And before assembling
them together, he had caused an artificial bird, as the would be aim, to
be placed on the top of a neighbouring tree. And when they were all
together, Drona said unto them, 'Take up your bows quickly and stand here
aiming at that bird on the tree, with arrows fixed on your bowstrings;
shoot and cut off the bird's head, as soon as I give the order. I shall
give each of you a turn, one by one, my children.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Drona, that foremost of all Angira's sons
first addressed Yudhishthira saying, 'O irrepressible one, aim with thy
arrow and shoot as soon as I give the order.' Yudhishthira took up the bow
first, as desired, O king, by his preceptor, and stood aiming at the bird.
But, O bull of Bharata's race, Drona in an instant, addressing the Kuru
prince standing with bow in hand, said, 'Behold, O prince, that bird on
top of the tree.' Yudhishthira replied unto his preceptor, saying, 'I do.'
But the next instant Drona again asked him, 'What dost thou see now, O
prince? Seest thou the tree, myself or thy brothers?' Yudhishthira
answered, 'I see the tree, myself, my brothers, and the bird.' Drona
repeated his question, but was answered as often in the same words. Drona
then, vexed with Yudhishthira, reproachingly said, 'Stand thou apart. It
is not for thee to strike the aim.' Then Drona repeated the experiment
with Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhritarashtra, one after another, as
also with his other pupils, Bhima and the rest, including the princes that
had come unto him from other lands.
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