Drona tests his students' aim with a bird target
Drona tests his students' focus by setting up an artificial bird in a tree and asking each to shoot its head. One by one, Yudhishthira, Duryodhana, and Bhima fail, saying they can see the tree, the teacher, and their brothers. Then it is Arjuna's turn.
When his students had become skilled, Drona wished to examine the quality of their focus. He had an artisan construct an artificial bird and placed it high in a tree, a small, distant target.
He assembled the princes. “Pick up your bows,” he said. “Fix your arrows, aim at that bird, and when I give you permission, slice off its head.”
He first called Yudhishthira. The eldest Pandava drew his bow and stood aiming. After a moment, Drona asked, “O prince, can you see that bird on the top of the tree?”
“I can see it,” Yudhishthira replied.
After some time, Drona asked again, “Can you see the tree? Can you see me? Can you see your brothers?”
Yudhishthira answered each question: “I can see the large tree. I can see you. I can see the bird.”
Drona was displeased. “This is not for you. You will not be able to hit the target.”
He then tested Duryodhana, Dhritarashtra’s other sons, Bhima, and all the other students and visiting kings, one after another. Each one, when questioned, said they could see everything — the bird, the tree, the teacher, their companions. Each was scolded and failed.
Finally, smiling, Drona summoned Arjuna. “This target is for you to shoot down. Stand here, with your bow taut, and shoot when I ask.”
Arjuna drew his bow into a semicircle, aimed, and stood perfectly still. After a while, Drona asked him the same questions. “O Arjuna, do you see the bird seated there? Do you see the tree? Do you see me?”
Arjuna replied, “I can only see the bird. I cannot see the tree. Nor can I see you.”
Pleased, Drona waited another moment. “If you can see the bird, describe it to me.”
Arjuna said, “I can only see the bird’s head. I cannot see its body.”
At these words, Drona was delighted; the hair on his body stood up. “Shoot,” he commanded.
Arjuna let the arrow go. It sliced off the head of the bird on the tree and brought it down to the ground. When Arjuna succeeded, Drona embraced him. In that perfect, narrowed focus, Drona deduced that his old enemy, King Drupada, and all his relatives had already been vanquished in battle.