SECTION CXLI
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana continued, 'After the
expiration, O king, of a year from this, Dhritarashtra, moved by kindness for
the people, installed Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, as the heir-apparent of
the kingdom on account of his firmness, fortitude, patience, benevolence,
frankness and unswerving honesty (of heart). And within a short time
Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, by his good behaviour, manners and close application
to business, overshadowed the deeds of his father. And the second Pandava,
Vrikodara, began to receive continued lessons from Sankarshana (Valarama) in
encounters with the sword and the mace and on the chariot. And after Bhima's
education was finished, he became in strength like unto Dyumatsena himself and
continuing to live in harmony with his brothers, he began to exert his prowess.
And Arjuna became celebrated for the firmness of his grasp (of weapons), for
his lightness of motion, precision of aim, and his proficiency in the use of
the Kshura, Naracha, Vala and Vipatha weapons, indeed, of all weapons, whether
straight or crooked or heavy. And Drona certified that there was none in the
world who was equal to Arjuna in lightness of hand and general proficiency.
"One day, Drona, addressing Arjuna before
the assembled Kaurava princes, said, 'There was a disciple of Agastya in the
science of arms called Agnivesa. He was my preceptor and I, his disciple. By
ascetic merit I obtained from him a weapon called Brahmasira which could never
be futile and which was like unto thunder itself, capable of consuming the
whole earth. That weapon, O Bharata, from what I have done, may now pass from
disciple to disciple. While imparting it to me, my preceptor said, 'O son of
Bharadwaja, never shouldst thou hurl this weapon at any human being, especially
at one who is of poor energy. Thou hast, O hero, obtained that celestial
weapon. None else deserveth it. But obey the command of the Rishi (Agnivesa).
And, look here, Arjuna, give me now the preceptorial fee in the presence of
these thy cousins and relatives.' When Arjuna, on hearing this, pledged his
word that he would give what the preceptor demanded, the latter said, 'O
sinless one, thou must fight with me when I fight with thee.' And that bull
among the Kuru princes thereupon pledged his word unto Drona and touching his
feet, went away northward. Then there arose a loud shout covering the whole
earth bounded by her belt of seas to the effect that there was no bowman in the
whole world like unto Arjuna. And, indeed, Dhananjaya, in encounters with the
mace and the sword and on the chariot as also with the bow, acquired wonderful
proficiency. Sahadeva obtained the whole science of morality and duties from
(Vrihaspati) the spiritual chief of celestials, and continued to live under the
control of his brothers. And Nakula, the favourite of his brothers taught by
Drona, became known as a skilful warrior and a great car-warrior (Ati-ratha).
Indeed, Arjuna and the other Pandava princes became so powerful that they slew
in battle the great Sauvira who had performed a sacrifice extending over three
years, undaunted by the raids of the Gandharvas. And the king of the Yavanas
himself whom the powerful Pandu even had failed to bring under subjection was
brought by Arjuna under control. Then again Vipula, the king of the Sauviras, endued
with great prowess, who had always shown a disregard for the Kurus, was made by
the intelligent Arjuna to feel the edge of his power. And Arjuna also repressed
by means of his arrows (the pride of) king Sumitra of Sauvira, also known by
the name of Dattamitra who had resolutely sought an encounter with him. The
third of the Pandava princes, assisted by Bhima, on only a single car
subjugated all the kings of the East backed by ten thousand cars. In the same
way, having conquered on a single car the whole of the south, Dhananjaya sent
unto the kingdom of the Kurus a large booty.
"Thus did those foremost of men, the
illustrious Pandavas, conquering the territories of other kings, extend the
limits of their own kingdom. But beholding the great prowess and strength of
those mighty bowmen, king Dhritarashtra's sentiments towards the Pandavas
became suddenly poisoned, and from that day the monarch became so anxious that
he could hardly sleep.'"
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