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.
स तु द्रोणस्य शिरसा पादौ गृह्य परन्तपः। अरण्यमनुसंप्राप्य कृत्वा द्रोणं महीमयम्
But that mighty one, bowing with his head at Drona’s feet, went into the forest and fashioned a clay image of Drona.
तस्मिन्नाचार्यवृत्तिं च परमामास्थितस्तदा। इष्वस्त्रे योगमातस्थे परं नियममास्थितः
There he adopted the highest discipline of a pupil, and, undertaking strict vows, devoted himself to mastery of the science of archery.
परया श्रद्धयोपेतो योगेन परमेण च। विमोक्षादानसन्धाने लघुत्वं परमाप सः
Endowed with supreme faith and intense concentration, he attained the utmost skill in releasing, holding, and aiming arrows.
लाघवं चास्त्रयोगं च नचिरात्प्रत्यपद्यत।' अथ द्रोणाभ्यनुज्ञाताः कदाचित्कुरुपाण्डवाः। रथैर्विनिर्ययुः सर्वे मृगयामरिमर्दनाः
He soon acquired lightness of hand and mastery of weapons; then, once permitted by Drona, the Kurus and Pandavas all set out in chariots for the hunt, eager to subdue their foes.
तत्रोपकरणं गृह्य नरः कश्चिद्यदृच्छया। राजन्ननुजगामैकः श्वानमादाय पाण्डवान्
There, by chance, a man took up his equipment and followed the Pandavas, bringing a dog along, O King.
तेषां विचरतां तत्र तत्तत्कर्मचिकीर्षया। श्वाचरन्स पथा क्रीडन्नैषादिं प्रति जग्मिवान्
As they wandered about, intent on various deeds, the dog, playing along the path, went towards the Nishada youth.
स कृष्णमलदिग्धाङ्गं कृष्णाजिनजटाघरम्। नैषादिं श्वा समालक्ष्य भषंस्तस्थौ तदन्तिके
Seeing the Nishada youth, whose body was smeared with black mud and who wore a black antelope skin and matted locks, the dog stood nearby, barking.
तदा तस्याथ भषतः शुनः सप्त शरान्मुखे। लाघवं दर्शन्नस्त्रे मुमोच युगपद्यथा
Then, as the dog barked, he loosed seven arrows at its mouth all at once, displaying his swiftness in archery.
स तु श्वा शरपूर्णास्यः पाण्डवानाजगाम ह। तं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवा वीराः परं विस्मयमागताः
That dog, its mouth filled with arrows, came to the Pandavas; seeing it, the heroic Pandavas were struck with great wonder.
लाघवं शब्धवेधित्वं दृष्ट्वा तत्परमं तदा। प्रेक्ष्य तं व्रीडिताश्चासन्प्रशशंसुश्च सर्वशः
Witnessing that supreme swiftness and skill in hitting by sound, they were both abashed and full of praise for him.