तं ततोऽन्वेषमाणास्ते वने वननिवासिनम्। ददृशुः पाण्डवा राजन्नस्यन्तमनिशं शरान्
O King, as the Pāṇḍavas searched for him in the forest, they saw that forest-dweller ceaselessly releasing arrows.
न चैनमभ्यजानंस्ते तदा विकृतदर्शनम्। तथैनं परिपप्रच्छ्रुः को भवान्कस्य वेत्युत
But at that time, because his appearance was altered, they did not recognize him; so they questioned him: 'Who are you, and whose son are you?'
निषादाधिपतेर्वीरा हिरण्यधनुषः सुतम्। द्रोणशिष्यं च मां वित्त धुर्वेदकृतश्रमम्
Know me as the son of the Niṣāda king Hiraṇyadhanus, a student of Droṇa, who has mastered the difficult Vedas.
ते तमाज्ञाय तत्त्वेन पुनरागम्य पाण्डवाः। यथा वृत्तं वने सर्वं द्रोणायाचख्युरद्भुतम्
Having learned this truth, the Pāṇḍavas returned and told Droṇa everything that had happened in the forest, marveling at it.
कौन्तेयस्त्वर्जुनो राजन्नेकलव्यमनुस्मरन्। रहो द्रोणं समासाद्य प्रणयादिदमब्रवीत्
Then Arjuna, son of Kuntī, remembering Ekalavya, approached Droṇa privately and spoke these affectionate words:
नन्वहं परिरभ्यैकः प्रीतिपूर्वमिदं वचः। भवतोक्तो न मे शिष्यस्त्वद्विशिष्टो भविष्यति
Did you not once embrace me and say with affection, 'No student of mine will surpass you'?
अथ कस्मान्मद्विशिष्टो लोकादपि च वीर्यवान्। अन्योऽस्ति भवतः शिष्यो निषादाधिपतेः सुतः
Then why is there now another student of yours, the valiant son of the Niṣāda king, who is greater than I in skill?
मुहूर्तमिव तं द्रोणश्चिन्तयित्वा विनिश्चयम्। सव्यसाचिनमादाय नैषादिं प्रति जग्मिवान्
Droṇa, after pondering this for a moment, took Savyasācin (Arjuna) and went to see the Niṣāda youth.
ददर्श मलदिग्धाङ्गं जटिलं चीरवाससम्। एकलव्यं धनुष्पाणिमस्यन्तमनिशं शरान्
He saw Ekalavya, his body smeared with dirt, hair matted, clothed in bark, holding a bow and ceaselessly shooting arrows.
एकलव्यस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा द्रोणमायान्तमन्तिकात्। अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य जगाम शिरसा महीम्
Seeing Droṇa approaching, Ekalavya came near, greeted him respectfully, and bowed his head to the ground.
पूजयित्वा ततो द्रोणं विधिवत्स निषादजः। निवेद्य शिष्यमात्मानं तस्थौ प्राञ्जलिरग्रतः
Then, honoring Droṇa according to custom, the Niṣāda youth declared himself his student and stood before him with joined palms.
ततो द्रोणोऽब्रवीद्राजन्नेकलव्यमिदं वचः। यदि शिष्योऽसि मे वीर वेतनं दीयतां मम
Then Droṇa said to Ekalavya, 'If you are truly my student, O hero, give me my teacher's fee.'
एकलव्यस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रीयमाणोऽब्रवीदिदम्। किं प्रयच्छामि भगवन्नाज्ञापयतु मां गुरुः
Hearing this, Ekalavya replied joyfully, 'What shall I give, revered one? Let my teacher command me.'
तमब्रवीत्त्वयाङ्गुष्ठो दक्षिणो दीयतामिति
He said to him, 'Let your right thumb be given to me.'
एकलव्यस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वचो द्रोणस्य दारुणम्। प्रतिज्ञामात्मनो रक्षन्सत्ये च नियतः सदा
Hearing Droṇa's harsh words, Ekalavya, ever steadfast in truth and his vow, resolved to keep his promise.
तथैव हृष्टवदनस्तथैवादीनमानसः। छित्त्वाऽविचार्य तं प्रादाद्द्रोणायाङ्गुष्ठमात्मनः
With a cheerful face and undisturbed mind, without hesitation, he cut off his thumb and gave it to Droṇa.
ततः शरं तु नैषादिरङ्गुलीभिर्व्यकर्षत। न तथा च स शीघ्रोऽभूद्यथा पूर्वं नराधिप
After that, the Niṣāda youth drew his bowstring with his fingers, but, O king, he was not as swift as before.
ततोऽर्जुनः प्रीतमना बभूव विगतज्वरः। द्रोणश्च सत्यवागासीन्नान्योऽभिभविताऽर्जुनं
Then Arjuna became content and free of anxiety, and Droṇa, true to his word, ensured that no one would surpass Arjuna.
द्रोणस्य तु तदा शिष्यौ गदायोग्यौ बभूवतुः। दुर्योधनश्च भीमश्च सदा संरब्धणानसौ
At that time, Drona had two pupils skilled in mace-fighting: Duryodhana and Bhima, both always fierce and wrathful.
अश्वत्थामा रहस्येषु सर्वेष्वभ्यधिकोऽभवत्। तथाऽतिपुरुषानन्यान्त्सारुकौ यमजावुभौ
Among all, Ashvatthama excelled in secret techniques; likewise, the twin sons of Madri, both mighty, surpassed others.
युधिष्ठिरो रथश्रेष्ठः सर्वत्र तु धनञ्जयः। प्रथितः सागरान्तायां रथयूथपयूथपः
Yudhishthira was foremost among charioteers, but everywhere Dhananjaya was renowned as the chief of chariot-warriors, famed to the ends of the sea.
बुद्धियोगबलोत्साहः सर्वास्त्रेषु च निष्ठितः। अस्त्रे गुर्वनुरागे च विशिष्टोऽभवदर्जुनः
Arjuna was distinguished in all weapons by intellect, discipline, strength, and enthusiasm, and surpassed all in his devotion to his teacher.
तुल्येष्वस्त्रोपदेशेषु सौष्ठवेन च वीर्यवान्। एकः सर्वकुमाराणां बभूवातिरथोऽर्जुनः
Though all the princes received equal instruction in weapons, Arjuna alone among them became a supreme chariot-warrior by his skill.
प्राणाधिकं भीमसेनं कृतविद्यं धनञ्जयम्। धार्तराष्ट्रा दुरात्मानो नामृष्यन्त परस्परम्
The sons of Dhritarashtra, wicked in mind, could not tolerate Bhimasena, who was dearer than life, nor Dhananjaya, accomplished in knowledge, nor each other.
तांस्तु सर्वान्समानीय सर्वविद्यास्त्रशिक्षितान्। द्रोणः प्रहरणज्ञाने जिज्ञासुः पुरुषर्षभः
Then Drona, the best of men, gathering all the princes trained in every science and weapon, wished to test their knowledge of arms.
कृत्रिमं भासमारोप्य वृक्षाग्रे शिल्पिभिः कृतम्। अविज्ञातं कुमाराणां लक्ष्यभूतमुपादिशत्
He had the craftsmen place an artificial bird atop a tree, unknown to the princes, and designated it as the target.
शीघ्रं भन्तः सर्वेऽपि धनूंष्यादाय सर्वशः। भासमेतं समुद्दिश्य तिष्ठध्वं सन्धितेषतः
All of you, quickly take up your bows, aim at this bird, and stand ready with arrows set, awaiting my command.
मद्वाक्यसमकालं तु शिरोऽस्य विनिपात्यताम्। एकैकशो नियोक्ष्यामि तथा कुरुत पुत्रकाः
At my word, let each of you, one by one, shoot and bring down its head; do so, my sons, as I instruct.
ततो युधिष्ठिरं पूर्वमुवाचाङ्गिरसां वरः। संधत्स्व बामं दुर्धर्ष मद्वाक्यान्ते विमुञ्चतम्
Then the best of the Angirasas first addressed Yudhishthira: 'String your bow, steadfast one, and release your arrow at my command.'
ततो युधिष्ठिरः पूर्वं धनुर्गृह्य परन्तपः। तस्थौ भासं समुद्दिश्य गुरुवाक्यप्रचोदितः
So Yudhishthira, destroyer of foes, first took up his bow, stood aiming at the bird, prompted by his teacher's words.