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.
तद्वाक्यसमकालं तु बीभत्सुर्निशितैः शरैः। अवार्यैः पञ्चभिर्ग्राहं मग्नमम्भस्यताडयत्
At that very moment, Bhīmasena struck the submerged crocodile in the water with five sharp, unstoppable arrows.
इतरे त्वथ संमूढास्तत्रपत्र प्रपेदिरे। तं तु दृष्ट्वा क्रियोपेतं द्रोणोऽमन्यत पाण्डवम्
But the others, confused, shot their arrows at random there; seeing Arjuna's precise action, Drona considered him foremost.
विशिष्टं सर्वशिष्येभ्यः प्रीतिमांश्चाभवत्तदा। स पार्थबाणैर्बहुधा खण्डशः परिकल्पितः
He regarded him as superior to all the disciples and became pleased; for by Arjuna's arrows, the crocodile was cut into many pieces.
ग्राहः पञ्चत्वमापेदे जङ्घां त्यक्त्वा महात्मनः। `सर्वक्रियाभ्यनुज्ञानात्तथा शिष्यान्समानयत्
The crocodile met its end, releasing the great-souled one’s leg; with the approval of all, the disciples were thus united.
दुर्योधनं चित्रसेनं दुःशासनविविंशती। अर्जुनं च समानीय ह्यश्वत्थामानमेव च
He summoned Duryodhana, Citrasena, Duḥśāsana, Viviṃśati, Arjuna, and also Aśvatthāman.
शिशुकं मृण्मयं कृत्वा द्रोणो गङ्गाजले ततः। शिष्याणां पश्यतां चैव क्षिपति स्म महाभुजः
Then Droṇa, of mighty arms, made a clay child and, in the sight of his pupils, cast it into the waters of the Gaṅgā.
चक्षुषी वाससा चैव बद्ध्वा प्रादाच्छरासनम्। शिशुकं विद्ध्यतेमं वै जलस्थं बद्धचक्षुषः
Binding its eyes and clothing with cloth, he set up a target and said, 'Strike this child, blindfolded, as it floats in the water.'
तत्क्षणेनैव बीभत्सुरावापैर्दशभिर्वशी। पञ्चकैरनुविव्याध मग्नं शिशुकमम्भसि
At that very moment, Bībhatsu, the masterful one, pierced the submerged child in the water with ten arrows, then with five more.
ताः स दृष्ट्वा क्रियाः सर्वा द्रोणोऽमन्यत पाण्डवम्। विशिष्टं सर्वशिष्येभ्यः प्रीतिमांश्चाभवत्तदा।' तथाब्रवीन्महात्मानं भारद्वाजो महारथम्
Seeing all these feats, Droṇa considered the Pāṇḍava superior to all his pupils, and was pleased; then Bhāradvāja spoke to the great-souled chariot-warrior.
गृहाणेदं महाबाहो विशिष्टमतिदुर्धरम्। अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम सप्रयोगनिवर्तनम्
Take this, mighty-armed one, the supreme and exceedingly difficult weapon called Brahmaśiras, with its use and withdrawal.
न च ते मानुषेष्वेतत्प्रयोक्तव्यं कथंचन। जगद्विनिर्दहेदेतदल्पतेजसि पातितम्
But you must never use this among men; if cast upon one of little energy, it would consume the world.
असामान्यमिदं तात लोकेष्वस्त्रं निगद्यते। तद्धारयेथाः प्रयतः शृणु चेदं वचो मम
This weapon, my son, is said to be extraordinary among men; bear it with care, and listen to my words.
बाधेतामानुषः शत्रुर्यदि त्वां वीर कश्चन। तद्वधाय प्रयुञ्जीथास्तदस्त्रमिदमाहवे
If ever a human enemy, O hero, oppresses you, then use this weapon in battle for his destruction.
तथेति संप्रतिश्रुत्य बीभत्सुः स कृताञ्जलिः। जग्राह परमास्त्रं तदाह चैनं पुनर्गुरुः। भविता त्वत्समो नान्यः पुमाँल्लोके धनुर्धरः
Having promised thus, Bībhatsu, with joined palms, accepted the supreme weapon; and again his teacher said to him, 'There will be no archer in the world equal to you.'
कृतास्त्रान्धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च पाण्डुपुत्रांश्च भारत। दृष्ट्वा द्रोणोऽब्रवीद्राजन्धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्
Having seen the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the sons of Pāṇḍu accomplished in weapons, Droṇa spoke to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, lord of men.
कृपस्य सोमदत्तस्य वाह्लीकस्य च धीमतः। गाङ्गेयस्य च सान्निध्ये व्यासस्य विदुरस्य च
In the presence of Kṛpa, Somadatta, the wise Vāhlīka, Gāṅgeya, Vyāsa, and Vidura,
राजन्संप्राप्तविद्यास्ते कुमाराः कुरुसत्तम। ते दर्शयेयुः स्वां शिक्षां राजन्ननुमते तव
O best of the Kurus, the princes have now mastered their learning; with your permission, O king, let them display their skill.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महाराजः प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना
Then the great king, with joy in his heart, spoke.
यदानुमन्यसे कालं यस्मिन्देशे यथायथा। तथातथा विधानाय स्वयमाज्ञापयस्व माम्
Whenever, wherever, and however you deem fit, command me yourself to make the arrangements.
स्पृहयाम्यद्य निर्वेदान्पुरुषाणां सचक्षुषाम्। अस्त्रहेतोः पराक्रान्तान्ये मे द्रक्ष्यन्ति पुत्रकान्
Today I long to see my sons, with eyes, striving for mastery in weapons, surpassing others in valor.