MAHABHARATA FOR

CHILDREN

text by Gilbert Mane

PART TWO

DRONA TEACHES THE

PANDAWAS

I bow to Narayana and to Nara

I bow to Saraswati, Goddess of learning

I bow to the holy man, Wyasa

CHAPTER ONE - THE RETURN OF THE PANDAWAS

Pandu, Kunti and Madri lived happily with their children in the forest.

Pandu was a kind and wise father. He watched his sons carefully. He
made sure that they learnt all that was useful. He taught them the Truth -
that all creatures are really the Brahman. Knowing this the boys were
happy. They learned that following the words of the wise brings
contentment and peace.

Yudhishthira always spoke the truth. Bhima was strong and he always
used his strength to protect the weak. Arjuna was a skilful warrior and
was generous and open hearted. Nakula and Sahadeva were also brave
and skilled. They excelled in beauty. They were very modest and never
boasted about their good looks.

Pandu had been cursed by a holy man. He would die if he touched Kunti
or Madri. One day he touched Madri and he died. Kunti, Madri and the
Pandawas were very sad. They prepared a funeral pyre for Pandu.

"I caused Pandu's death," said Madri, "I will die with him. O Kunti, look
after my children as if they were your own."

Kunti promised and Madri entered the fire.

Soon afterwards Kunti decided that she should take her children, the
Pandawas, back to Hastinapura, the capital city.

As they came to Hastinapura the people thought five Gods had entered
their city. The boys were so radiant and looked so strong that people
began to bow to them. The news was brought to the palace and Bhishma,
Dhritarashtra, Widura and Satyawati came to see for themselves.

They were delighted when they recognised Kunti and asked her many
questions. Kunti told them of the happy days in the forest with Pandu and
Madri and of the birth of the Pandawas. She told them of the death of
Pandu and Madri and everyone was very sad. Kunti and the Pandawas
were invited by Dhritarashtra to live in the palace.
CHAPTER TWO - DURYODHANA'S JEALOUSY

King Dhritarashtra was blind. He and his queen Gandhari had

one hundred sons and these sons were known as the Kaurawas.
The oldest son was named Duryodhana. The Pandawas were
the sons of Pandu, Dhritarashtra's brother, so the Pandawas
and the Kaurawas were cousins.

After the death of Pandu, the Pandawas were brought up in the

palace in Hastinapura with the Kaurawas. They studied the
Wedas together and sat together at the feet of holy men. They
learned the scriptures by heart and sang the sacred hymns.

They also studied the art of war together because all would
grow up to be warriors.

In all these studies the Pandawas were better than the

Kaurawas. Even in their games the Pandawas beat the
Kaurawas.

Bhima was the strongest. Just for fun he would drag some of
the Kaurawas by the legs, bang their heads together, hold them
under water until they had almost drowned or shake trees
which they had climbed so they tumbled out.
Bhima didn't mean any harm but Duryodhana began to hate
and fear the Pandawas. He especially hated Bhima.

Duryodhana began to make an evil plan to get rid of Bhima

once and for all.
CHAPTER THREE - BHIMA AND THE KING OF THE SNAKES

Duryodhana went to his uncle Sakuni. Sakuni was Queen Gandhari's

brother.

"Bhishma is the stronger than us," said Duryodhana, "I want to kill him."

Sakuni agreed to help Duryodhana. One of Duryodhana's brothers was

named Duh-shasana. He joined Duryodhana and Sakuni in plotting
against Bhima. On their advice Duryodhana had a palace built by a river.
He invited all the Kaurawas and Pandawas to a party at the palace by the
river.

He put poison into Bhima's food. When Bhima had eaten he felt tired from
the poison and lay down by the river. When he was asleep Duryodhana
and Duh-shasana tied him up with strong vines. They threw Bhima into
the river.

Bhima was sleepy because of the poison and he sank to the bottom of the
river. Poisonous snakes in the river bit him. The snakes' poison cured
Bhima of the poison he had eaten and he woke up. He broke the vines
and began to bang the snakes' heads together. The snakes were terrified
and they fled to their king Wasuki.

"O Lord," said the snakes, "There is a mighty warrior in the river. He is
killing us. Please help."

King Wasuki went to Bhima. He knew and loved the Pandawas. When he
saw that it was Bhima he hugged him and invited him to the snake palace.

Bhima was welcomed and King Wasuki gave him the nectar of the Gods to
drink. Bhima was very thirsty and he drank eight cups of nectar. Each
cupful gave him the strength of a thousand elephants.

Then Bhima lay down to sleep. He slept for eight days. His mother and
brothers were very worried. When Bhima woke up, he said goodbye to
the snakes and returned home. He told of his adventure, but the
Pandawas didn't say anything to anyone about Duryodhana's evil deed.
CHAPTER FOUR - DRONA

There was a holy man named Drona. When he was a young boy he was a
friend of Prince Drupada and they had played together. When Drona and
Drupada grew up they did not see each other any more.

Although Drona was a holy man he was also an expert with weapons.
Once he heard that another holy man named Parashurama was giving
everything away. Drona went to Parashurama.

"I bow to you holy man," said Drona, "I have come for a gift."

"You are nearly too late," said Parashurama, "I have given nearly
everything away. I have only my body or my weapons left. Which do you
want?"

"O Parashurama, please give me your weapons," said Drona.

"So be it," said Parashurama. Drona bowed and left happily.

Drona lived happily with his wife even though they were so poor they
could not buy milk. They had a son named Ashwatthama. One day Drona
heard some boys making fun of Ashwatthama. The boys had given him
rice powder in water. They had told him it was milk and Ashwatthama
had danced and sang, happy that at last he had tasted milk.

This made Drona very sad. He sighed, because he was so poor. His wife
suggested he go to his old friend Drupada. Drupada was now king.

"Surely King Drupada will help his old friend," said Drona's wife. So
Drona went to King Drupada to ask for help. But King Drupada was angry
with Drona.

"A king cannot be friends with a poor, ragged holy man like you. Go
away. Leave my palace," said King Drupada.

Drona was very angry. He made a vow that one day he would teach King
Drupada a lesson.
CHAPTER FIVE - DRONA ENTERS

One day the Kaurawas and the Pandawas were playing on the lawns
around the palace in Hastinapura. They were throwing a ball back and
forwards when suddenly it bounced into a deep well. The boys gathered
around the top of the well. They looked down. They could see the ball
floating on the water far below but they could not get their ball back.

"What is the problem," said a voice from behind. The boys turned around
and there stood a holy man.

"We can't get our ball out of the well," said the boys.

"Shame on you," said the holy man, "You are meant to be warriors and
you can't even get a ball from a well. I will get this ball with a few blades
of grass. I can also get my ring back."

The boys were amazed as the holy man threw his golden ring into the
well.

He then plucked some blades of grass. He threw one down at the ball. It
stuck into the ball. He threw another blade of grass. This one stuck into
the first blade. He threw another and another and another, each one
sticking into the blade before. Soon the blades reached the top of the
well. He pulled up the ball.

Then the holy man shot an arrow which came back with his golden ring.
The boys ran to Bhishma to tell him what the stranger had done. Bhishma
ran to the holy man and bowed.

"I bow to you, O Drona," said Bhishma.

"How did you know my name?" said Drona.

"Only Drona, the greatest teacher of warriors could have done this. I ask
you to teach the Kaurawas and the Pandawas."

Drona gladly agreed.

CHAPTER SIX - ARJUNA'S EARLY TRAINING

Drona agreed to teach the princes all about fighting and weapons.

"But I will ask for something after I have taught you," said Drona to the
boys, "Will you agree without knowing what it is?"

Everyone remained silent except Arjuna. "I agree," he said with a loud
voice. Drona was pleased with Arjuna.

Drona taught the boys to fight with swords, mace, bow and arrow, spear
and chariot. He taught them how to stand, to sit, to walk and to run. He
taught them to leap and swim. He taught them how to speak. But he
always said that attention was the most important thing for a true warrior.

"Without attention you can do nothing. Without attention you are weak,"
said Drona. Of all the things Drona taught, this lesson of attention was
the one that Arjuna learned the best.

Ashwatthama, Drona's son, also studied with the princes. Drona would
send all the other boys to get water from the river. He gave Ashwatthama
a jar with a wider neck so it would fill quickly. He would teach him more
than the others. Arjuna saw this and used a Mantra to fill his jar as quickly
as Ashwatthama. Arjuna returned from the river with Ashwatthama and
also learnt more from Drona.

One day Drona said to the cook, "Don't give Arjuna his meals in the dark."

But one night Arjuna was having dinner and the wind blew out his candle.
He continued eating in the dark. Suddenly he realised he could also shoot
a bow and arrow in the dark. He began to practice archery in the dark.

He became so good at archery that Drona couldn't help being pleased.

"O Arjuna, I make you a promise," said Drona, "I will make you the
greatest archer that has ever lived!"
CHAPTER SEVEN - EKALAWYA, THE GREAT ARCHER

One day the Kaurawas and the Pandawas were walking in the forest. With
them was a dog. The dog strayed. The boys heard it yelp in pain when,
suddenly, the dog came running to them with seven arrows in its mouth.

The boys looked for the archer who shot seven arrows into the dog's
mouth. They found a dark man dressed in a leopard skin.

"Who are you?" they asked.

"I am Ekalawya," he replied.

"How did you become such a skilled archer," they asked.

"I am a student of Drona," he replied. Arjuna was cross. He went to

Drona.

"You promised that I would be the greatest archer but your student
Ekalawya is better than me," he said.

Drona said, "I have no student named Ekalawya."

They went to the forest and found Ekalawya worshipping a small clay
statue of Drona.

"I once asked to be your student," Ekalawya explained, "But you sent me
away. I made this statue of you. I worship it every day as if it were you
and with your guidance in my heart I have learned archery."

"If you are my student you owe me my fee. I want your right thumb,"
said Drona.

Without delay Ekalawya took a sword and cut off his thumb. He gave it to
Drona. After this he could not use a bow and arrow as well as before. In
this cruel way Drona's promise came true and Arjuna became the greatest
archer.
CHAPTER EIGHT - ARJUNA'S SUPREMACY

One day Drona wished to test the boys. He made a bird out of straw and painted
it. He painted an eye on the straw bird. He placed it high in a tree.

"Take up your bows quickly," said Drona to the princes, "Fix your arrows and
aim at the straw bird. As soon as I give the order, shoot at the bird's head."

First he called Yudhishthira, the oldest of the Pandawas.

"What do you see?" he asked.

"I see the bird, the tree, you and my brothers," said Yudhishthira.

"Stand aside," said Drona crossly.

One by one he called on all the Pandawas and Kaurawas. They all said the same
as Yudhishthira. Drona was very cross. Finally he called Arjuna.

"What do you see?" asked Drona.

"I see only the bird," said Arjuna.

"Describe the bird," said Drona.

"I can't," said Arjuna.

"Why not," asked Drona.

"I can only see the eye," said Arjuna.

"Shoot!" said Drona. The head of the straw bird fell, pierced by Arjuna's arrow.
Arjuna had learnt the lesson of single pointed attention.

Later Drona was swimming in the river when a crocodile caught his leg. Although
he could free himself he called for help. Arjuna pierced the crocodile with five
sharp arrows while everyone else stood helpless.

Arjuna had mastered attention. Drona thought of Arjuna as his best student and
gave him the secret of many mighty weapons.
CHAPTER NINE - DRONA'S REVENGE

Drona had not forgotten how King Drupada had refused to help him. King
Drupada had been his friend when they were boys. The king insulted
Drona when Drona had asked for help.

One day the time came for Drona to ask for payment for teaching the
Kaurawas and the Pandawas the art of war.

He gathered them together and said, "For my teacher's fee I want you to
defeat King Drupada. I want you to show what great warriors you are by
taking his kingdom from him."

The Kaurawas and the Pandawas jumped into their chariots. They took
their weapons and they sped off towards the kingdom of King Drupada.

Arjuna led the army. When they arrived at King Drupada's city a terrible
battle took place. The sky was filled with arrows and spears. The air was
torn by the sound of men shouting, horses neighing and weapons
clashing. The battle raged for hours but finally King Drupada was forced
to surrender to Arjuna.

Arjuna carried King Drupada back to Drona.

"You said that a king cannot be friends with a beggar," said Drona to
Drupada, "I now have your kingdom. What do you say now?"

King Drupada was silent. He was very angry with Drona, but he hid his
anger. He ground his teeth in rage as Drone said: "I wanted to teach you
a lesson. I will give you back half your kingdom. I will keep the other
half. We will both be kings so then we can be friends.

But King Drupada went sadly back to his palace. But from that day he
hated Drona and plotted his revenge.
CHAPTER TEN - THE RETURN OF KARNA

After years of study the Kaurawas and the Pandawas grew up into strong,
handsome young men. Drona thought it was time for them to show what they
had learned.

Drums and trumpets called all the people of Hastinapura to a great hall.
Dhritarashtra and Gandhari came. Bhishma, Kunti and Wyasa came. Holy men
and all the people came.

The young men began to show there skill. They used swords and spears. They
rode chariots. They fought against each other.

Duryodhana and Bhima fought against each other with maces. Duryodhana had
always hated Bhima. The fight was meant to be friendly but it soon became
serious. Ashwatthama, Drona's son, had to stop the fight before Duryodhana
and Bhima hurt each other.

The audience was amazed by Arjuna's skill with the bow and arrow. He used
magic arrows to create fire and rain. He hit every target. "No one is better than
Arjuna!" they shouted. Everyone was delighted except Duryodhana who burned
with hatred for the Pandawas.

Suddenly a handsome and noble young man walked into the hall. He had a bow
and arrow. He did everything that Arjuna had done. He challenged Arjuna to a
fight.

"My name is Karna. Let us see who is the greatest warrior. I wish to fight
Arjuna," said Karna. Kunti fainted as she recognised her first born son. The Sun
God was his father.

Duryodhana was glad that someone had challenged Arjuna. But Drona said,
"Stop! Arjuna is a prince. Who are your parents?"

Karna was ashamed. His father was only a chariot driver. He was not allowed to
fight with Prince Arjuna. It was against the rules.

Duryodhana ran to Karna and hugged him. "I make you King of Anga," said
Duryodhana. Karna could still not fight Arjuna because it was too late. But from
that day Karna was a friend of Duryodhana and an enemy of the Pandawas.