(Sambhava Parva continued)
" continued, 'After the expiration, O king, of a year from this, , moved by kindness for the people, installed , the son of , as the heir-apparent of the kingdom on account of his firmness, fortitude, patience, benevolence, frankness and unswerving honesty (of heart). And within a short time , the son of , by his good behaviour, manners and close application to business, overshadowed the deeds of his father. And the second Pandava, , began to receive continued lessons from (Valarama) in encounters with the sword and the mace and on the chariot. And after 's education was finished, he became in strength like unto to Dyumatsena himself and continuing to live in harmony with his brothers, he began to exert his prowess. And became celebrated for the firmness of his grasp (of weapons), for his lightness of motion, precision of aim, and his proficiency in the use of the Kshura, Naracha, Vala and Vipatha weapons, indeed, of all weapons, whether straight or crooked or heavy. And certified that there was none in the world who was equal to in lightness of hand and general proficiency.
"One day, , addressing before the assembled Kaurava princes, said, 'There was a disciple of Agastya in the science of arms called Agnivesa. He was my preceptor and I, his disciple. By ascetic merit I obtained from him a weapon called Brahmasira which could never be futile and which was like unto to thunder itself, capable of consuming the whole earth. That weapon, O Bharata, from what I have done, may now pass from disciple to disciple. While imparting it to me, my preceptor said, 'O son of , never shouldst should thou you hurl this weapon at any human being, especially at one who is of poor energy. Thou you hast have, O hero, obtained that celestial weapon. None else deserveth deserves it. But obey the command of the Rishi (Agnivesa). And, look here, , give me now the preceptorial fee in the presence of these thy your cousins and relatives.' When , on hearing this, pledged his word that he would give what demanded, the latter said, 'O sinless one, thou you must fight with me when I fight with thee you.' And that bull among the Kuru princes thereupon then pledged his word unto to and touching his feet, went away northward. Then there arose a loud shout covering the whole earth bounded by her belt of seas to the effect that there was no bowman in the whole world like unto to . And, indeed, , in encounters with the mace and the sword and on the chariot as also with the bow, acquired wonderful proficiency. obtained the whole science of morality and duties from () the spiritual chief of celestials, and continued to live under the control of his brothers. And , the favourite of his brothers taught by , became known as a skilful warrior and a great car-warrior (Ati-ratha). Indeed, and the other Pandava princes became so powerful that they slew in battle the great Sauvira who had performed a sacrifice extending over three years, undaunted by the raids of the Gandharvas. And the king of the Yavanas himself whom the powerful even had failed to bring under subjection was brought by under control. Then again Vipula, the king of the Sauviras, endued with great prowess, who had always shown a disregard for the Kurus, was made by the intelligent to feel the edge of his power. And also repressed by means of his arrows (the pride of) king Sumitra of Sauvira, also known by the name of Dattamitra who had resolutely sought an encounter with him. The third of the Pandava princes, assisted by , on only a single car subjugated all the kings of the East backed by ten thousand cars. In the same way, having conquered on a single car the whole of the south, sent unto to the kingdom of the Kurus a large booty.
"Thus did those foremost of men, the illustrious Pandavas, conquering the territories of other kings, extend the limits of their own kingdom. But beholding the great prowess and strength of those mighty bowmen, king 's sentiments towards the Pandavas became suddenly poisoned, and from that day the monarch became so anxious that he could hardly sleep.'"