Mahabharata – 225
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
  Aadivamsa Avatarana Parva

             Who was Karna?

 One is apt to ask who Karna was. The omniscient author knows that Karna was born of Pritha or Kunti or Arjuna’s mother in her maidenhood.He was a part of the hot-beamed Sun and his energy and prowess likened those of a lion,or the bull,or the leader of a herd of elephants. In splendor he resembled the Sun.In look he likened the Moon and in energy he was like the fire. Begotten by the Sun himself, he was tall in stature like a golden palm tree.And he was endowed with the vigor of youth. Karna’s body was like that of a lion.
Handsome in features, he was possessed of countless attainments. The mighty-armed warrior, eyeing all around the arena, bowed indifferently to Drona and Kripa. And the entire assembly, motionless and with eagerness  thought, -----Who is he? And that foremost of eloquent men, the son of the Sun, in a voice deep as that of the clouds, addressed  Arjuna  his brother not knowingly as his brother. Oh Arjuna! I shall perform all the feats before this gazing spectator exceeding all you had performed. See them, you shall be amazed. The speech, of Karna had hardly ended when the spectators stood up all at once, mechanically. At this Duryodhana was filled with delight, while Arjuna was instantly agitated and angry. Then with the permission of Drona, the mighty Karna, delighting in battle, there did all that Arjuna had done before. After that Duryodhana with his brothers embraced Karna in joy and then addressed him saying--------- Welcome Oh mighty- warrior! I have obtained you due to my good fortune. Oh! great warrior! Live here as you please. Enjoy the kingdom of the Kurus.Kama replied, ---When you say it, I regard it as already accomplished. I only long for your friendship. And,I wish for a single combat with Arjuna. Duryodhana said, stay with me. Enjoy the good things of life! Be my friend,and, Oh oppressor of foes, place your  feet on the heads of all the foes. Staying amidst his brothers like a mountain Arjuna, after this,  feeling insulted,said to Karna --- Oh Karna! You shall be slain by me. Karna replied --This arena is meant for all, not for you alone. Oh Arjuna! There are  many kings here endowed with great prowess and energy. True virtue follows the courageous.
What is the need of argument? That is the exercise of the weak! Oh! You speak them with arrows, till I strike off  your head today before your preceptor. Hastily embraced by his brothers, Arjuna with the permission of Drona, proceeded for the combat with Karna. On the other side, Karna, having been joined with Duryodhana and his brothers, took up his bow and arrows, and stood ready for the fight. Then the sky enveloped with clouds emitted flashes of lightning,and the colored bow of Indra appeared shedding its bright rays. The clouds seemed to laugh on account of the rows of white cranes that were then on the wing. And seeing Indra thus viewing the arena from affection for his son, the sun too dispersed the clouds from over his own offspring. And Arjuna remained deeply hid under cover of the clouds, while Karna remained visible, being surrounded by the rays of the Sun. And the son of Dhritarashtra stood by Karna and Dronacharya and Kripacharya and Bhishma remained with Arjuna. And the assembly was divided, as also the female spectators. And Kunti, became unconscious, since both Karna and Arjuna were her offspring but that Karna was the child of Pritha or Kunti was unknown to the spectators and protagonists of the tourney.And by the help of female attendants, the great Vidura, versed in all the duties, brought the unconscious  Kunti to sense by sprinkling sandal-paste and water on her face. On being restored to consciousness, Kunti, seeing her two sons clad in armour, was seized with fear, but she could do nothing to protect them. And seeing both the warriors ready with bows, Kripacharya, knowing all duties and well aware of the rules of the duels, addressed Karna saying ---This Pandava, Arjuna is the youngest son of Kunti. He belongs to the Kaurava race. And he is the third son of Pandu. He will engage in combat with you.But, Oh! Mighty warrior Karna, you too must tell us your lineage and the names of your father and mother and the royal line to which you belong. Learning all this, Arjuna will fight with you or not. Sons of kings never fight with men of undignified
lineage. When he was thus addressed by Kripacharya, Karna's look became like a lotus pale and torn with the pelting showers in the rainy season. Duryodhana said --- Oh preceptor ! As per  the  scripture, three classes of persons can throw down claim to challenge the royalty, persons of the blood royal, heroes, and lastly, those that lead armies. If Arjuna is unwilling to fight with one who is not a king, I will install Karna as the king of Anga. At that very moment, seated on a golden seat, with parched paddy and flowers and water-pots made of gold, the mighty warrior Karna was installed as king by Brahmanas well versed in mantras. And the royal umbrella was held over his head, while Yak-tails waved around that formidable hero of graceful look. When the cheers of minstrels ceased, Karna said to the Duryodhana  ---- What shall I give  you in turn that may match with your gift of a kingdom? Oh king! I will do all you desire. And Duryodhana  said to him ---I eagerly wish for your friendship. Thus addressed, Karna replied ---Be it so. And they embraced each other in joy, and experienced great happiness.
After this, with his scarf loosely hanging down, Adhiratha entered the arena, perspiring and trembling, and supporting himself on a staff. Seeing him, Karna left his bow and impelled by dutiful regard bowed down his head still wet with the water of consecration. And then Adhiratha, hurriedly covering his feet with the end of his cloth, addressed Karna ---- Oh my son! My son! And Karna’s head was still wet with the water sprinkled over it on account of the coronation as king of Anga. Adhiratha embraced Karna. And from excess of affection
Adhiratha wetted Karna’s head with tears. Seeing Adhiratha, Bhimasena the Pandava took Karna as a son of a charioteer, and said by way of joking --- Oh son of a charioteer, you do not deserve death in fight at the hands of Arjuna. As befits your race take the whip and be
a driver of a chariot. And, Oh worst of mortals! Surely you are not worthy to have the kingdom of Anga, just as a dog does not deserve the butter placed before the sacrificial fire. Karna, thus addressed, with slightly trembling lips took a deep breath, and looked at the Sun god in the skies. And even as a mad elephant rises from the group of lotuses, the mighty Duryodhana rose in wrath from among his brothers, and addressed that performer of dreadful deeds, Bhimasena --------- Oh Bhimasena! You should not speak such words. Might is the cardinal virtue of a Kshatriya, and even a Kshatriya of inferior birth deserves to be encountered in contests of arms. The lineage of heroes, like the source of a great river is ever unknown. The fire that covers the
whole world rises from the waters. The thunder that slays the Danavas was made of a bone of Dadhichi the sage. The illustrious deity Kartikeya, who combines in his composition Agni and Ganga of unknown lineage, sprang from Rudra. He was protected by the constellation named
Krittika.It has been heard that persons born in the Kshatriya order have become Brahmanas. Viswamitra and others were born Kshatriyas. But they have realized the eternal Brahman. The foremost of all wielders of weapons, the preceptor Drona was born in a water pot and Kripa of the race of Gotama sprang from a kind of grass. The stories of your birth, are known to me. Can a she-deer bring forth a tiger like magnificent Karna? Karna likens the Sun. And he is endowed with every auspicious mark. He is  born also with a natural amour and ear-rings. This king Karna among men deserves to rule  the world, not of Anga only, Because  of the might of his arm I swear to obey him in every sphere. If there be anybody here to whom all that I have done to Karna has become intolerable, let him ascend his chariot and bend his bow with the help of his feet and fight with him. Then there arose a confused murmur amongst the spectators approving of Duryodhana's speech.The sun, however, went down, and prince Duryodhana taking Karna's hand  led him out of the arena lighted with countless lamps. The Pandavas  also, accompanied by Drona and Kripa and Bhishma, returned to their abodes. And the people,who came there, praised the heroes some naming Arjuna,some Karna,and some Duryodhana . And Kunti, recognising her son in Karna by the various auspicious marks on his body  and seeing him installed as the ruler of Anga, was, very pleased.Her motherly affection overflowed.And Duryodhana, having obtained Karna in this way, banished his fears arising out of Arjuna's
proficiency in arms. And the heroic Karna, accomplished in arms, began to gratify Duryodhana by sweet speeches, while Yudhishthira was impressed with the belief that there was no warrior on earth like Karna.

Mahabharata – 224
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
    Aadivamsa Avatarana Parva

 An unknown challenger shows up at the tourney

We have already learned that Arjuna excelled his brothers  the Kauravas,as well as his Pandava brothers in the art of war. Also young princes from different parts of India had come to learn the art of war at the feet of Dronacharya and they were no match for Arjuna.And it was in Arjuna that Dronacharya saw his future. In fact Dronacharya did not come to Hasthinapura looking forward to teaching the young's the art of war for the sake  of teaching only. He had a secret design behind his teaching activity.Earlier he was insulted by his childhood chum Drupada the king of Panchala.He would not take it easy.Hence he planned to teach the art of war to a band of young men from royal families.Once they were well versed in the art of war it would be they who would take revenge upon king Drupada on his behalf.
So revenge was the motive behind Drona’s teaching of the young men of the royal families. During the shooting competition Arjuna excelled all others. Arjuna was all devotion to Drona.So seeing Arjuna’s feats the future became present with Drona.It reminds us of Macbeth in the dagger scene. With Macbeth the future was in his present. And with many god men past as well as future are in the eternal present. Drona was sure that using Arjuna as his instrument he would surely be able to humiliate Drupada in war. Thus revenge has been the theme of the
episode of Drona’s teaching of the art of war.
In fact revenge is the recurrent theme in the epic called the Mahabharata. The story of the epic is being told during the intervals of snake sacrifice. The grand sacrifice to kill all the snakes in Nature was organized by king Janamejaya to avenge himself on the snakes who killed his father.
The Mahabharata gives us in elaborate details how Arjuna was groomed as a great warrior.He had a great devotion to his preceptor.He had an a priori faculty of concentration. His preceptor Drona saw to that he could take his food in darkness. Consequently Arjuna practised archery throughout the night. But despite all these things there was one Ekalavya who was no less than Arjuna in archery.Dronacharya saw to that Ekalavya’s thumb was cut off. Thus  Ekalavya’s career was doomed.This is how Drona’s  partiality for Arjuna seemed to make Arjuna  peerless. And in the tourney Arjuna romped around the ground like a lion cub.Arjuna showed his profound skill in the use of sword,bow,and mace,while walking over the arena in circles.The tourney seemed to come to an end.
When the exhibition almost ended,the excitement of the spectators cooled down, and the sounds of the instruments dropped. In the eerie silence there was heard a sound proceeding from the gate.There was the slapping of arms, indicating might and strength.There was as it were the roar of the thunder.The assembled people instantly thought--- Are the mountains splitting or is the earth itself going out of joints? Or is the heaven resounding with the roar of gathering clouds? And all the spectators turned their eyes towards the gate. And Drona stood, surrounded by the five brothers, the sons of Pritha, and looked like the moon in conjunction with the Hasta star that has five luminous arms. And Duryodhana,that slayer of foes, stood up in hurry and was surrounded by his hundred  haughty brothers with Aswatthaman amongst them. And that prince, mace in hand, thus surrounded by his hundred brothers with uplifted weapons appeared like Purandara in the past, encircled by the celestial host on the occasion of the battle with the Danavas. The spectators,with eyes expanded in wonder waited for something strange to happen with bated breath.The guards of the gate made way for that conqueror of the hostile cities,Karna, the hero with his natural amour and face brightened with ear-rings. He took up his bow and was ready with his sword unleashed from the scabbard. He  entered the arena like a walking mountain. He was the large-eyed Karna.
Thus when Arjuna seemed to be peerless and all our passions seemed to be spent, an unknown hero showed up challenging the might of Arjuna. It reminds us of the unexpected appearance of an unknown hero when the tourney seems to come to its omega in the medieval romances of Europe.

Mahabharata – 223
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
    Aadivamsa Avatarana Parva
            The Tourney
The ground was prepared for the tourney.Auspicious music rained upon the sports scape.
The Princes of different countries entered, with various arms. And then the mighty warriors,of princes of the  Bharata's race entered, furnished with finger-protectors and bows,and arrows with Yudhishthira at their head. The courageous princes entered in order of age and began to show wonderful skill with their weapons. Some of the spectators lowered their heads, apprehending fall of arrows while others fearlessly gazed on with wonder.And riding swiftly on horses and managing them efficiently the princes began to hit marks with shafts with their respective names engraved on the shafts. And seeing the prowess of the princes armed with bows and arrows, the spectators thought that they were as it were seeing a city of the gandharvas with whom war is always a sport.They became filled with amazement. Some hundreds and thousands of spectators,with eyes wide open in wonder,exclaimed ------- Bravo! Well done! Well done! And having repeatedly displayed their skill and efficiency in the use of bows and arrows and in the management of chariots the mighty warriors took up their swords. The spectators saw with wonder their agility, the symmetry of their bodies,their grace, their calmness, the firmness of their grasp and their deftness in the use of sword and armor.Then
Bhima and Druyodhana,entered the arena,mace in hand, like two mountains jubilantly. And those mighty-armed warriors prepared for the mock fight,and summoning all their energy.They roared like two enraged elephants contending for a female elephant. Like two enraged elephants those mighty heroes faultlessly rushed at each other right and left.And Vidura described to Dhritarashtra and Kunti and Gandhari, all the feats of the princes. The spectators were divided into two parties.Some others cried,See Druyodhana the hero king –some others shouted —See Bhima!--And on account of these cries, there was,all on a sudden,a loud uproar. And seeing the place become like a troubled ocean, the intelligent Drona said to his son, Aswatthaman,--Restrain both these mighty warriors so proficient in arms. Let not the anger of the assembly be provoked by this combat of Bhima and Duryodhana.Then Aswatthaman, restrained those combatants with their maces uplifted and resembling two swollen oceans agitated by the winds that blow at the hour of the dissolution of the universe.And Drona himself entering the yard of the arena commanded the musicians to stop.With a voice deep as that of the clouds Drona addressed in these words ----You  now see  Arjuna who is dearer to me than my own son,than master of all arms,the son of Indra himself, and in prowess equal to, Vishnu! And having performed the spiritual rites, Arjuna, equipped with the finger protector and his quiver full of shafts and bow in hand,clad in his golden amour, appeared like an evening cloud reflecting the rays of the setting sun and illuminated by the hues of the rainbow and flashes of lightning. On seeing Arjuna,the whole assembly were delighted and conchs began to be blown all around with other musical instruments. And there rose a great roar in consequence.
The spectators shouted ---This is the graceful son of Kunti!—This is the third Pandava!--This is the son of the mighty Indra!--This is the protector of the Kurus--This is the foremost of those well versed in arms!--This is the foremost of all devotees of virtue!--This is the foremost of the persons of correct behavior, a  personification of ideal manners! At those exclamations,the tears of Kunti, mixing with the milk of her breast, wetted her mammary gland.And the  ears of
Dhritarashtra were filled with that roar,Dhritarashtra, asked Vidura in delight ---- What is this great uproar for.It likens the roar of the great ocean, arising all on a sudden. Vidura replied -------Oh! mighty monarch, the son of Pandu and Pritha,Arjuna,dressed in his amour has entered the arena. And hence this roar! Dhritarashtra said ---Oh! Three fires sprang from Pritha.Pritha is even like the sacred source, of souls so great as Pandavas,I have indeed been
blessed, favored and protected. When the spectators excited with delight,had somewhat regained their calm Arjuna began to display his lightness in the use of weapons. By the Agneya weapon, he created fire,and by the Varuna weapon he created water,by the Vayavya weapon, he created wind,and by the Parjanya weapon he created clouds.
And by the Bhauma weapon,he created land, and by the Parvatya weapon, he brought mountains into being.By the Antardhana weapon all these were made to disappear.Arjuna appeared now tall and now short now he was seen as a driver of the chariot,and now on the chariot itself and the next moment he was on the ground.And the hero favoured by his agility, hit some tender, some fine and some of hard objects with various blows. By the by the spectators espied boar made of iron. It was loafing about on the ground. Arjuna flung five separate arrows into the mouth of the boar as if they were one arrow only. There was a horn of a cow dangling from a rope. Arjuna shot twenty one arrows into the hole of it.

Mahabharata – 222
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
Aadivamsa Avatarana Parva

The necessary arrangements for the tourney

Commanded by the king Dhritharastra to arrange a tourney where the skills of the princes in the art of war could be tested in public Vidura, with the permission of the king went out to do what he was to do. And Drona endowed with great wisdom, then measured out a piece of land that was void of trees. And upon the spot of land so measured out,the tourney was scheduled. Drona, that first of eloquent men, selected an auspicious day when the star and the ascendant was auspicious. He offered sacrifice to the gods in the presence of the citizens assembled by announcement to witness the same. Then the skilled mechanics of Dronacharya built there a large and elegant stage according to the rules laid down in the scriptures, and it was furnished with all kinds of weapons. They also built another elegant hall for the lady-spectators. And for the citizens the artisans constructed galleries and platforms.  And many elegant carriages were made to bring the lady spectators. When the day fixed for the Tournament came,the king accompanied by his ministers, with Bhishma and Kripa, walking ahead, came to that auditorium of almost celestial beauty constructed of pure gold and decked with strings of pearls and stones of yellow sapphire and emerald. And Gandhari blessed with good fortune and Kunti,and the other ladies of the royal household, in gorgeous dress and accompanied by their attending women, joyfully ascended the platforms ,like celestial ladies ascending the Sumeru mountain . And the four orders of the society including the Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, desirous of seeing the princes skill in arms, left the city in a hurry and came to the auditorium. And also from the other towns the vast crowd assembled there. And with the sounds of trumpets and drums and the noise of many voices, that vast lobby appeared like an agitated ocean. At last, Drona accompanied by his son, dressed in white with a white sacred thread,white locks, white beard, white garlands, and white sandal-paste entered in the auditorium. It seemed that as if the Moon himself accompanied by the planet Mars appeared in an unclouded sky. On entering the pavilion the son of Bharadwaja performed timely rituals and worshipped. The Brahmanas well versed in mantras performed the rituals to inaugurate the tourney.

Mahabharata – 221
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
    Aadivamsa avatarana Parva

Dronacharya requests the Kuru king Dhritarashtra to arrange a tourney

 Dronacharya met the Kuru leaders and king Dhritarashtra only to tell them that the Kaurava and Pandava princes had completed their studies in the art of war .Hearing this good news the king Dhritarashtra jumped up in pride and joy.These princes were born as Kshatriya. Allthough they must be taught the Vedas  and they should be at the same time skilled in the art of war. Because a Kshatriya is supposed to save the state and the people from wounds and injury if any. The people must not take law in their own hand.The Kshatriyas look after the law and order of the state and the society.If a good’s train is looted at every station on its way from Kolkata to Kurushkhetra whatever goods reached Kurushkhetra despite the loots will be sold at a very high price.Hence Kshatriyas are necessity in a country where economic activities are brisk and the people take to wagon breaking as their profession. Besides when a neighbouring country attacks the country it is the Kshatriyas who defend the country.The kings and princes of a state are born Kshatriyas.Their apriori leanings should be to save the country and people from wound and injury if any.Now the Dronacharya said that the education of princes in the art of war was completed, a tourney lay in the logic of affairs to test their attainments. So king Dhritarashtra presently asked his wise brother Vidura to arrange a tourney among the princes in presence of the people and dignitaries of the society so that they could have firsthand experience of the prowess of the government that ruled them.     

Mahabharata – 220
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya

Aadivamsa Avatarana Parva
Arjuna receives the weapon Brahmasira

Some time after,Drona, accompanied by all of his pupils,went to the bank of the Ganga to bathe in that sacred stream.And when Drona immersed himself into the stream, a well built alligator, sent as it were, by Death himself seized him by the thigh.And though himself quite capable, Drona in a hurry asked his pupils to rescue him. And he cried ------ Oh! Kill this alligator and rescue me.

 While the other pupils stood confused, each at his place, instantly Arjuna struck the alligator in the water itself, with five sharp arrows irresistible in their course. Seeing Arjuna's readiness, Drona considered him to be the foremost of all his pupils,and became highly pleased.The alligator, in the meantime cut into pieces by the arrows of Arjuna,released the thigh of illustrious Drona and  expired. Then Drona said to Arjuna -- Accept,  this very superior and irresistible weapon called Brahmasira with the methods of hurling and recalling it.You must not, however,ever use it against any human foe,for if hurled at any foe endowed with inferior energy,it might burn the whole universe. It is said,that this weapon in the three worlds has no match. Keep it, therefore, with great care, and listen to what I say.If ever, any foe, not human, attacks you, you may employ it against him for ensuring his death in battle.Listening to what is said to him with all attention,Arjuna with joined hands,received that great weapon.

The preceptor then, addressing him again, said  -- None else in this world will ever become a superior bowman like you. You will be the conquerer of the world and famous in the world as  a warrior.

Seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra and Pandu accomplished in arms, Drona, said to the king Dhritarashtra,in the presence of Kripa, Somadatta, Valhika,Bhishma, Vyasa,and Vidura,  --- Oh Monarch! Your children have completed their education.With your permission, Oh king! let them now show their proficiency.Hearing him, the king said with  glad heart ---------- Oh best of Brahmana!Son of Bharadwaja you have,indeed, accomplished a great deed. Command me as to the place and the time, where and when and in what manner a trial of these princes in the art of war may be held. Being blind I am unfortunate. I envy those who, blessed with sight, will see my children's prowess in arms. Oh Vidura! Do all that Drona says. I think there is nothing that can be more agreeable to me.

Mahabharata – 219
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
Aadivamsa Avatarana Parva

Drona the preceptor of Kuru and Pandava princes

Two of Drona's pupils became very much accomplished in the use of club.They were Druyodhana and Bhima. They were, however, always jealous of each other. Aswatthama excelled everyone in the mysteries of the science of arms. Nakula and Sahadeva excelled everybody in handling the sword. Yudhishthira surpassed everybody as a chariot-warrior. Arjuna, however, left everyone behind in every respect -- in intelligence, resourcefulness, strength and perseverance. Accomplished in the use of all weapons, Arjuna became the foremost of all. Even he became the foremost of the car-warriors and his fame spread all over the earth. He could defend thousands of chariot warriors against a swarm of enemies. And although the instruction was the same for everyone, 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 among all the princes, Arjuna alone became an Atiratha (a car-warrior capable of fighting sixty thousand foes at the same time). And the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra, seeing Bhimasena endowed with great strength and Arjuna accomplished in all arms, became very jealous of the Pandavas.

          Shooting a target

One day Drona desirous of testing the excellence of his pupils in the use of arms collected them all together after their education had been completed. And before assembling them together, he made an artificial bird. He placed it on the top of a neighbouring tree. And when they were all together, Drona told 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.

Then Drona, first addressed Yudhishthira saying ----Oh! Aim with your arrow and shoot as soon as I give the order. Yudhishthira took up the bow first, as desired by his preceptor, and stood aiming at the bird. The preceptor asked whether Yudhishthira was looking at the bird. Yudhishthira replied to his preceptor, saying ------I do. But the next instant Drona again asked him ------What do you see now. Are you able to see, the tree, or me and your brothers? Drona then, annoyed with Yudhishthira, reproaching asked him, to stand apart. Drona told Yudhishthira --  It is not for you to hit 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 to him from other lands. But the answer in every case was the same. They could  see everything. Reproached by their preceptor, they were all ordered, one after another, to stand apart.

Drona now smilingly called Arjuna and said to him --By you the aim must be struck. Therefore, turn your eyes to it. You must let fly the arrow as soon as I give the order. Therefore, you stand here with bow and arrow for an instant. Thus addressed, Arjuna stood aiming at the bird as desired by his preceptor,with his bow bent. An instant after Drona asked him as he did in the case of others -- Are you able to see the bird there, the tree, and me? Arjuna replied  -- I see the bird only, but nor the tree, nor you. Drona, well-pleased with Arjuna, the instant after, again said to that mighty chariot-warrior Arjuna --- If you see the vulture , then describe it to me. Arjuna said ------- I see only the head of the vulture,not its body.At these words of Arjuna, the hair on Drona's body stood on end from delight .He then said ------ Shoo. And the latter instantly let fly his arrow and with his sharp shaft speedily the head of the vulture on the tree was struck off. And the head was brought down to the ground. No sooner was the deed done than Drona embraced Arjuna with his arms  and thought that Drupada with his friends had already been defeated in a fight.