And within a short time Yudhishthira, the
son of Kunti, by his good behaviour, manners and close application to
business, overshadowed the deeds of his father. And the second Pandava,
Vrikodara, began to receive continued lessons from Sankarshana (Valarama)
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 Dyumatsena
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, Vala 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 to 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
Agnivesa. He was my preceptor and I, his disciple. By ascetic merit I
obtained from him a weapon called Brahmasira which could never be futile
and which was like unto thunder itself, capable of consuming the whole
earth. That weapon, O Bharata, from what I have done, may now pass 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 poor energy.
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