सम्भव पर्व — अस्त्र-परीक्षा

Vaishampayana said : On the appearance of the Kuru prince (Duryodhana) and the foremost of all strong men Bhima, the spectators were divided into two parties by their partiality swayed by the love (towards each of the contending heroes).

Some cried, “Behold the heroic Kuru prince; some cried, “Behold the heroic Bhima.” Thus from these cries of the people rose a great uproar (in the arena).

On seeing the place become like a troubled ocean, the intelligent son of Bharadvaja, (Drona) spoke to his dear son Ashvathama.

Drona said: “Ştop these two mighty heroes, so expert in arms. Let not the anger of the assembled people be excited by this encounter between Bhima and Duryodhana.

Vaishampayana said : Thereupon the two combatants, with uplifted clubs, resembling two swollen oceans agitated by the winds that blow at the time of the world's dissolution, were stopped by the son of the preceptor.

Then Drona entered the arena and sopping the musicians spoke thus in a voice deep as the roars of the clouds.

“Behold all of you now that Partha who is dearer to me then my own son, who is the master of all arms, who is the son of Indra himself and who is like the younger brother of Indra."

At the command of the preceptor, the youthful Falguni (Arjuna), equipped with finger protector, his quiver full of arrows, with his bow in hand and with a golden armour on, after having performed the propitiatory rites, appeared in the arena like an evening cold reflecting the rays of the setting son and illumined by the hues of the rainbow and the flashes of lighting.

On this a great cry of joy rose from all parts of the arena and musical instruments were played and conches were blown.

All cried, “This is the handsome son of Kunti, the middle (third) son of Pandu. This is the son of Indra. This the protector of the Kuru race. This is the best of the all name learned in arms. This is the best of all cherisher of virtue. This is the foremost of all well conducted persons. This is their great repository of the knowledge of all (good) manners.” Hearing these loud cries of the spectators, the tears of Kunti, mixing with the milk of her breast, drenched her bosom.

Having his ears filled with the uproar, the best of men, Dhritarashtra, asked Vidura with delight,

“O Kshatta, what is this great uproar, like that of the troubled sea, that rises in the arena all of sudden echoing the very heavens?"

Vidura said: O great king, the son of Pritha and Pandu, Falguni (Arjuna), clad in armour; has entered, the arena; and therefore is this uproar.

Dhritarashtra said : O high-souled man, I have indeed been blessed, favoured and protected by the three fire (sons) of Pritha (Kunti) who is like the sacred fuel.

Vaishampayana said : When the spectators some what regained their equanimity, Bibhatsu (Arjuna) displayed before his preceptor his lightness in the use of arins. He created fire by the Agneya weapon, by the Varuna weapon he created water. He created winds by the Vayavya weapon and by the Parjanya weapon, he created the clouds.

He created land by the Bhima weapon and by the Parvata weapon he created the mountains. He made all this to disappear by the Antardhana weapon.

In a moment he appeared tail and in a moment short. He was now yoked in his car; he was in the next moment on the car itself; he was then again on the ground.

The favourite (pupil) of the preceptor (Arjuna) shot by his arrows various marks, some tender, some fine and some of thick composition.

He let fly at one time five arrows from his bow stung into the mouth of a moving iron boar as if they were but one arrow.

That greatly effulgent hero sent twenty one arrows into the hollow of a cow's horn hang upon a rope which was swinging to and fro.

O sinless one, in this manner he (Arjuna), walking round the arena, displayed his profound skill in the use of the sword, bow and club.

O descendant of the Bharata race, when the tournament was alrnost ended, when the excitement of the spectators cooled down and the sound of music stopped. There was heard at the gate the slapping of arms, betokening power and strength, like the roars of thunder.

"Are mountains splitting? Is the earth going to be rent asunder? Is the sky resounding with the roar of gathering clouds?”

O king, all the spectators in the arena thought thus and turned their eyes towards the gate.

Drona was surrounded by the five brothers, the sons of Pritha and looked like the moon surrounded by the five constellations.

That chastiser of foes, Duryodhana, with his one hundred haughty brothers and with Ashvathama, stood up in haste. That prince (Duryodhana) with his club in his hand, surrounded by his one hundred brothers with uplifted weapons, looked like Indra in the days of yore when he stood surrounded by the celestial at the time of the battle with the Danavas.