01.123
Pancharatra:Story of Ekalavya and how Arjuna became the greatest archer.
Vaiśampāyana said:
But Arjuna undertook supreme effort in serving his teacher and in the discipline of weapons, and became beloved to Droṇa.
But Droṇa secretly called the food preparer and said: food should not be given to Arjuna in darkness under any circumstance.
Then once, while Arjuna was eating, a wind blew and extinguished the burning lamp there.
Arjuna continued eating the food, and his hand was not confused from his mouth, due to his constant habit of taking food. Considering that as the result of practice, the son of Pāṇḍu practiced even at night.
Droṇa, O Bhārata, heard the twang of his bowstring. Approaching him and rising, he embraced him and said this.
I shall strive so that no other archer shall be your equal in the world. This I truly say to you.
Then Droṇa further trained Arjuna in battle on chariots, elephants, horses, and even on foot.
Droṇa instructed the son of Pāṇḍu in mace combat, swordsmanship, spears, javelins, darts, and mixed battles.
Seeing his skill, kings and princes desirous of learning archery came together in thousands.
Then Ekalavya, the son of Hiraṇyadhanus, king of the Niṣādas, approached Droṇa, O great king.
He did not accept him, thinking “he is a Niṣāda,” for being righteous in archery, he showed regard only to them.
He, the scorcher of foes, having bowed to Droṇa’s feet with his head, went to the forest, making a figure of Droṇa on the earth.
Then he assumed the role of a teacher in that form and undertook intense discipline in archery, following supreme austerity.
Endowed with supreme faith and discipline, he attained the highest swiftness in aiming and releasing in archery.
Then once, the Kuru and Pāṇḍava princes, permitted by Droṇa, all went out in chariots for hunting, being destroyers of enemies.
There, a man by chance took equipment and followed the Pāṇḍavas, taking a dog along, O king.
As they wandered there desiring various acts, the dog, while roaming in the forest, unwittingly went toward the Niṣāda.
The dog, seeing the dark-skinned Niṣāda in the forest, his body smeared with dirt and wearing black antelope skin, barked and stood near him.
Then, as the dog barked, he released seven arrows into its mouth all at once, showing his swiftness in archery.
Then that dog, with its mouth full of arrows, came to the Pāṇḍavas. Seeing it, the heroic Pāṇḍavas were greatly astonished.
Seeing that supreme swiftness and accuracy in hitting sound, they became ashamed and praised him in every way.
Then the Pāṇḍavas, searching in the forest, saw the forest-dweller constantly shooting arrows, O king.
They did not recognize him then due to his altered appearance. Then they questioned him: “Who are you, and whose are you?”
Ekalavya said:
O heroes, know me as the son of Hiraṇyadhanus, the Niṣāda king, and a disciple of Droṇa, one who has labored in the science of archery.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Having truly known him, the Pāṇḍavas returned and reported to Droṇa all that had occurred, the wonderful event.
Arjuna, O king, remembering Ekalavya, approached Droṇa in private and said this with affection.
Did you not, having embraced me alone with affection, say this: “No disciple of mine shall become superior to you”?
Then why is there another disciple of yours in the world, the son of the Niṣāda king, powerful and superior to me?
Droṇa, having thought for a moment and resolved, took Savyasācin (Arjuna) along and went toward the Niṣāda.
He saw Ekalavya, with matted hair and bark-clothes, body smeared with dirt, holding a bow and constantly shooting arrows.
Ekalavya, seeing Droṇa approaching, came near, saluted him, and bowed his head to the ground.
Then the Niṣāda-born, having duly worshipped Droṇa and declared himself a disciple, stood before him with folded hands.
Then Droṇa said to Ekalavya, “O king, if you are my disciple, then quickly pay the fee.”
Ekalavya, delighted on hearing that, said: “O venerable one, what shall I give? Let my teacher command me.”
“There is nothing I will not give to my teacher, O knower of Brahman.” Droṇa said to him, “Then give me your right thumb.”
Hearing those harsh words of Droṇa, Ekalavya, always devoted to truth, upheld his vow and protected it.
With a cheerful face and undisturbed mind, he cut off his thumb without hesitation and gave it to Droṇa.
Thereafter, the Niṣāda drew the bow with his fingers, but he was not as swift as before, O king.
Then Arjuna became pleased and free of anxiety, and Droṇa remained true to his word — no one surpassed Arjuna.
Then among the Kurus, Duryodhana and Bhīma became Droṇa’s disciples, especially suited for mace-fighting.
Aśvatthāman became superior to all in secret matters. The twin sons of Yama were equal to other great heroes. Yudhiṣṭhira was foremost among chariot-warriors, but Dhanañjaya excelled in all respects.
The Pāṇḍava became renowned to the ends of the ocean as the chief among chariot-warriors, due to his intelligence, focus, strength, and zeal in all weapons.
Arjuna became distinguished in weapons and the affection of his teacher. Equal in instruction, he surpassed in skill and valor, and alone among all princes, Arjuna became a supreme chariot-warrior.
The sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, evil-hearted, could not bear Bhīmasena, dearer than life, or Dhanañjaya, accomplished in all knowledge, O king.
Droṇa, O best of men, desiring to know their skill in weaponry, assembled all who were established in every science.
He placed an artificial bird made by craftsmen atop a tree, unknown to the princes, and set it as their target.
Droṇa said:
Quickly, all of you, take up your bows and stand with arrows fitted, aiming at this bird.
At the moment of my word, let its head be struck down. I shall assign you one by one. Do thus, O sons.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Then the best of the Aṅgiras lineage said to Yudhiṣṭhira first, “O unassailable one, string the arrow and release it at the end of my word.”
Then Yudhiṣṭhira, having taken the great-sounding bow, stood aiming at the bird, prompted by the teacher’s instruction.
Then Droṇa, seeing Kuru’s joy with bow drawn, after a moment said this to him, O bull of the Bharatas.
“Do you see the bird perched atop the tree, O prince?” — Yudhiṣṭhira replied to the teacher, “Yes, I see it.”
After a moment, Droṇa again spoke to him: “Then, do you see this tree, me, or your brothers?”
The son of Kuntī said, “I see the tree, you, my brothers, and the bird — all of them, again and again.”
Droṇa, as if displeased, said to him, “Step aside; you cannot hit this target,” thus reproaching him.
Then the illustrious teacher questioned Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the same order, desiring to test them.
Other disciples, Bhīma and others, and princes from other lands all replied similarly, “We see everything,” and were reproved.
Then Droṇa, smiling, addressed Dhanañjaya, “Now you must strike this target. Listen carefully.”
The arrow should be released by you at the very moment of my word. Draw your bow and stand ready for a moment, O son.
Thus addressed, Savyasācin, with bow drawn in a circle, stood aiming at the target, prompted by the teacher’s command.
After a moment, Droṇa addressed him again in the same way: “Do you see the bird there, the tree, or me?”
“I see only the bird,” said Arjuna to Droṇa. “I do not see the tree or you,” O Bhārata.
Then Droṇa, pleased in mind, after a moment, again addressed the formidable Arjuna, the bull among chariot-warriors of the Pāṇḍavas.
“If you see the bird, say so again,” said Droṇa. Arjuna replied, “I see only the head of the bird, not its body.”
Thus addressed by Arjuna, Droṇa, thrilled with joy, said, “Release!” Arjuna released the arrow without hesitation.
Then the Pāṇḍava swiftly cut off the head of the bird perched on the tree with a sharp razor-arrow and brought it down.
When that feat was accomplished, Droṇa embraced Phālguna and considered Drupada, along with his allies, defeated in battle.
After some time, the best of the Aṅgiras line, along with his disciples, went to the Gaṅgā to bathe, O bull of the Bharatas.
Then, as Droṇa was immersed in water, a strong crocodile, impelled by fate, seized him at the shin.
Though capable of freeing himself, he urged all his disciples, “Kill the crocodile and release me,” as if in urgency.
At that very moment, Bībhatsu struck the immersed crocodile in the water with five sharp, fully drawn arrows; the others, bewildered, scattered here and there.
Seeing him act with skill, Droṇa considered the Pāṇḍava superior to all his other disciples and was pleased at that time.
The crocodile, cut into pieces by Arjuna’s arrows, gave up the shin of the great soul and met death.
Then Droṇa, son of Bhāradvāja, said to the great-souled warrior, “Take this supreme weapon called Brahmaśiras, exceedingly difficult to control, complete with usage and retraction.”
This weapon should never be used among men. If discharged against one of little energy, it could burn down the world.
This, dear one, is said to be an extraordinary weapon among all. You should bear it with restraint. Listen now to my word.
If ever a superhuman enemy afflicts you, O hero, use this weapon to destroy him in battle.
“So be it,” said Bībhatsu with folded hands, having promised thus. He received that supreme weapon. The teacher said to him again, “There shall be no other archer in the world equal to you.”
