तच्छ्रुत्वा कौरवेयास्ते तूष्णीमासन्विशांपते। अर्जुनस्तु ततः सर्वं प्रतिजज्ञे परन्तप
Hearing this, the Kauravas remained silent, O lord of men; but Arjuna then promised everything, O scorcher of foes.
ततोऽर्जुनं तदा मूर्ध्नि समाघ्राय पुनः पुनः। प्रीतिपूर्वं परिष्वज्य प्ररुरोद मुदा तदा
Then Drona repeatedly kissed Arjuna on the head, embraced him with affection, and wept with joy.
अश्वत्थामानमाहूय द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत्। सखायं विद्धि ते पार्थं मया दत्तः प्रगृह्यताम्
Calling Ashvatthama, Drona spoke these words: 'Know this Partha as your friend, whom I have given to you; accept him.'
साधुसाध्विति तं पार्थः परिष्वज्येदमब्रवीत्। अद्यप्रभृति विप्रेन्द्र परवानस्मि धर्मतः
Partha embraced him, saying, 'Well done, well done!' and spoke: 'From today, O foremost Brahmin, I am bound to you by righteousness.'
शिष्योऽहं त्वत्प्रसादेन जीवामि द्विजसत्तम। इत्युक्त्वा तु तदा पार्थः पादौ जग्राह पाण्डवः
O best of the twice-born, I am your disciple; by your grace I live. Having said this, Partha then grasped the feet of his teacher.
ततो द्रोणः पाण्डुपुत्रानस्त्राणि विविधानि च। ग्राहयामास दिव्यानि मानुषाणि च वीर्यवान्
Then Drona, mighty in valor, began to teach the sons of Pandu various weapons, both divine and human.
राजपुत्रास्तथा चान्ये समेत्य भरतर्षभ। अभिजग्मुस्ततो द्रोणमस्त्रार्थे द्विजसत्तमम्
And other royal sons also gathered, O bull among the Bharatas, and approached Drona, the best of the twice-born, seeking instruction in weapons.
वृष्णयश्चान्धकाश्चैव नानादेश्याश्च पार्थिवाः। सूतपुत्रश्च राधेयो गुरुं द्रोणमियात्तदा
The Vrishnis, the Andhakas, kings from various regions, and Radheya, the son of a charioteer, all came to Drona as their teacher at that time.
स्पर्धमानस्तु पार्थेन सूतपुत्रोऽत्यमर्षणः। दुर्योधनं समाश्रित्य सोऽवमन्यत पाण्डवान्
Competing with Partha, the son of the charioteer, filled with intense anger, relied upon Duryodhana and scorned the Pandavas.
अभ्ययात्स ततो द्रोणं धनुर्वेदचिकीर्षया। शिक्षाभुजवलोद्योगैस्तेषु सर्वेषु पाण्डवः
Then, desiring to master the science of archery, he approached Drona; among all those students, the Pandava excelled in diligence and skill.
अस्त्रविद्यानुरागाच्च विशिष्टोऽभवदर्जुनः। तुल्येष्वस्त्रप्रयोगेषु लाघवे सौष्टवेषु च
Due to his devotion to the science of weapons, Arjuna became distinguished in equal application of weapons, in speed, and in excellence.
सर्वेषामेव शिष्याणां बभूवाभ्यधिकोऽर्जुनः। ऐन्द्रिमप्रतिमं द्रोण उपदेशेष्वमन्यत
Among all the disciples, Arjuna surpassed the rest; in teaching, Drona considered him equal to Indra.
एवं सर्वकुमाराणामिष्वस्त्रं प्रत्यपादयत्। कमण्डलुं च सर्वेषां प्रायच्छच्चिरकारणात्
Thus, he taught all the princes archery; and, after a long time, he gave each of them a water pot.
पुत्राय च ददौ कुम्भमविलम्बनकारणात्। यावत्ते नोपगच्छ्ति तावदस्मै परां क्रियाम्
To his son, he gave a pitcher without delay; as long as he did not approach, he did not perform the supreme rite for him.
द्रोण आचष्ट पुत्राय कर्म तज्जिष्णुरौहत। ततः स वारुणास्त्रेण पूरयित्वा कमण्डलुम्
Drona instructed his son in that task; the victorious one then filled the water pot using the Varuna weapon.
सममाचार्यपुत्रेण गुरुमभ्येति फाल्गुनः। आचार्यपुत्रात्तस्मात्तु विशेषोपचयेऽपृथक्
Phalguna approached the teacher together with the teacher's son; from the teacher's son, he received special instruction, not separately.
न व्यहीयत मेधावी पार्थोऽप्यस्त्रविदां वरः। अर्जुनः परमं यत्नमातिष्ठद्गुरुपूजने
The intelligent Partha, foremost among those skilled in weapons, was not surpassed; Arjuna made the utmost effort in honoring his teacher.
अस्त्रे च परमं योगं प्रियो द्रोणस्य चाभवत्। तं दृष्ट्वा नित्यमुद्युक्तमिष्वस्त्रं प्रति फाल्गुनम्
In weapons, he attained supreme mastery and became dear to Drona; seeing Phalguna always diligent in archery,
आहूय वचनं द्रोणो रहः सूदमभाषत। अन्धकारेऽर्जुनायान्नं न देयं ते कदाचन। न चाख्येयमिदं चापि मद्वाक्यं विजयेत्वया
Drona called the charioteer privately and spoke: 'Never give food to Arjuna in the dark; nor should you reveal this, for my words must be obeyed by you.'
ततः कदाचिद्भुञ्जाने प्रववौ वायुरर्जुने। तेन तत्र प्रदीपः स दीप्यमानो विलोपितः
Once, as Arjuna was eating, the wind blew; the lamp there, though burning, was extinguished by it.
भुक्त एव तु कौन्तेयो नास्यादन्यत्र वर्तते। हस्तस्तेजस्विनस्तस्य अनुग्रहणकारणात्
Having finished his meal, Kaunteya did not let his hand stray elsewhere; his hand, radiant, acted out of favor.
तदभ्यासकृतं मत्वा रात्रावपि स पाण्डवः। योग्यां चक्रे महाबाहुर्धनुषा पाण्डुनन्दनः
Considering this as practice, the Pandava, mighty-armed and son of Pandu, performed suitable exercises with the bow even at night.
तस्य ज्यातलनिर्घोषं द्रोणः शुश्राव भारत। उपेत्य चैनमुत्थाय परिष्वज्येदमब्रवीत्
Drona heard the resounding twang of his bow, O Bharata, and approaching him, rose up and embraced him, saying these words:
प्रयतिष्ये तथा कर्तुं यथा नान्यो धनुर्धरः। त्वत्समो भविता लोके सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
I will strive so that no other archer in the world will become your equal; this is the truth I speak to you.
ततो द्रोणोऽर्जुनं भूयो हयेषु च गजेषु च। रथेषु भूमावपि च रणशिक्षामशिक्षयत्
Then Drona further instructed Arjuna in the arts of war—on horses, on elephants, in chariots, and on the ground.
गदायुद्धेऽसिचर्यायां तोमरप्रासशक्तिषु। द्रोणः संकीर्णयुद्धे च शिक्षयामास कौरवान्
Drona taught the Kauravas mace-fighting, swordsmanship, the use of javelins, spears, and darts, and the conduct of mixed battles.
तस्य तत्कौशलं श्रुत्वा धनुर्वेदजिघृक्षवः। सजानो राजपुत्राश्च समाजग्मुः सहस्रशः
Hearing of his skill, thousands of princes and sons of kings, eager to master the science of archery, gathered together.
तान्सर्वाञ्शिक्षयामास द्रोणः शस्त्रभृतां वरः।' ततो निषादराजस्य हिरण्यधनुषः सुतः। एकलव्यो महाराज द्रोणमभ्याजगाम ह
Drona, foremost among weapon-bearers, instructed them all; then, O King, Ekalavya, son of the Nishada king Hiranyadhanu, approached Drona.
न स तं प्रतिजग्राह नैषादिरिति चिन्तयन्। शिष्यं धनुषि धर्मज्ञस्तेषामेवान्ववेक्षया
He did not accept him, considering him a Nishada, and, knowing righteousness in archery, wished to take as disciples only those students.
शिष्योऽसि मम नैषादे प्रयोगे बलत्तरः। निवर्तस्व गृहानेव अनुज्ञातोऽसि नित्यशः
You are not my disciple, O Nishada; you excel in the use of weapons. Return to your home—you have my constant permission.