वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो धनंजयं द्रोण: स्मयमानोऽभ्यभाषत। त्वयेदानी प्रहर्तव्यमेतल्लक्ष्यं विलोक्यताम्॥
Vaishampayana said : Drona smilingly, called Dhananjaya and said to him, “ It is to be shot by you. Turn your eyes to it.
मद्वाक्यसमकालं ते मोक्तव्योऽत्र भवेच्छरः। तिष्ठ तावन्मुहूर्तकम्॥ वितत्य कार्मुकं पुत्र
"You must shoot the aim as soon as I shall give order, O son, stand here for a moment with your bow and arrow."
एवमुक्तः सव्यसाची मण्डलीकृतकार्मुकः। तस्थौ भासं समुद्दिश्य गुरुवाक्यप्रचोदितः॥
Having been thus addressed Savyasachi (Arjuna), drawing the bow to a semi-circle, aimed at the bird and stood there as ordered by the preceptor.
मुहूर्तादिव तं द्रोणस्तथैव समभाषत। पश्यस्येनं स्थितं भासं दुमं मामपि चार्जुन॥
Very next moment Drona asked him, "O Arjuna, do you see the bird, the tree and myself?”
पश्याम्येकं भासमिति द्रोणं पार्थोऽभ्यभाषत। न तु वृक्षं भवन्तं वा पश्यामीति च भारत॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, Partha (Arjuna) replied to Drona, “I see only the bird. I do not see the tree or yourself.”
ततः प्रीतमना द्रोणो मुहूर्तादिव तं पुनः। प्रत्यभाषत दुर्धर्षः पाण्डवानां महारथम्॥
The invincible Drona, being much pleased, spoke again a moment after to that great carwarrior, the son of Pandu, (Arjuna).
भासं पश्यसि यद्येनं तथा ब्रूहि पुनर्वचः। शिरः पश्यामि भासस्य न गात्रमिति सोऽब्रवीत्॥
"If you see the bird, describe it to me." He (Arjuna) again replied, “I see the head of the bird, but I do not see its body."
अर्जुनेनैवमुक्तस्तु द्रोणो हृष्टतनूरुहः। मुञ्चस्वेत्यब्रवीत् पार्थं स मुमोचाविचारयन्॥
Having been thus told by Arjuna, Drona was filled with delight and his hair stood on their end. He told Partha, "Shoot,” and he instantly let fly (the arrow).
ततस्तस्य नगस्थस्य क्षुरेण निशितेन च। शिर उत्कृत्य तरसा पातयामास पाण्डवः॥
The Pandava (Arjuna) speedily struck off the head of the vulture with his sharp arrow and brought it to the ground.
तस्मिन् कर्मणि संसिद्धे पर्यष्वजत पाण्डवम्। मेने च दुपदं संख्ये सानुबन्धं पराजितम्॥
As soon as this feat was performed, he (Drona) embraced the son of Pandu (Arjuna) and thought that Drupada with his friends were already vanquished in the battle.
कस्यचित् त्वथ कालस्य सशिष्योऽङ्गिरसां वरः। जगाम गङ्गामभितो मज्जितुं भरतर्षभ।॥
O best ɔf the Bharata race, some time after, the best of Angirasa (Drona) with his pupils went to the Ganges to bathe.
अवगाढमथो द्रोणं सलिले सलिलेचरः। ग्राहो जग्राह बलवाञ्जङ्घान्ते कालचोदितः॥
When Drona was bathing, a strong alligator, as it sent by Death himself, seized him at the thigh.
स समर्थोऽपि मोक्षाय शिष्यान् सर्वानचोदयत्। ग्राहं हत्वा मोक्षयध्वं मामिति त्वरयन्निव॥
Though quite capable of freeing himself (from the mouth of the alligator), he (Drona) spoke to all his pupils in a hurry, “Kill this alligator and rescue me.”
तद्वाक्यसमकालं तु बीभत्सुनिशितैः शरैः। अवार्यैः पञ्चभिर्दाहं मग्नमभ्यस्याताडयत्॥
As soon as he uttered these words, Bibhatsa (Arjuna) struck the alligator under the water with five sharp and irresistible arrows.
इतरे त्वथ सम्मूढास्तत्र तत्र प्रपेदिरे। तु दृष्ट्वा क्रियोपेतं द्रोणोऽमन्यत पाण्डवम्॥ विशिष्टं सर्वशिष्येभ्यः प्रीतिमांश्चाभवत् तदा। स पार्थबाणैर्बहुधा खण्डशः परिकल्पितः॥ ग्राहः पञ्चत्वमापेदे जडां त्यक्त्वा महात्मनः। अथाब्रवीन्महात्मानं भारद्वाजो महारथम्॥
The others (his pupils) stood confounded each at his place. Seeing this readiness of Arjuna, Drona considered that son of Pandu to be the foremost of all his pupils and he was exceedingly pleased. The alligator, being cut into pieces by the arrows of Partha. Released the thigh of the high-souled (Drona) and gave up his life. Thereupon the son of Bharadvaja, (Drona) thus addressed the illustrious carwarrior (Arjuna).
गृहाणेदं महाबाहो विशिष्टमतिदुर्धरम्। अस्त्र ब्रह्मशिरो नाम सप्रयोगनिवर्तनम्॥
“O mighty armed, accept this superior and irresistible weapon, named Brahmashira, with its method of hurling and recalling it.
न च ते मानुषेष्वेतत् प्रयोक्तव्यं कथंचन। जगद् विनिर्दहेदेतदल्पतेजसि पातितम्॥
You most not use it against any human foe. If hurled at a foe of inferior power, it might burn the whole universe.
असामान्यमिदं तात लोकेष्वस्त्रं निगद्यते। तद् धारयेथाः प्रयतः शृणु चेदं वचो मम॥
O son, it is said that this weapon heat not a superior in the three worlds, keep it therefore with great care and listen to what I say.
बाघेतामानुषः शत्रुर्यदि त्वां वीर कश्चन। तद्वधाय प्रयुञ्जीथास्तदस्त्रमिदमाहवे॥
O hero, if ever any foe, if he is not human, comes to fight with you, may then use it against him to accomplish his death."
तथेति सम्प्रतिश्रुत्य बीभत्सुः स कृताञ्जलिः। जग्राह परमास्त्रं तदाह चैनं पुनर्गुरुः। भविता त्वत्समो नान्यः पुमाँल्लोके धनुर्धरः॥
Bibhatsa (Arjuna) with joined hands promised to do as he was bidden and he received the great weapon. The preceptor then spoke to him again thus, “None will ever become a superior bowman to you. You will be invincible and greatly illustrious.