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.
ततो विततधन्वानं द्रोणस्तं कुरुनन्दनम्। स मुहूर्तादुवाचेदं वचनं भरतर्षभ
Then Drona spoke to that scion of the Kurus, who stood with bow drawn: 'O bull of the Bharatas, do you see the bird atop the tree?'
पश्यसि त्वं द्रुमाग्रस्थं भासं नरवरात्मज। पश्यामीत्येवमाचार्यं प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhishthira replied to his teacher, 'I see it,' thus answering, 'I see the bird on the tree, O teacher.'
स मुहूर्तादिव पुनर्द्रोणस्तं प्रत्यभाषत। अथ वृक्षमिमं मां वा भ्रातॄन्वाऽपि प्रपश्यसि
After a moment, Drona again questioned him: 'Do you see this tree, or me, or your brothers as well?'
तमुवाच स कौन्तेयः पश्याम्येनं नवस्पतिम्। भन्तं च तथा भ्रातॄन्भासं चेति पुनःपुनः
The son of Kunti replied, 'I see this tree, you, my brothers, and the bird as well,' repeating it again and again.
तमुवाचापसर्पेति द्रोणोऽप्रीतमना इव। नैतच्छक्यं त्वया वेद्धुं लक्ष्यमित्येव कुत्सयन्
Drona, displeased, told him to step aside, saying, 'You cannot hit the target,' thus reproaching him.
ततो दुर्योधनादींस्तान्धार्तराष्ट्रान्महायशाः। तेनैव क्रमयोगेन जिज्ञासुः पर्यपृच्छत
Then the illustrious Drona, wishing to test them in the same order, questioned Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhritarashtra.
अन्यांश्च शिष्यान्भीमादीन्राज्ञश्चैवान्यदेशजान्। यदा च सर्वे तत्सर्वं पश्याम इति कुत्सिताः
And other disciples such as Bhima, and kings from other regions as well—when we all see this, we consider it disgraceful.
ततो धनञ्जयं द्रोणः स्मयमानोऽभ्यभाषत। त्वयेदानीं प्रहर्तव्यमेतल्लक्ष्यं विलोक्यताम्
Then Drona, smiling, addressed Dhananjaya: 'Now you must strike this target; look upon it.'
मद्वाक्यसमकालं ते मोक्तव्योऽत्र भवेच्छरः। वितत्य कार्मुकं पुत्र तिष्ठ तावन्मुहूर्तकम्
'At the very moment I give the word, you must release the arrow here. Draw your bow, my son, and stand ready for a moment.'
एवमुक्तः सव्यसाची मण्डलीकृतकार्मुकः। तस्थौ भासं समुद्दिश्य गुरुवाक्यप्रचोदितः
Thus addressed, Savyasachi, with his bow drawn in a circle, stood aiming at the bird, prompted by his teacher's command.
मुहूर्तादिव तं द्रोणस्तथैव समभाषत। पश्यस्येनं स्थितं भासं द्रुमं मामपि चार्जुन
After a moment, Drona again spoke to him in the same way: 'Do you see that bird standing there, the tree, and me as well, O Arjuna?'
पश्याम्येकं भासमिति द्रोणं पार्थोऽभ्यभाषत। न तु वृक्षं भवन्तं वा पश्यामीति च भारत
Partha replied to Drona, 'I see only the bird, not the tree or you, sir.'
ततः प्रीतमना द्रोणो मुहूर्तादिव तं पुनः। प्रत्यभाषत दुर्धर्षः पाण्डवानां महारथम्
Then Drona, his mind pleased, again spoke after a moment to the formidable chariot-warrior of the Pandavas.
भासं पश्यसि यद्येनं तथा ब्रूहि पुनर्वचः। शिरः पश्यामि भासस्य न गात्रमिति सोऽब्रवीत्
'If you see the bird, then tell me again: what do you see?' He replied, 'I see only the head of the bird, not its body.'
अर्जुनेनैवमुक्तस्तु द्रोणो हृष्टतनूरुहः। मुञ्चस्वेत्यब्रवीत्पार्थं स मुमोचाविचारयन्
Thus spoken to by Arjuna, Drona, his hair bristling with joy, said, 'Release,' and Arjuna released the arrow without hesitation.
ततस्तस्य गस्थस्य क्षुरेण निशितेन च। शिर उत्कृत्य तरसा पातयामास पाण्डवः
Then the son of Pandu swiftly cut off the head of that bird with a sharp arrow and brought it down.
तस्मिन्कर्मणि संसिद्धे पर्यष्वजत पाण्डवम्। मेने च द्रुपदं सङ्ख्ये सानुबन्धं पराजितम्
When that feat was accomplished, Drona embraced Pandava and considered Drupada, with his allies, defeated in battle.
कस्य चित्त्वथ कालस्य सशिष्योऽङ्गिरसां वरः। जगाम गङ्गामभितो मज्जितुं भरतर्षभ
Then, after some time, the best of the Angirasas, along with his disciples, went to the Ganga to bathe, O bull of the Bharatas.
अवगाढमथो द्रोणं सलिले सलिलेचरः। ग्राहो जग्राह बलवाञ्जङ्घान्ते कालचोदितः
When Drona had entered the water, a powerful crocodile, prompted by fate, seized him by the leg.
स समर्थोऽपि मोक्षाय शिष्यान्सर्वानचोदयत्। ग्राहं हत्वा तु मोक्ष्यध्वं मामिति त्वरयन्निव
Though capable of freeing himself, he urged all his disciples, saying, 'Kill the crocodile and free me quickly,' as if in haste.