कस्य चित् त्व् अथ कालस्य सशिष्यो ऽङ्गिरसां वरः ॥
जगाम गङ्गाम् अभितो मज्जितुं भरतर्षभ ॥
अवगाढम् अथो द्रोणं सलिले सलिलेचरः ॥
ग्राहो जग्राह बलवाञ् जङ्घान्ते कालचोदितः ॥
स समर्थो ऽपि मोक्षाय शिष्यान् सर्वान् अचोदयत् ॥
ग्राहं हत्वा मोक्षयध्वं माम् इति त्वरयन्न् इव ॥
तद्वाक्यसमकालं तु बीभत्सुर् निशितैः शरैः ॥
आवापैः पञ्चभिर् ग्राहं मग्नम् अम्भस्य् अताडयत् ॥
इतरे तु विसंमूढास् तत्र तत्र प्रपेदिरे ॥
तं च दृष्ट्वा क्रियोपेतं द्रोणो ऽमन्यत पाण्डवम् ॥
विशिष्टं सर्वशिष्येभ्यः प्रीतिमांश् चाभवत् तदा ॥
स पार्थबाणैर् बहुधा खण्डशः परिकल्पितः ॥
ग्राहः पञ्चत्वम् आपेदे जङ्घां त्यक्त्वा महात्मनः ॥
kasya cit tv atha kālasya saśiṣyo 'ṅgirasāṃ varaḥ ||
jagāma gaṅgām abhito majjituṃ bharatarṣabha ||
avagāḍham atho droṇaṃ salile salilecaraḥ ||
grāho jagrāha balavāñ jaṅghānte kālacoditaḥ ||
sa samartho 'pi mokṣāya śiṣyān sarvān acodayat ||
grāhaṃ hatvā mokṣayadhvaṃ mām iti tvarayann iva ||
tadvākyasamakālaṃ tu bībhatsur niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||
āvāpaiḥ pañcabhir grāhaṃ magnam ambhasy atāḍayat ||
itare tu visaṃmūḍhās tatra tatra prapedire ||
taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā kriyopetaṃ droṇo 'manyata pāṇḍavam ||
viśiṣṭaṃ sarvaśiṣyebhyaḥ prītimāṃś cābhavat tadā ||
sa pārthabāṇair bahudhā khaṇḍaśaḥ parikalpitaḥ ||
grāhaḥ pañcatvam āpede jaṅghāṃ tyaktvā mahātmanaḥ ||
"Some time later Drona, with his disciples, went to the Ganges to bathe, O bull of the Bharatas; and a mighty crocodile, driven by fate, seized Drona, submerged in the water, by the shin. He, though able himself to free himself, urged all the disciples: 'Having slain the crocodile, free me,' as if hastening them. At the moment of that word Arjuna, with five sharp arrows loosed in swift succession, struck the crocodile submerged in the water, while the others, bewildered, rushed here and there. Seeing the Pandava so quick to act, Drona deemed him superior to all his disciples and was well pleased; and that crocodile, cut into many pieces by Partha's arrows, met its death, releasing Drona's shin."
02eed0f376de · published Jul 12, 2026, 4:53:32 PM UTC
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Here Arjuna's skill reveals itself in a moment of sudden danger. It is telling that Drona, "able himself to free himself," deliberately tests his disciples: a true teacher does not let slip the chance to reveal and cultivate the worthy one. A telling contrast appears: the others "grew bewildered," while Arjuna acts instantly and precisely — striking an unseen target beneath the water. Here is seen the fruit of concentration and composure: one who is gathered does not lose himself even in danger, but acts rightly, while the scattered mind only flounders. It is telling that here too Arjuna strikes the unseen (the crocodile beneath the water) — just as before he saw only the head of the bird: his gift is to see and strike what is hidden. Thus the scripture again exalts Arjuna, preparing him for the bestowal of the highest weapons.