The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 134

Section CXXXIV. ( *Sambhava Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "Then worshipped by Bhisma, 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. And after he had rested awhile, Bhisma taking with him his grand-sons the Kaurava princes, gave them unto him as his pupils, making at the same time many valuable presents. And the mighty one (Bhisma) 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 bowmen Drona thereupon joyfully accepted the Kauravas, *viz*, the sons of Pandu and Dhrita-rashtra, as his pupils. And having accepted them all as his pupils, one day Drona called them apart and making them touch his feet, told 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 thou 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 Rādhā 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 arm, 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 equal 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) inorder that much time may be spent in filling them, he gave unto his own son Aswathama 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 Prithā 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 favorite of his preceptor. And Drona beholding his pupil's devotion to arms, summoning the cook, told him in secret, 'Never give Arjuna his food in the dark, nor do thou tell him that I have told thee this.' A few days after, however, when Arjuna was taking his food, a wind rose and thereupon the lamp that was burning went out. But Arjuna, endued with energy, continued eating in the dark, his hand, from habit going up to his mouth. His attention being thus called to the force of 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 bow-string 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 a bowman equal to thee in the world.'" Vaisampayana continued, "Thereafter Drona began to teach Arjuna the art of fighting on horse-back, on the back of elephants, on chariots, and on the ground. And the mighty Drona also instructed Arjuna in fighting with the mace, the sword, the *tomara*, the *prasa*, and the *sakti*. 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. And amongst those that came, there, O monarch, was a prince named Ekalavya, who was the son of Hiranya-dhanu, 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) excell all his high-born pupils. But, O thou oppressor of all enemies, the Nishada prince, touching Drona's feet with bent head, wended into the forest. And there making a clay image of Drona began to worship it respectfully, as if it were his real preceptor, and practise weapons before it with the most rigid regularity. In consequence of his exceptional reverence for his preceptor, and of his devotion also to his purpose, all the three processes of fixing arrows on the bow-string, aiming, and letting off shafts became very easy to him. "And one day, O thou grinder of all foes, the Kuru and the Pandava princes, with Drona's leave, set out on their chariots on a hunting excursion. A servant, O king, followed the party at liesure, with the usual implements and a dog. Having arrived at the woods, they wandered about intent on the purpose they had in view. Meanwhile, the dog also, in wandering alone about 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 bark to aloud. "Thereupon the Nishada prince, desirous of exhibiting his lightness of hand, struck seven arrows into its mouth (before it could shut it). And the dog thus pierced with seven arrows came back to the Pandavas. And those heroes, beholding that sight, were filled with wonder. And ashamed of their own skill, they began to praise the lightness of hand and precision of aim by auricular perception (exhibited by the unknown archer). And they thereupon began to seek in those woods for the unknown dweller thereof (who showed 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 a total stranger to them, they asked, 'Who art thou and whose son?' Thus questioned, the man replied, 'Ye heroes, I am the son of Hiranya-dhanu king of the Nishadas. Know me also for a pupil of Drona, labouring for the acquisition 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. But Arjuna, however, in particular, thinking all the while, O king, of 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, *viz*, the mighty son of the Nishada king, superior to me?'" Vaisampayana continued, "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, wending a few steps forward, he 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 fee.' 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 thou foremost of all conversant with the Vedas, which 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 Arjuna at this became happy, the fever (of jealousy) having left him. "Two of Drona's pupils became very much accomplished in the use of the mace. These were Duryodhana and Bhima, who were, however, always jealous of each other. Aswathama excelled everyone in the mysteries of the (science of arms). The twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) excelled everybody in handling the sword. Yudish-thira excelled everybody as a charioteer. Arjuna, however, excelled everyone in every respect; surpassing everyone in intelligence, resourcefulness, strength, and perseverance. Accomplished in all weapons, Arjuna became the foremest of even the feremost of charioteers; and his fame spread all over the earth to the verge of the sea. And although the instruction had been equal, yet the mighty Arjuna excelled all (the princes) in lightness of hand. Indeed, in weapons as in devotion to his preceptor, he became the first of them all. And amongst all the princes, Arjuna alone became an *Atiratha* (a charioteer capable of fighting at one time with sixty thousand foes). And the wicked sons of Dhrita-rashtra, beholding Bhima-sena endued with great strength and Arjuna accomplished in all arms, became very jealous of them. "O thou 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 bow-strings; shoot and cut off the bird's head, as soon as I give the order. I shall give each of yea turn, one by one, my children." Vaisampayana continued, "Then Drona, that foremost of all Angira's sons, first addressed Yudhish-thira saying, 'O irrepressible one, aim with thy arrow and let it off as soon as I give the order. Yudishthira took up the bow first, as desired, O king, by his preceptor, and stood aiming at the bird. But, O thou bull of the Bharata race, Drona in an instant, addressing the Kuru prince standing with bow in hand, said, 'Behold, O prince, that bird on the top of the tree.' Yudhish-thira replied unto his preceptor, saying, 'I do.' But the instant after, Drona again asked him, 'What dost thou now see, O prince? Seest thou the tree, myself, or thy brothers?' Yudhish-thira answered, 'I see the tree, thyself, my brothers, and the bird.' Drona repeated his question, but was answered as often in the same words. Drona then, vexed with Yudhish-thira, reproachingly told him, 'Stand thou apart. It is not for thee to strike the aim.' Then Drona repeated the experiment with Duryo-dhana and the other sons of Dhrita-rashtra one after another, as also with his other pupils, Bhima and the rest, including the princes who had come unto him from other lands. But the answer in every case was the same as Yudhish-thira'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 ends the hundred and thirty-fourth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.