Vaishampayana said : Drona smilingly, called Dhananjaya and said to him, “ It is to be shot by you. Turn your eyes to it.

"You must shoot the aim as soon as I shall give order, O son, stand here for a moment with your bow and arrow."

Having been thus addressed Savyasachi (Arjuna), drawing the bow to a semi-circle, aimed at the bird and stood there as ordered by the preceptor.

Very next moment Drona asked him, "O Arjuna, do you see the bird, the tree and myself?”

O descendant of the Bharata race, Partha (Arjuna) replied to Drona, “I see only the bird. I do not see the tree or yourself.”

The invincible Drona, being much pleased, spoke again a moment after to that great carwarrior, the son of Pandu, (Arjuna).

"If you see the bird, describe it to me." He (Arjuna) again replied, “I see the head of the bird, but I do not see its body."

Having been thus told by Arjuna, Drona was filled with delight and his hair stood on their end. He told Partha, "Shoot,” and he instantly let fly (the arrow).

The Pandava (Arjuna) speedily struck off the head of the vulture with his sharp arrow and brought it to the ground.

As soon as this feat was performed, he (Drona) embraced the son of Pandu (Arjuna) and thought that Drupada with his friends were already vanquished in the battle.

O best ɔf the Bharata race, some time after, the best of Angirasa (Drona) with his pupils went to the Ganges to bathe.

When Drona was bathing, a strong alligator, as it sent by Death himself, seized him at the thigh.

Though quite capable of freeing himself (from the mouth of the alligator), he (Drona) spoke to all his pupils in a hurry, “Kill this alligator and rescue me.”

As soon as he uttered these words, Bibhatsa (Arjuna) struck the alligator under the water with five sharp and irresistible arrows.

The others (his pupils) stood confounded each at his place. Seeing this readiness of Arjuna, Drona considered that son of Pandu to be the foremost of all his pupils and he was exceedingly pleased. The alligator, being cut into pieces by the arrows of Partha. Released the thigh of the high-souled (Drona) and gave up his life. Thereupon the son of Bharadvaja, (Drona) thus addressed the illustrious carwarrior (Arjuna).

“O mighty armed, accept this superior and irresistible weapon, named Brahmashira, with its method of hurling and recalling it.

You most not use it against any human foe. If hurled at a foe of inferior power, it might burn the whole universe.

O son, it is said that this weapon heat not a superior in the three worlds, keep it therefore with great care and listen to what I say.

O hero, if ever any foe, if he is not human, comes to fight with you, may then use it against him to accomplish his death."

Bibhatsa (Arjuna) with joined hands promised to do as he was bidden and he received the great weapon. The preceptor then spoke to him again thus, “None will ever become a superior bowman to you. You will be invincible and greatly illustrious.