application to business, darkened the deeds of his father. And the second Pandava, Vrikodara, began to receive continued lessons from Sankarshana (Vala-rama) in encounters with the sword and the mace and on the chariot. And after Bhima's education was finished, he became in strength like unto Dyumat-sena himself. And continuing to live in harmony with his brothers he began to exert his prowess. And Arjuna became celebrated for the firmness of his grasp (of weapons); for his lightness of motion, precision of aim, and his proficiency in the use of the Kshura, Naracha, Valla, and Vipatha weapons, indeed, of all weapons whether straight, or crooked, or heavy. And Drona certified that there was none in the world who was equal unto Arjuna in lightness of hand and general proficiency.
"One day Drona, addressing Arjuna before the assembled Kaurava princes, said, 'There was a disciple of Agastya in the science of arms called Agni-visha. He was my preceptor and I his disciple. By ascetic merit I obtained from him a weapon called Brahma-shira which can never be futile and which is like unto thunder itself and capable of consuming the whole earth. That weapon, O Bharata, from what I have done, may now discend from disciple to disciple. While imparting it to me, my preceptor said—O son of Bharadwaja, never shouldst thou hurl this weapon at any human being, especially at one who is of small energy!—Thou hast, O hero, obtained that celestial weapon! None else deserveth it. But obey thou the command of the Rishi (Agnivisha). And, behold, O Arjuna, give me now the preceptorial fee in the presence of these thy cousins and relatives!' And when Arjuna, hearing this, pledged his word that he would give what the preceptor demanded, the latter said, 'O sinless one, thou must fight with me when I fight with thee!' And that bull among the Kuru princes thereupon pledged his word unto Drona and touching his feet went away northwards Then there arose a loud shout covering the whole earth bounded by her belt of seas to the effect that there was no bowman in the whole world like unto Arjuna. And, indeed, Dhananjaya, in encounters with the mace and the sword and on the chariot,
