And in the
intervals so gained, Drona used to instruct his own son in several
superior methods (of using weapons). Jishnu (Arjuna) came to know of this,
and thereupon filling his narrow-mouthed vessel with water by means of the
Varuna weapon he used to come unto his preceptor at the same time with his
preceptor's son. And accordingly the intelligent son of Pritha, that
foremost of all men possessing a knowledge of weapons, had no inferiority
to his preceptor's son in respect of excellence. Arjuna's devotion to the
service of his preceptor as also to arms was very great and he soon became
the favourite of his preceptor. And Drona, beholding his pupil's devotion
to arms, summoned the cook, and told him in secret, 'Never give Arjuna his
food in the dark, nor tell him that I have told thee this.' A few days
after, however, when Arjuna was taking his food, a wind arose, and
thereupon the lamp that had been burning went out. But Arjuna, endued with
energy, continued eating in the dark, his hand, from habit, going to his
mouth. His attention being thus called to the force of habit, the strong-
armed son of Pandu set his heart upon practising with his bow in the night.
And, O Bharata, Drona, hearing the twang of his bowstring in the night,
came to him, and clasping him, said, 'Truly do I tell thee that I shall do
that unto thee by which there shall not be an archer equal to thee in this
world.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thereafter Drona began to teach Arjuna the art
of fighting on horse-back, on the back of elephants, on car, and on the
ground.
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