“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Thus worshipped by Bhishma,
Drona, that first of men, endued with great energy, took up his quarters in the
place 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 to him as pupils, making at the same time many
valuable presents. The mighty one (Bhishma) also joyfully gave to the son of
Bharadwaja (Drona), a house that was
tidy and neat and well-filled with paddy and every kind of wealth. That first
of archers, Drona, immediately joyfully, accepted the Kauravas – the sons of
Pandu and Dhritarashtra, as his pupils. 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, O sinless ones, that when you have become skilled in weaponry, you will
accomplish it.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words, the Kuru
princes remained silent. O king (Janamejaya), but Arjuna vowed to accomplish it
whatever it was. Drona then cheerfully hugged Arjuna to his chest 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 divine and human. O bull
of the Bharata race (Janamejaya),
many other princes also flocked to that best of Brahmanas (Drona) for instruction in weaponry. The Vrishnis, the Andhakas, and princes from various
lands, and Raadheya (Karna) - the son of Soota (Soota means
charioteer), all became pupils of Drona.
“But of them all, the son of Soota Karna, from
jealousy, frequently challenged Arjuna, and supported by Duryodhana, used to
disregard the Pandavas. Arjuna, however, from devotion to Dhanurveda, always
stayed by the side of his Guru, and in skill, strength of arms, dedication,
excelled all (his class-fellows). Indeed, although the instruction the Guru
gave, was the same in the case of all, yet in lightness and skill Arjuna became
the foremost of all his fellow-pupils. Drona was convinced that none of his
pupils would be able to be equal to that son of (Lord) Indra (i.e. Arjuna).
“Thus Drona continued giving lessons to the princes in
Dhanurveda. While, he gave to 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 to his own son Aswatthaman
a broad-mouthed vessel, so that, filling it quickly, he might return soon
enough. 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 immediately filling his narrow-mouthed vessel with water by
means of the Varuna weapon (Varunaastra), he used to come to his Guru at the same time with his preceptor's
son. Accordingly, the intelligent son of Pritha (son of Kunti, i.e., here
it refers to Arjuna), that foremost of
all men possessing a knowledge of weapons, had no inferiority to his Guru’s son
in respect of excellence. Arjuna's devotion to the service of his Guru as also
to arms was very great and he soon became the favourite of his Guru. Drona, seeing
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 you 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 usage of habit, the
strong-armed son of Pandu (Arjuna) set his heart upon practising with his bow
in the night. O Bharata (Janamejaya),
Drona, hearing the twang of his (Arjuna’s) bowstring in the night, came to him, and hugging him, said, ‘Truly I do
tell you that I shall do that to you by which there shall not be a bowman equal
to you in this world.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Afterwards, Drona began to
teach Arjuna the art of fighting on horse-back, on the back of elephants, on
chariot, and on the ground. The mighty Drona also instructed Arjuna in fighting
with the mace (Gada in Hindi), the sword, the lance, the spear, and the (Shakti) arrow(s). He also instructed him in using many weapons and fighting with many
men at the same time. Hearing reports of his (Drona’s) skill, kings and princes, desirous of learning Dhanurveda, flocked to
Drona by thousands. O monarch (Janamejaya), among those that came there was a prince named Ekalavya, who was the
son of Hiranyadhanusha, king of the Nishadas (Nishadas are mentioned as
tribes that have the hills and the forests for their abode. They are linked
with a king called Vena who became a slave of anger and evil, and became Adharmic).
“Drona, however, knowledgeable of all rules of Dharma,
accepted not the prince (Ekalavya) as his pupil in archery, seeing that he
was a Nishada who might (in time)
excel all his pupils. O oppressor of all enemies (Janamejaya), but the Nishada prince, touching Drona's
feet with bent head, walked 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 Guru, and practised weapons before it with the most rigid regularity. In
consequence of his exceptional respect for his Guru 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.
“O grinder of enemies (Janamejaya), one day the Kuru and the Pandava princes,
with Drona's permission, set out in their chariots on a hunting excursion. O
king (Janamejaya), a servant
followed them at leisure, with the usual instruments and a dog. Having come to
the forest, they (Kauravas and Pandavas) wandered about, intent on the purpose they had in view (hunting). Meanwhile, the dog also, in wandering
alone in the forest, came upon the Nishada prince (Ekalavya). Seeing the Nishada of dark colour, of
body covered with dirt, dressed in black and bearing matted locks on head, the
dog began to bark aloud.
“Thereupon the Nishada prince (Ekalavya), desirous of
exhibiting his lightness of hand, sent seven arrows into its mouth (before the
dog could shut it). The dog, thus
pierced with seven arrows, came back to the Pandavas. Those heroes, who saw
that sight, were filled with wonder, and, ashamed of their own skill, began to
praise the lightness of hand and precision of aim by precision using ears alone
(exhibited by the unknown archer). They
thereupon began to seek in those forest for the unknown stayer therein that had
shown such skill. O king (Janamejaya),
the Pandavas soon found out the object of their search discharging arrows from
the bow in a non-stop fashion. Looking that man of grim appearance, who was
totally a stranger to them, they asked, ‘Who are you and whose son?’ Thus
questioned, the man replied, ‘O heroes (Veera in Sanskrit), I am the son of Hiranyadhanusha, king of
the Nishadas. Know me also for a pupil of Drona, labouring for the mastery of Dhanurveda.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The Pandavas then, having
made themselves familiar with everything about him (Ekalavya), returned (to the city), and going to Drona, told him of that
wonderful feat of archery which they had witnessed in the forest. O king (Janamejaya), Arjuna, in particular, thinking all the
while about Ekalavya, saw Drona in private and relying upon his Guru’s
affection for him said, ‘You had lovingly told me, hugging me to your chest,
that no pupil of yours should be equal to me. Why then is there a pupil of yours,
the mighty son of the Nishada king, superior to me?’’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘On hearing these words,
Drona thought for a moment, and resolving upon the path of action he should
follow, took Arjuna with him and went to the Nishada prince. He saw Ekalavya
with body covered with dirt, matted locks (on head), dressed in rags, bearing a bow in hand
and shooting arrows from that place in a non-stop fashion. When Ekalavya saw
Drona approaching towards him, he went a few steps forward, and touched his
feet and fell himself (on the Drona’s feet) on the ground. The son of the Nishada king (Ekalavya) worshipping Drona, duly represented himself
as his pupil, and joined his hands in respect stood before him (awaiting
his commands).
“O king (Janamejaya), then Drona addressed Ekalavya, saying, ‘If,
O hero, you are really my pupil, give me then my fees (Vethana in Sanskrit).’
“On hearing these words, Ekalavya was very much pleased,
and said in reply, ‘O respected Guru, what shall I give? Command me; for there
is nothing, O foremost of all persons knowledgeable with the Vedas, that I may
not give to my Guru.’
“Drona answered, ‘O Ekalavya, if you are really intent
on making me a gift (Dakshina in Sanskrit), I should like then to have the thumb of your
right hand.’
“Vaishampaayana 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 unpained
heart cut off without getting upset his thumb, and gave it to Drona. O king (Janamejaya), after this,
when the Nishada prince (Ekalavya)
began once more to shoot with the help of his remaining fingers, he found that
he had lost his former lightness of hand. 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 (Gada in Hindi). These were Druyodhana and Bhima, who
were, however, always jealous of each other. Ashwatthaama excelled everyone (in
the mysteries of Dhanurveda). The twins (Nakula
and Sahadeva) excelled everybody in
handling the sword. Yudhishthira surpassed everybody as a chariot-warrior; but
Arjuna, however, outdistanced everyone in every respect -- in intelligence,
resourcefulness, strength and perseverance. Accomplished in all weapons, Arjuna
became the foremost of the foremost of chariot-warriors; and his fame spread
all over the earth to the verge of the sea. 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 Guru,
he became the foremost of them all. Amongst all the princes, Arjuna alone
became an Atiratha (a car-warrior capable of fighting at one time with sixty
thousand enemies). The wicked sons of
Dhritarashtra, seeing Bhimasena endued with great strength and Arjuna
accomplished in all weapons, became very jealous of them.
“O bull among men (Janamejaya), one day Drona desirous of testing the
comparative excellence of all his pupils in the use of weapons, collected them
all together after their education had been completed. 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. When they were all together, Drona said to
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.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Then Drona, that foremost
of all (Rishi) Angira's
sons, first addressed Yudhishthira saying, ‘O uncontrollable one, aim with your
arrow and shoot as soon as I give the order.’ O king (Janamejaya), Yudhishthira took up the bow first, as
desired by his Guru, and stood aiming at the bird. O bull of Bharata's race (Janamejaya), but Drona in a moment, addressing the
Kuru prince standing with bow in hand, said, ‘Look, O prince (Yudhishthira), that bird on top of the tree.’
Yudhishthira replied to his Guru, saying, ‘I do.’ But the next moment Drona
again asked him, ‘What do you see now, O prince (Yudhishthira)? Do you see the tree, myself or your
brothers?’ Yudhishthira answered, ‘I see the tree, yourself, my brothers, and
the bird.’ Drona repeated his question, but was answered as often in the same
words.
“Drona then, irritated with Yudhishthira, scoldingly
said, ‘You stand apart. It is not for you 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 to him from other lands. But the
answer in every case was the same as Yudhishthira's viz., ‘We see the tree, yourself,
our fellow-pupils, and the bird.’ Criticised by their Guru, they were all
ordered, one after another, to stand apart.’”
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