After the completion of their training, Drona, filled with affection, embraced Arjuna and spoke to him with great warmth, “O Partha, as I have said before, there is no one in this world who can equal you.” He declared to Arjuna that, through his instruction, he had ensured that none could surpass him in mastery of weapons or in the art of battle—not only among men, but even among gods, demons, or Danavas. Drona humbly admitted that he himself was not Arjuna’s superior, and so, how could any man hope to match Arjuna in the field of war? Yet Drona pointed out there was one exception in all the worlds: Krishna, the lotus-eyed scion of the Vrishni clan, the slayer of Kamsa and Kaliya. “He alone,” Drona said, “armed with all weapons, is capable of conquering all worlds. But, O son of Pritha, in declaring you second only to him, I do not speak falsely.” Drona continued to praise Krishna, describing him as the very foundation of the universe: all that exists depends on him, dissolves into him, and arises from him. Even Brahma and Ishana and the other gods do not comprehend his supreme state. From Krishna’s navel was born Brahma, who created all beings; Krishna alone is the creator, the enjoyer, and the destroyer of the universe. He is the supreme person—past, present, and future—eternal, all-pervading, unchanging, immovable, and ancient. Whenever the world needs protection, Krishna manifests himself, endowed with the power of yoga, by his own play. None equal to him has ever been born, nor will be born. He, the son of his maternal uncle, became the teacher and father of all moving and unmoving beings. Drona asked, “What man, knowing his own good, would wish to oppose him?” Drona then reminded Arjuna that Krishna was both his brother-in-law and his dearest friend, loving Arjuna as his own life. Their friendship was deep and sacred, and Krishna’s affection for Arjuna was unsurpassed. Drona assured Arjuna that there would never be conflict between the two of them, not even in jest. Indeed, once before, for Arjuna’s sake, Krishna had been urged by Shakra himself. Drona recalled that, growing up in Gokula as the son of Nanda the cowherd, Krishna had manifested on earth as a portion of himself, the best among men. The illustrious Arjuna, younger brother of the sons of Kunti and mighty in valor, would aid Krishna in removing the burden of the earth. For this purpose, Shakra had once requested Krishna to grant Arjuna fearlessness and protection. Krishna, the illustrious bearer of the conch, discus, and mace, had replied that he knew Arjuna well—the son of his father’s sister, born in the Pandava line—supremely righteous and the best among all wielders of weapons. Krishna promised to protect that portion of himself, the mighty-armed Arjuna, lord of all worlds. Krishna had further declared that nowhere in the world would there be a friendship like theirs. Whoever was devoted to Arjuna was equally dear to Krishna, and whoever hated Arjuna, hated Krishna as well. “What is mine is his; without him, I would not live,” Krishna had said to Shakra, Lord Hari speaking with deep affection. Drona concluded, “Therefore, in this world, there is none equal or superior to Krishna. Take refuge in him alone, for Janardana, the god of gods, is the refuge of all beings.” Hearing these words, Yudhishthira, the best of the Kurus, bowed reverently to Drona and, grasping his teacher’s feet, submitted himself with humility. By his own nature, the sound of Arjuna’s bow encircled the earth girdled by the ocean; in all the world, there was no archer equal to Arjuna. In mace combat, sword fighting, and chariot warfare, Arjuna excelled; and Dhananjaya became supremely accomplished in archery. Sahadeva, possessing all the wisdom of Indra, mastered weapons, scriptures, and the arts of chariots, elephants, and horses, and was ever obedient to his brothers. Nakula, trained by Drona and beloved of his brothers, became renowned as a distinguished warrior, known as an atiratha. In the Gandharva conflict, the king of Sauvira, who had performed sacrifices for three years, was slain in battle by the Pandavas led by Arjuna. Even mighty Pandu had not subdued the king of the Yavanas, but Arjuna brought him under control. A man of great strength and pride, Vipula of Sauvira, was also defeated by the wise Partha. In battle, Arjuna subdued with his irresistible arrows the resolute Sauvira named Sumitra, also known as Dattamitra. With Bhimasena as his ally, Arjuna, alone on his chariot, conquered all the eastern kings and their ten thousand chariots in battle. Likewise, going alone on his chariot, Dhananjaya conquered the southern direction and brought great wealth to the Kuru kingdom. All this Arjuna accomplished in his fifteenth year, and seeing these mighty deeds, fear arose among the sons of Dhritarashtra. Bhimasena, of mighty arms and foremost among the strong, subdued all the sons of Dhritarashtra by his strength. Though blameless in intent, Bhima was found fault with by the sons of Dhritarashtra, who, out of fear and malice, looked for reasons to criticize him. Seeing the Pandavas, marked by great deeds and excelling in strength and virtues, those of evil mind grew ever more fearful. Thus, the great-souled Pandavas, best among men, having conquered foreign kingdoms, prospered their own realm in former times. But when King Dhritarashtra recognized the extraordinary strength of these mighty archers, his feelings toward the Pandavas suddenly soured; overwhelmed by anxiety, he could not sleep at night. Duryodhana, seeing Bhimasena as dearer than life and Dhananjaya accomplished in all arts, grew deeply troubled in his heart. Then Karna, son of Vikartana, and Shakuni, son of Subala, began to plot together, seeking by various means to destroy the Pandavas.