Vaishampayana said: -
1. Seeing the sons of Pandu and Dhritarastra accomplished in arms, Drona thought that the time had come when he could demand the preceptor’s Dakshina (remuneration).
2. O king, one day assembling his pupils together, the preceptor Drona asked his Dakshina from them all, saying.
3. “Seize the king of Panchala, Drupada, in battle and bring him to me. That will be the most acceptable Dakshina to me”.
4. Saying “Be it so,” they all ascended their chariots with their arms and marched out with Drona in order to pay the remuneration to their preceptor.
5. Those best of men destroyed the Panchalas and went to the capital of the greatly powerful Drupada and attacked it.
6. Duryodhana, Karna, greatly strong Yuyutsu, Dushasana, ViKarna, Jalasandha, Sulochana.
7. These and many other princes of great prowess, all foremost of Kshatriyas, vied with one another to become foremost in the attack.
8. The princes, riding on first class chariots and followed by cavalry, entered the hostile capital and proceeded along its streets.
9. At this time the king of the Panchalas, seeing the great army and hearing its roar, soon came out of his palace with all his brothers.
10. The king Jagmasena (Drupada) was well armed, but he was assailed by them (Kurus) with a shower of arrows, all uttering their war cry.
11. The invincible warrior, Jagmasena, riding on his white chariot, attacked the Kurus and began to rain his fearful arrows.
12. Seeing the pride of the princes, Partha (Aryuna) spoke thus to the preceptor, that excellent Brahmana Drona.
13. “We shall display our power when they would finish theirs. The are not capable of killing the king of the Panchalas in the battle.”
14. Having said this, that sinless son of Kunti (Aryuna) with his brothers waited outside the city at a distance of a mile.
15. Seeing the Kauravas, Drupada rushed forward and afflicted the Kuru army with a shower of arrows.
16. Such was his lightness of motion on the field of battle that though he was fighting alone on a single chariot, the Kurus thought in fear that there was more than one Drupada.
17-18. The fearful arrows of Drupada fell on all sides and thousands of conches, trumpets and drums began to be sounded by the Panchalas in their houses. O great king, a terrible roar, like that of the lion, rose from the mighty Panchalas.
19. The great sound of the twang of their bowstrings seemed to rend the very sky. (Thereupon) Duryodhana, ViKarna, Subahu, Dirghalochana.
20. And Dushasana, becoming furious, began to shower arrows upon the enemy. The mighty bowman, the son of Prishata (Drupada), invincible in battle, though pierced with arrows.
21-22. Instantly began to afflict the hostile army. O descendant of the Bharata race, careering over the field of battle like a fiery wheel, he smote with his arrows Duryodhana, Vikarna, even greatly powerful Karna and many other heroic princes and various other soldiers and slaked their thirst for battle.
23. Then the citizens showered upon the Kurus club, maces and other missiles, like cloud’s showering rains.
24. O descendant of the Bharata race, young and old, all the citizens, hearing of the battle, rushed out and assailed the Kurus.
25. They (Kurus) broke and fled, wailing towards the Randavas; and the Pandavas, hearing their terrible wall.
26-27. Ascended their cars after duly worshipping Drona. Then Aryuna, hastily asking Yudhisthira not to engage in the fight by saying “Don’t fight”, and appointing ths sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva) as the protectors of his chariot wheels, rushed out. And Bhima, ever in the front, ran ahead with his club in his hand.
28. The sinless son of Kunti (Aryuna), thus accompanied by his brother, hearing the shouts of the enemy, advanced towards them, filling the whole region with the rattle of the wheels of his chariot.
29-30. As a Makara enters the sea, so the mighty- armed Yama-like Bhima with his club in his hand entered the Panchala ranks and roared as fiercely as the ocean in a tempest.
31. Ever skillful in battle, Bhima, the son of Pritha, upraising his club, attacked the soldiers riding on elephants with the powers of his arms like the great destroyer himself.
32. Those huge animals like mountains, struck with Bhima’s club, had their heads broken into pieces and they fill covered with blood, like cliffs loosened by thunder.
33. The Pandava, the elder of Aryuna, (Bhima) felled to the ground elephants and horses and cars by thousands and killed many foot soldiers and car-warriors.
34. As a herdsman drives the cattle with his stuff in the wood, so did Vrikodara drive before him the chariots and elephants (of the hostile force).
35. Falguni (Aryuna), eager to do the favourite work of the son of Bharadvaja, (Drona), felled the son of Prishata (Drupada) from his elephant, covering him with arrows.
36. O king, like the fire at the end of a Yuga, he felled in the battle thousands of horses, cars and elephants.
37. Thereupon all the Panchalas and the Shrinjyas, being thus attacked (by Aryuna), assailed Partha with a shower of weapons of various kinds.
38. They uttered from their mouths great shorts like the roars of lions and they desperately attacked the Pandava (Aryuna). The battle became fearful and furious to be hold. Hearing their great leonine shouts, he (Aryuna) became filled with wrath.
39. Kirti (Aryuna) immediately assailed the Panchalas in the battle and covering them with a shower of arrows, he greatly confused them.
40. They, that saw the son of Kunti (at that time), could not mark any interval between his fixing the arrows on the bowstring and letting them off.
41. The whole place was filled, with leonine shouts mixed with cheers of approval. Thereupon the king of the Panchalas, accompanied with Satyajit (his commander-in-chief).
42. Rushed towards him with speed, as Indra did towards (the Danava) Shambara, Partha covered the Panchala king with a thick shower of arrows.
43. Thereupon arose a great uproar among the Panchala-host like the roar of a great lion when springing on the leader of a herd of elephants.
44. Seeing Aryuna rush towards the Panchala- king for slaying him, greatly powerful Satyajit attacked him.
45. The two heroes (Aryuna and the Panchala-king) rushed upon each other like Indra upon Virochanas; and they broke each other’s ranks.
46. Thereupon Parth “pierced Satyajit with ten keen arrows” at which feat the spectators were all amazed.
47-48. Thereupon the Panchala (Satyajit) covered Partha with one hundred arrows. That great car-warrior Aryuna rubbed his bowstring in order to increase the force and velocity of his arrows. Then covering the enemy with a shower of arrows, he cut off the bow of Satyajit and rushed upon the king (Drupada).
49. But Satyajit immediately took up another bow and he soon pierced with arrows Partha, with his chariot, charioteer and horses.
50-51. Thus being assailed, the hero Partha did not forgive the Panchala (Satyajit). In order to kill him soon, he (Aryuna) pierced with a number of arrows. (His enemy’s) horses, flags, bow, clenched fist, charioteer and the attendant at his back. Seeing his bow repeatedly cut down.
52. And his horses slain as often, he (Satyajit) desisted from the fight. Seeing Satyajit thus desisted from the fight.
53. The king (Drupada) attacked the Pandava (Aryuna) with great speed. Then that foremost of victorious heroes. Aryuna, fought a wonderful battle.
54. Cutting off his bow and felling his flagstaff on the grounds he pierced his enemy’s horses and charioteer with five arrows.
55. Thereupon that son of Kunti (Aryuna), throwing aside his bow and taking off his quiver, took up a scimitar and sent forth a leonine shout.
56. He suddenly leaped from his chariot and fell on that of the Panchala-king. Dhananjaya (Aryuna) stood fearlessly on the chariot of the Panchala-king.
57. He seized him (Drupada) as Garuda seized a huge snake after agitating the waters of the deep sea. Thereupon all the Panchalas ran away in all directions.
58. Showing the prowess of arms to all the hosts, Dhananjaya (Aryuna), sending forth a leonine shout, came out (of the Panchala ranks).
59. Seeing him return (with his captive), the princes laid waste the capital of the illustrious Drupada.
Aryuna said: -
60. This best of kings Drupada is a relative of the Kuru heroes. Therefore, O Bhima, do not kill his soldiers. Let us only give out preceptor’s remuneration.
Vaishampayana said: -
61. O king thus prevented by Aryuna, the greatly strong Bhima, though unsatia’ted with the battle, refrained from the act of slaughter.
62. O best of the Bharata race, thus seizing Yajnasena Drupada in the battle with his ministers, they offered him to Drona.
63. (Seeing the king) humiliated and deprived of wealth and brought under his complete control, Drona remembered his former hostility towards him and he thus spoke to him.
64. “Your kingdom and your capital have been laid waste by me. Receiving your like at my hand, do you desire to revive our old friendship?”.
65. Having said this, he smiled a little and again said, “O hero, do not fear for your life. We are Brahmans that are ever-forgiving.
66. O best of Kshatryas, from that day when in your boyhood you played with me in the hermitage, my love and affection for you have grown up.
67. O king, I ask for your friendship again. O king, I grant you as a boon half of your kingdom.
68. O Yagmasena, how can one be a friend of a king who is not a king? And therefore, I retain half of your kingdom.
69. You became the king of the territory lying on the southern side of the Bhagirathi and I become that of the northern side. O Panchala, if it please you, know me henceforth as your friend.”
Drupada said: -
70. O Brahmana, this is not (at all) wonderful to the man of noble soul and great prowess. I am pleased with you and I desire to give you everlasting pleasure.
Vaishampayana said: -
71. O descendant of Bharata, having been thus addressed, Drona released him (Drupadas); and cheerfully performing the usual offices of regard, he bestowed upon him the half of the kingdom.
72. (Receiving the territory named) Makandi with many towns and cities, situated on the banks of the Ganges, Drupada lived in the best of cities, called Kamilya.
73. After his defeat by Drona, he (Drupada) also ruled over the southern Panchala upto the banks of the Sarmanavati river.
74. He was well convinced that he could not defeat Drona by Kshatriya might alone, he being very much inferior to him in Brahma (spiritual) power.
75. He therefore wandered over the world to find the means of obtaining a son (who could defeat Drona). (Meanwhile) Drona lived at Ahichatra.
76. Which was full of towns and cities and which was bestowed upon him by Partha after defeating the hero (Drupada).
Thus ends the hundred and fortieth chapter, the chastisement of Drupada, in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.
Vaishampayana said: -
1. O king, after the expiration of a year (from this), the son of Pandu, Yudhisthira, was installed as the heir-apparent.
2. For he was noted for his firmness, fortitude, patience, benev olence, frankness and unswerving honesty of heart.
3. Thereupon, within a very short time, the son of Kunti, Yudhisthira, overshadowed the deeds of his father by his good behaviour, manners and close application to business.
4. The Pandava Vrikodara began to receive lessons from Sankarshana (Balarama) sword-fight, club-fight and car-fight.
5. At the end of his education (in arms), he became in strength equal to Duymutsena. He remained in harmony with his brothers, becoming great in prowess.
6-7. Aryuna became famous for the firmness of his grasp (of weapons), for his lightness of motion, his precision of aim and his proficiency in Kshura, Naracha, Bhalla, Vipatha and other straight, crooked and heavy weapons. And Drona said that there was none in the world who was equal to Bibhatsa (Aryuna) in lightness of hand and in general proficiency.
8. Thereupon (one day) Drona thus spoke to Gudakesha (Aryuna) before the assembly of Kauravas. In the time of yore Agasta had a disciple in the science of arms.
9-10. Who was known as Agnivisha. He was my preceptor and I was his disciple. O descendant of Bharata, I obtained from him by asceticism a weapon, known by the name of Brahmashira, which can never be futile and which is like thunder itself and capable of consume; the whole earth. That weapon from what I have done may now descend from disciple to disciple.
11. Giving it to me, my preceptor said, “O son of Bharadvaja, do not hurl this weapon against any human being and against one who possess but little energy.”
12. O hero, (Aryuna), you have obtained that celestial weapon (from me); none else deserves it. But O Vishampata, obey the command of that best of Rishis (Agnivesha).
13. Now give your preceptor’s Dakshina before all your relatives and cousins. Falguni (Aryuna) promised to the preceptor “To give (the Dakshina).”
14. Drona said, “O sinless one, you must fight with me when I fight with you That best of Kurus promised this also to Drona.
15. Touching his feet, he went away northwards. There arose a great shout covering the whole earth, bounded by the belt of sea.
16-21. (It was) “There was no bowman in the whole world equal to Aryuna.” Pandava Dhananjaya became proficient in club-fight, sword-fight, car-fight and bow fight. Sahadeva, obtaining the whole science of morality and duties from the lord of all science Drona, remained obedient to his brothers. Nakula, the favourite of his brothers, taught by Drona, became known ass a skilful warrior and a car-warrior. Aryuna and the other Pandava princes became so powerful that they killed in battle the great Sauvira who had performed a sacrifice extending for three years, (remaining) undaunted by the attacks of the Gandharvas. The Yavana king, whom the powerful Pandu could not bring under subjection, was (also) brought by Aryuna under control. The greatly powerful and ever showing disregard for the Kurus.
22-23. The king, named Vipula of the Sauviras was slain by the intelligent Partha. Aryuna also subjugated by means of his arrows king Sumitra of Sauvira, also known as Dattamitra, who always sought for an encounter with him. The third of the Pandava princes, assisted by Bhima, on only one single car, subjugated all the kings of the East backed by ten thousand cars.
24. In the same way Dhananjaya conquered on a single car the whole of the South.
25. And he sent immense booty to the kingdom of the Kurus. Thus did the foremost of men, the illustrious Pandavas.
26. Conquering the kingdoms of others, extended their own kingdom in the time of yore. Seeing the great prowess and strength of these mighty bow-men.
27. King Dhritarastra’s mind became suddenly poisoned against the Pandavas. From that day that king became filled with so much anxiety that he could not sleep.
Thus ends the hundred and forty-first chapter, the pensiveness of Dhritarashtra, in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.