(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.'"