’Vaisampayana continued, ’On hearing these words, Drona reflected for a moment, and resolving upon the course of action he should follow, took Arjuna with him and went unto the Nishada prince.  And he beheld Ekalavya with body besmeared with filth, matted locks (on head), clad in rags, bearing a bow in hand and ceaselessly shooting arrows therefrom.  And when Ekalavya saw Drona approaching towards him, he went a few steps forward, and touched his feet and prostrated himself on the ground.  And the son of the Nishada king worshipping Drona, duly represented himself as his pupil, and clasping his hands in reverence stood before him (awaiting his commands).  Then Drona, O king, addressed Ekalavya, saying, ’If, O hero, thou art really my pupil, give me then my fees.’  On hearing these words, Ekalavya was very much gratified, and said in reply, ’O illustrious preceptor, what shall I give?  Command me; for there is nothing, O foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas, that I may not give unto my preceptor.’  Drona answered, ’O Ekalavya, if thou art really intent on making me a gift, I should like then to have the thumb of thy right hand.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Hearing these cruel words of Drona, who had asked of him his thumb as tuition-fee, Ekalavya, ever devoted to truth and desirous also of keeping his promise, with a cheerful face and an unafflicted heart cut off without ado his thumb, and gave it unto Drona.  After this, when the Nishada prince began once more to shoot with the help of his remaining fingers, he found, O king, that he had lost his former lightness of hand.  And at this Arjuna became happy, the fever (of jealousy) having left him.

“Two of Drona’s pupils became very much accomplished in the use of mace.  These were Druvodhana and Bhima, who were, however, always jealous of each other.  Aswatthaman excelled everyone (in the mysteries of the science of arms).  The twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) excelled everybody in handling the sword.  Yudhishthira surpassed everybody as a car-warrior; but Arjuna, however, outdistanced everyone in every respect—­in intelligence, resourcefulness, strength and perseverance.  Accomplished in all weapons, Arjuna became the foremost of even the foremost of car-warriors; and his fame spread all over the earth to the verge of the sea.  And although the instruction was the same, the mighty Arjuna excelled all (the princes in lightness of hand).  Indeed, in weapons as in devotion to his preceptor, he became the foremost of them all.  And amongst all the princes, Arjuna alone became an Atiratha (a car-warrior capable of fighting at one time with sixty thousand foes).  And the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra, beholding Bhimasena endued with great strength and Arjuna accomplished in all arms, became very jealous of them.