Sunlight danced on the ripples of a shallow river cutting through a forest near Hastinapura, its cold, swift waters gurgling over smooth stones. Tall trees lined the banks, their leaves rustling in a gentle breeze, casting dappled shadows across the stream, while the air carried the crisp scent of wet earth and pine. The current tugged at the grasses along the edges, a lively force shimmering under the noon sky, ready to test the princes' patience with steel and grace. The river stretched wide and inviting, a liquid arena trembling with challenge.
Drona stood on the bank, his lean frame steady in the warm light, his tattered white robes fluttering faintly as he brushed water from his hands. His gray hair was tied back tight, and his dark eyes gleamed with a stern, observant fire as he faced the Kuru princes. In one hand, he held his staff, its tip resting on the muddy shore; the other gestured toward a pile of wooden swords, their edges blunted but sturdy. The princes gathered around him, their tunics rolled up to their knees, their breaths puffing in the cool air as they squinted at the water, excitement flickering in their faces.
Bhima rocked on his heels, his massive frame casting a shadow over the bank, his broad grin flashing wide as he kicked at a pebble that plopped into the stream. "Swordplay in a river, guru?" he said, his voice booming through the trees, loud enough to startle a fish into a splash. "This is new! We slashing the water or each other?"
Drona turned to him, his expression calm but unyielding, his voice weaving through the forest with steady force. "Each other, Bhima," he said, his tone deep and firm, hushing the air for a moment. "We shift to swords today. You'll spar in the water, knee-deep. The current slows you. Patience wins here, not power."
Bhima's grin stretched wider, his eyes lighting up as he laughed, the sound bouncing off the water. "Patience, huh?" he said, his tone bright and eager, grabbing a sword from the pile with a grunt. "I'll splash through and win! This river's no match for me! Let's go, guru!"
"Splash less, strike true," Drona replied, his voice dry and patient, pointing at the stream. "Pair up. Five strikes each. Begin when I call."
Arjuna stepped up beside him, his lean form quiet and still, his sandals sinking into the mud as he studied the flowing water. His tunic shimmered with dampness, his breath even, and his dark eyes traced the ripples with a steady focus. "The current changes it," he said, his voice soft but clear, glancing at Drona with a nod. "This is tough, guru. Any tips?"
"Feel it," Drona said, his gaze settling on Arjuna with a flicker of warmth, his tone firm. "Move with the water, not against. You'll find your way."
Nakula and Sahadeva slipped forward together, their lithe forms weaving through the group, their twin grins flashing as they stretched their arms. "This is our game," Nakula said, his voice quick and light, nudging his brother with a laugh. "Right, Sahadeva?"
"Made for us," Sahadeva replied, his tone swift and bright, grabbing a sword with a nod. "We'll glide through!"
The princes waded in, their footsteps splashing the shallows, the river humming with the clack of wood as they paired off. Bhima lumbered into the water, his massive frame sending waves crashing against the banks, his laugh booming as he faced Nakula and Sahadeva. "Here we go!" he shouted, his voice ringing loud, the current tugging at his legs. He swung his sword high, his muscles bulging, aiming at Nakula with a grunt. The water slowed his strike, the blade slicing air as Nakula darted aside, his own sword flashing in a blur to tap Bhima's arm.
"Got you!" Nakula said, his voice quick and thrilled, dancing back as the current rippled around him.
Bhima laughed, his tone bright and unbothered, swinging again at Sahadeva. "Not yet!" he said, his voice loud and cheerful, the sword whistling through the wet. Sahadeva ducked, his blade arcing low to tap Bhima's leg, and Bhima floundered, the water dragging at his stance as he stumbled. "Ha!" he said, his grin wide, splashing to steady himself. "This river's fighting me! You two are slippery!"
"Slippery's the trick," Sahadeva replied, his tone swift and bright, circling with Nakula as they struck in tandem.
Drona watched from the bank, his voice steady and firm as he called over the gurgle. "Steady, Bhima!" he said, his tone warm with patience, pointing at his footing. "Plant your feet. Fight the water first!"
"Plant?" Bhima said, chuckling as he swung again, his sword veering wide as the current pulled him off balance. "I'm planting a mess!" He flailed, laughing loud as Nakula and Sahadeva darted in, their blades tapping his chest and arm in a synchronized blur, disarming him with a flick that sent his sword splashing into the stream.
Bhima froze, then laughed, his voice booming as he flopped backward into the water with a massive splash. "Done!" he said, his tone bright and teasing, sitting up with a grin as waves lapped around him. "You two are fish! I'm sunk!"
Drona stepped closer, his voice warm with approval as he nodded at Nakula and Sahadeva. "Good," he said, his tone steady and firm, his staff tapping the bank. "Five strikes, clean and swift. Well done, boys."
Nakula grinned, his voice quick and triumphant as he brushed wet hair from his face. "Five!" he said, his tone light and thrilled, bumping fists with Sahadeva. "We owned that!"
"Owned it," Sahadeva echoed, his tone swift and bright, shaking water from his sword. "This is our ground!"
Arjuna waded in against Duryodhana, his sword raised, his breath slow and even as he braced against the current. "Let's try," he said, his voice soft and calm, swinging with a smooth arc. The blade tapped Duryodhana's shoulder, the water barely slowing him, and he stepped back, nodding. "One," he murmured, his tone steady, striking again to clip Duryodhana's arm.
Drona's eyes gleamed, his voice warm with pride as he called over the stream. "Two?" he said, his tone lifting slightly, steady despite the gurgle. "Solid, Arjuna! You're with it!"
The river pulsed with their efforts, the air thick with splashes and the clack of wood—Bhima's floundering swings, Nakula and Sahadeva's flowing strikes, Arjuna's steady hits. Bhima hauled himself up, his tunic soaked, his laugh echoing as he waved his arms. "I'm out!" he shouted, his voice loud and cheerful, splashing to the bank. "Those two drowned me! Good show, huh?"
"Good show, bad balance," Drona said, his tone dry but kind, gesturing him to sit. "Watch now, Bhima."
Arjuna struck three more times, his sword cutting through the current with clean taps, disarming Duryodhana with a final twist. "Five," he said, his voice soft but sure, wading back to Drona with a nod. "It's about moving with it, guru."
"With it?" Drona said, his pride clear, his staff tapping the mud as he met him. "You've got it, Arjuna. Calm and true."
Nakula and Sahadeva darted through the water, their blades a blur as they sparred with others, their laughter ringing over the ripples. "Five each!" Nakula called, his voice quick and thrilled, leaping to the bank with a splash. "This river's ours!"
"Ours," Sahadeva added, his tone bright and swift, following his twin with a grin. "We're unbeatable here!"
Bhima sprawled on the bank, his chest heaving, his grin wide as he wiped water from his face. "Unbeatable?" he said, his voice loud and teasing, laughing through the wet. "You're water rats! I'll stick to dry ground next time!"
"Dry ground's easier," Drona said, his tone amused but firm, shaking his head as he waved them in. "Enough. Nakula and Sahadeva, five each, fluid and sharp. Arjuna, five, steady and sure. Bhima, none."
Bhima laughed, hauling himself up, his tunic dripping as he shook like a dog. "None's my score!" he said, his voice loud and cheerful, grinning wide. "But I've got the best splash! This river knows me now, huh?"
"Knows you and tripped you," Drona replied, his tone dry but fond, his staff tapping once, twice. "Patience, Bhima. You'll learn."
Arjuna set his sword down, his breath steady, his smile warm and quiet as he wrung water from his tunic. "That was alive, guru," he said, his voice soft and honest, flexing his hands. "The water fights back."
"It does," Drona said, his pride clear, nodding at him through the sunlight. "And you fought with it. That's your strength, Arjuna."
Nakula nudged Sahadeva, his grin wide as he stretched his arms. "We flew out there," he said, his voice quick and light, brushing his hair back. "Five's a haul!"
"Next time, six," Sahadeva replied, his tone bright and swift, mirroring his twin's stretch. "We'll rule this river!"
Bhima lumbered over, his laugh booming as he clapped their shoulders with wet thuds. "Rule it?" he said, his voice loud and teasing, grinning through the damp. "You're minnows! I'll swim and smash next time!"
"Swim with aim," Drona said, his tone patient and amused, waving them off. "Rest now. You've earned it."