Dhritarashtra was king of Hastinapura and the Kurus. But the people knew it was Pandu's campaigns that had extended the boundaries of the Kuru kingdom as far as they were now. Besides, Yudhishtira was older than Duryodhana. The Pandava was noble, steadfast and utterly honest. Against his own wishes, Dhritarashtra crowned his brother's son yuvaraja of the Kuru kingdom, the heir apparent. Yudhishtira quickly proved himself wise and discerning, far beyond his years.
One day, shortly after the humbling of Drupada, Drona called all the Pandavas and Kauravas. The acharya seemed distressed. The previous night, he had a prophetic dream in which a horrible war of the age was revealed to him and his own role in it. Dismayed by what he had seen, Drona assembled all his pupils in his yard.
It was to Arjuna that he said, "I received the brahmasirsa from my guru Agnivesha. And my master had the astra from Agastya muni."
He paused to show how serious he was. "Only to you, Arjuna, have I given the secret of that weapon. For if you summon it, it can destroy the world. I know your heart is strong. I know you will never lightly invoke the ayudha that bears the heads of Brahma. Yet I have given you a great gift in the brahmasirsa and I now demand a special dakshina from you."
Arjuna said quietly, "My life is yours if you want it."
"That I know. But what I want from you is that you swear an oath to me, something that may be harder to pledge than your life."
"Tell me what it is, Acharya."
"If you know what I want you may not give it even to me. First swear that whatever I ask you will give me, unconditionally."
Arjuna drew a deep breath. "I swear it in your name and by all that is sacred to me."
"I want you to swear that if some day, I face you in battle, you will fight me without reserve. Even to the death of one of us."
Arjuna cried out softly, the other princes gasped; but Drona stood waiting. At last, Arjuna nodded wordlessly.
Now Drona smiled and said to the others, "You are all witnesses to his vow. He must honor it at any cost."
For a year more, Drona kept just Arjuna near him, as his most remarkable disciple. He taught him secrets and refinements to his archery, beyond the grasp of any other pupil, including Aswatthama. Avidly Arjuna learnt those subtle and complex lessons from his guru. Finally, one day, Drona called his favorite sishya. The master appeared exceptionally relaxed and he made Arjuna sit beside him. They were alone together.
Drona said, "Your tutelage is complete. This last year has been invaluable and now I think I can proclaim that my sishya Arjuna is the greatest archer on earth."
Arjuna glowed. The Pandava had grown with each day that passed: not only in skill but in spirit. At last, he felt he had put Karna, the only threat, behind him.
Drona said quietly, "Yet, if I were to tell the world that you are the greatest archer in it, Arjuna, I would be lying."
Arjuna gave a start: so Karna was still better than he was. His face grew dark. Drona laughed, "I am not speaking of Karna, but of another." His voice was wistful. "Another like whom there has never been any archer in all time and never shall be."
"Who is he, Acharya?"
"Your own cousin, Arjuna: Krishna of the House of Vrishni. Your mother has a brother called Vasudeva. Krishna is his son." He smiled and shook his head. "Though in truth he is no one's child but his own; for he has no beginning or end. He is all things and all men. He is the Avatara and he knows about you and longs to see you."
