Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/323

Rh near enough unto then, of darkish hue, decrepit and lean, sanctified by the performance of the Agnihotra and who had finished his daily rites of worship. And beholding that illustrious Brahmana, the princes who had despaired of success surrounded him immediately. Drona (for that Brahmana was no other), seeing the princes unsuccessful, and conscious of his own skill, smiled a little, and addressing them said. 'Shame on your Kshatriya might, and shame also on your skill in arms I You have been born in the race of Bharata ! How is it that ye cannot recover the ball (from the bottom of this well)? If ye 'promise me a dinner to-day. I will, with these blades of grass, bring up not only the ball ye have lost but this ring also that I now throw down !' Thus saying.--Drona that oppressor of foes, taking off his ting, threw it down into the dry well. Then Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, addressing Drona, said, O Brahmana. (thou askest for a trifle)! Do thou with Kripa's permission, obtain of us that which would last thee for life !' Thus addressed, Drona with smiles replied unto the Bharata princes, saying,'This handful of long grass I would invest, by my mantras, with the virtue of weapons. Behold these blades possess virtues that other weapons, have not! I will, with one of these blades, pierce the ball, and then pierce that blade with another, and that another with a third, and thus shall I, by a chain, bring up the ball.'

Vaisampayana continued.--"Then Drona did exactly what he had said. And the princes were all amazed and their eyes expanded with delight. And regarding what they had witnessed to be very extraordinary, they said,-0 learned Brahmana, do thou bring up the ring also without loss of time.

"Then the illustrious Drona, taking a bow with an arrow, pierced the ring with that arrow and brought it up at once. And taking the ring thus brought up from the well still pierced with his arrow, he coolly gave it to the astonished princes. Then the latter, seeing the ring thus recovered, said, 'We bow to thee, O Brahmana t None else owneth such skill. We long to know who thou art and whose son. What also can we do for thee ?"

"Thus addressed, Drona replied unto the princes, saying.-Do ye repair unto Bhishma and describe to him my likeness and skill. The mighty one will recognize me. The princes then saying, - So be it-repaired unto Bhishma and telling him of the purport of that Brabmana's speech, related everything about his (extraordinary) feat. Hearing everything from the princes, Bhishma at once understood that the Brahmana was pone else than Drona, and thinking that he would make the best preceptor for the princes, went in person unto him and welcoming him respectfully, brought him over to the