When the education of the princes of Kuru clan came to an end. Drona wanted to make a display of the skills acquired by his pupil before the elders of the Kuru family members of public and all others. Bhishma, Dhritarastra, all agreed for the display. A huge stadium was erected. All the members of the royal family, ladies, citizens of the city, were invited to witness it.

On the day appointed for the tournaments, all were gathered there. After the ceremonies and Salutations, the display started. All the princes gave good account of themselves. While Yudhisthir excelled in the use of javelin, Bhima and Duryodhana gave excellent display of their use in maces. Nakul and Sahdeva impressed with their expertise in the use of swords. However, they clearly belonged to Arjuna. His skills in a archery were so extraordinary that Drona and Bhishma were impressed. An elated Drona announced that there is no one on the earth to match the skills of his beloved pupil Arjuna. The thunderous applause had hardly died down when a god like person with shining Kavacha and Kundala made his entry. Every one was wondering about, the new comer. Duryodhana was very much pleased. He had not liked the prowess of Arjuna. He was hopeful that the new comer might prove to be match for Arjuna skills. The new comer, who was Karna smiled at Drona and repeated all the feats of Arjuna. Then he challenged Arjuna for a one by one contest. This caused uproar among the spectators. Seeing Karna their, Kunti fainted, after recognising the Kavacha and Kundala. Vidura while trying to comfort her saw the truth through his powers to see the past and the future. He knew that Karna was the eldest son of Kunti.

Thus challenged by the stranger Arjuna was getting ready for the contest. Then Kripa came to the stage and said, "the rules require equals should fight together in a contest. Arjuna here, is the prince of Pandavas, who are you and to what kingdom you belong to, No commoner can fight with a prince in a context like this." Seeing the hesitancy of Karna, Duryodhana sprang to his feet and said, I declare Karna to be the king of Anga country. After this Karna was duly coronated and announced as the King of Anga. Karna, filled with gratitude as this gesture of Duryodhana pledged his everlasting friendship to him, which was accepted and reciprocated by Duryodhana.

At this time Atiratha, the father of Karna, came running to Karna and the father and son embraced each other. Now the crowd knew that the new comer was a Suta-putra' son of Charioteer Atiratha. Bhima taking a dig at Karna jarringly said that only Kshatriya could fight a Kshatriya, lowborn Suta Putras cannot. Duryodhana said that Karna was fit to rule the earth his merits and qualities are too high to be recognised by the likes of Bhima. He wanted the contest to begin. But the sun has gone down and the time for the tournament has come to an end. Drona and Pandava became quite embarrassed at this turn of the events. They saw the clouds at the horizon of their wish to be invincible. The Pandava brother went out of the contest much dissatisfied.

Drona had not forgotten his insult at the court of Drupada. He was looking out for an opportunity to settle his score. Such an opportunity presented itself to him. The Kuru princes had completed their education, and they were required to pay guru-dakshina (gift to the guru after one finishes the education). Drona called his pupils together and reminded them that it was the time to pay Guru-Dakshina. The princes were too eager to please the guru. They asked what Drona wanted. Drona told, "I want you to conquer Drupada, the king of Panchala." He wanted Drupada to be taken in alive and brought to him. The princes marched towards Panchala with their armies. Drupada was surprised, as there was no cause for enmity with the Kaurvas or with the Pandavas. He also gathered his army and fought with them. First, Kauravas, under Duryodhana tried to vanquish and capture Drupada but they failed. In fact they suffered a defeat at the hands of Drupada.

Then Pandavas joined the battle. Arjuna, Bhima, Nakul and Sahdeva fought very bravely and made a very strange type of battle strategy so that no soldiers were killed. They were successful in capturing Drupada alive. They brought him before their Guru Drona. Drona reminded Drupada about the insults heaped upon him by Drupada. Drupada felt sorry and apologized. Drona said: " Since friendship is possible only between the equals, according to your perverse thinking, I divide your kingdom in two equal halves. One half goes to you and I shall keep one. Since now we are equals, let's be friends." Drona, then allowed Drupada to go. Drona anger was quenched,but there was fire burning in Drupada's heart.He was very impressed by the bravery of Arjuna and was very angry with Drona, as he returned to his capital Kampilya. He had vowed to undertake a severe penance. He wanted a son who could kill Drona and a daughter worthy of becoming a wife of Arjuna.