast off and censured by Brahmanas, I would not yet, from

desire of wealth, be anybody's servant, which is ever hateful. Thus

resolved, O Bhishma, I went, for former friendship, unto the king of the

Somakas, taking with me my dear child and wife. Hearing that he had been

installed in the sovereignty (of the Somakas), I regarded myself as

blessed beyond compare. Joyfully I went unto that dear friend of mine

seated on the throne, remembering my former friendship with him and also

his own words to me. And, O illustrious one, approaching Drupada, I said,

'O tiger among men, know me for thy friend!'--Saying this, I approached

him confidently as a friend should. But Drupada, laughing in derision

cast me off as if I were a vulgar fellow. Addressing me he said, 'Thy

intelligence scarcely seemeth to be of a high order inasmuch as

approaching me suddenly, thou sayest thou art my friend! Time that

impaireth everything, impaireth friendship also. My former friendship

with thee was for a particular purpose. One of impure birth can never be

a friend of one who is of pure birth. One who is not a car-warrior can

never be a friend of one who is such. Friendship can only subsist between

persons that are of equal rank, but not between those that are unequally

situated. Friendship never subsisteth for ever in my heart. Time

impaireth friendships, as also anger destroyeth them. Do thou not stick,

therefore, to that worn-off friendship between us. Think not of it any

longer. The friendship I had with thee, O best of Brahmanas, was for a

special purpose. There cannot be friendship between a poor man and a rich

man, between an unlettered hind and a man of letters, between a coward

and a hero. Why dost thou, therefore, desire, the revival of our former

friendship? O thou of simple understanding, great kings can never have

friendship with such indigent and luckless wight as thou? One who is not

a king can never have a king for his friend. I do not remember ever

having promised thee my kingdom. But, O Brahmana, I can now give thee

food and shelter for one night.'--Thus addressed by him, I left his

presence quickly with my wife, vowing to do that which I will certainly

do soon enough. Thus insulted by Drupada, O Bhishma, I have been filled

with wrath, I have come to the Kurus, desirous of obtaining intelligent

and docile pupils. I come to Hastinapura to gratify thy wishes. O, tell

me what I am to do.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by the son of Bharadwaja,

Bhishma said unto him, 'String thy bow, O Brahmana, and make the Kuru

princes accomplished in arms. Worshipped by the Kurus, enjoy with a glad

heart to thy fill every comfort in their abode. Thou art the absolute

lord, O Brahmana, of what ever wealth the Kurus have and of their

sovereignty and kingdom! The Kurus are thine (from this day). Think that

as already accomplished which may be in thy heart. Thou art, O Brahmana,

obtained by us as the fruit of our great good luck. Indeed, the favour

thou hast conferred upon me by thy arrival is great.'

SECTION CXXXIV

(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.'"

SECTION CXXXV

(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.'"