64. Arjun, stood out from others, with respect to his excellence and in weaponry and his love for his Guru, on the basis of his intellect, strength and enthusiasm.
65. The education of weaponry was imparted equally to all the students. But owing to his skills, only Arjun became the best among all the princes.
66. The cunning Kauravas, always resented powerful Bhimsen and learned Arjun.
67. Having imparted all the knowledge of subjects and weapons, the great Guru Dronacharya, gathered all his students at a place. He wanted to test them for their archery skills.
68. He planted a fake bird made by an artisan, on a tree without the knowledge of the teens and told them that the bird is their aim.
69. “Now, all of you raise your bows, attach the arrows to it, and stand in front of this artificial bird,
70. Behead the bird with your bow, once I have told you to do so. Children, I will ask one by one, and you do accordingly.
71. Then, the great sage from Angiras family, Dronacharya told Yudhishthir, “Load a super fast arrow on your bow, and release the arrow, after I finish my instruction.
72. Following his Guru’s instructions, the one whom the enemy fears, Yudhisthir, stood first in front of the artificial bird, with his bow and arrow.
73. “Hey Parikshit! Guru Dronacharya immediately asked the descendant of the Kurukul,
74. “Hey Prince! Look at the artificial bird sitting atop the tree.” Yudhishthir said, “Acharya, I can see it.”
75. Then Dronacharya again asked, “Then can you see this tree, me, your brothers?”
76. The Son of Kunti, Yudhishthir answered,”I can see this huge tree, you, my brothers and the bird again and again”
77. Dronacharya was disappointed at heart and said to Yudhishthir disrespectfully, “You move away! You won’t be able to aim at the target.”
78. Then the famous Dronacharya, curious to know what others think, asked sons of Dhritarashtra, like Duryodhan, other students like Bhim and kings of other countries, the same questions.
79. When even they answered that they saw everything, they got loathed.
Here the 131st chapter of Sambhavaparva, from Adiparva of Mahabharata ends.
1. Then, Dronacharya asked Dhananjay, smiling, “Look! You have to aim for the target now!”
2. You have to release the arrow, once I tell you to do so. Child! Prepare the bow and arrow and wait for a moment.”
3. Inspired by his Guru’s word, Savyasachi Arjun, stretched his bow and stood in front of the artificial bird.
4. At the same moment, Guru Dronacharya asked him the same way, “Arjun! Can you see this tree, the artificial bird sitting on it, me too?”
5. “Hey Bharatkulputra Parikshit! Arjun told Dronacharya, “I can only see the bird. I cannot see you.”
6. Dronacharya felt happy and further asked Arjun, “If you say you see the bird, then tell me again.”
7. Arjun said, “I cannot see the body of the bird, I can only see his head.”
8. Dronacharya was thrilled with happiness, told Arjun, “Shoot the target.” Without thinking further, Arjun shot the arrow.
9. Then son of Pandu, Arjun, beheaded the bird on the tree with the sharp arrow.
10. After the task was complete, Dronacharya hugged Arjun, and felt reassured that Drupad can be now defeated with his lot.