“Vaisampayana continued, ’After this, O Bharata, Drona released the king of Panchala, and cheerfully performing the usual offices of regard, bestowed upon him half the kingdom.  Thenceforth Drupada began to reside sorrowfully in (the city of) Kampilya within (the province of) Makandi on the banks of the Ganga filled with many towns and cities.  And after his defeat by Drona, Drupada also ruled the southern Panchalas up to the bank of the Charmanwati river.  And Drupada from that day was well-convinced that he could not, by Kshatriya might alone, defeat Drona, being very much his inferior in Brahma (spiritual) power.  And he, therefore, began to wander over the whole earth to find out the means of obtaining a son (who would subjugate his Brahmana foe).

“Meanwhile Drona continued to reside in Ahicchatra.  Thus, O king, was the territory of Ahicchatra full of towns and cities, obtained by Arjuna, and bestowed upon Drona.’

SECTION CXLI

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana continued, ’After the expiration, O king, of a year from this, Dhritarashtra, moved by kindness for the people, installed Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, as the heir-apparent of the kingdom on account of his firmness, fortitude, patience, benevolence, frankness and unswerving honesty (of heart).  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.  Thou hast, O hero, obtained that celestial weapon.  None else deserveth it.  But obey the command of the Rishi (Agnivesa).  And, look