In the previous episode, we had witnessed Guru Dhronaachaarya getting extremely impressed with Arjuna’s unique skill set and how he strived to develop it every day. Even those lessons that Guru Dhronaachaarya did not teach him, Arjuna made sure that he did not leave that behind. If one has to excel in something, he / she should constantly be on the lookout as to how to sharpen his / her skills in that field, and Arjuna was an epitome to demonstrate this important point. This is a vital lesson for all of us who are striving to excel in whatever we do in life. Happy thus, Guru Dhronaachaarya calls Arjuna and appreciates him for what he is, and accepts him as his best student ever! He was extremely proud and happy that he had a student like Arjuna, and eventually he realized his folly of giving undue importance to his son, by compromising on Arjuna.
Moving on further thus, one day as Guru Dhronaachaarya was taking his customary bath in the river bank, a huge crocodile came and caught hold of his leg! As this happened all of a sudden, Guru Dhronaachaarya shrieked aloud and called people for help. He was clearly grimacing in pain as the crocodile strengthened its stronghold on Guru Dhronaachaarya’s foot. Of course, he could have easily protected himself and could have come out of the mishap, but he wanted to check how his students react to this unforeseen circumstance. He loudly called out his students for help. In fact, more than an act of saving the Guru, it was a test for the students as to how they react during critical times. All the students came running towards Guru Dhronaachaarya after hearing his fervent cries, and found out that his leg was strangled amidst the crocodile’s huge mouth!
Unable to understand what to do, the children ran here and there in tension! They did not know how to react to this sudden situation! We too do the same thing, isn’t it? For instance, if someone suddenly calls us up and tells them that they’re going to come to our house for a lunch – What would we do? We would immediately start scrambling as to what dishes to make, where to buy the vegetables and how to plan which dish to make for whom, etc.! Ultimately the guest would come home and still we wouldn’t be ready with the lunch and we would still be scrambling here and there in some sort of a tension, isn’t it? This is exactly how these kids reacted too! They did not know how to reach when their Guru’s foot got entangled into the mouth of a crocodile.
However, there was one boy who was calm and composed! That boy was none other than Arjuna himself! He clearly knew that it was a test and he was determined to somehow pass it. He quickly pulled his bow and arrow, aimed five arrows on the crocodile’s mouth and let the arrows do the talking. As expected, the arrows did not harm the crocodile in any way, but at the same time, freed Guru Dhronaachaarya’s foot from its mouth! Upon seeing this great level of precision and expertise, Guru Dhronaachaarya once again concluded that Arjuna was the best student ever. He had that precise amount of measurement in his mind and hands as to how to free the foot of his Guru, and at the same time, not to harm a living being or kill it. This is real expertise, isn’t it? Thus, Guru Dhronaachaarya was once again impressed by Arjuna as the other kids looked on with awe! He thus decided in his mind then and there that if someone has to challenge King Drupada on his behalf, it is none other than Arjuna! Even though he was a child, he had all the expertise to tackle any kind of war situation with ease. Thus gradually, Arjuna was getting more and more special attention from Guru Dhronaachaarya on how to employ the bow and arrow with more and more precision and accuracy. Guru Dhronaachaarya gifted him with “Mantras” and “Asthras” and taught him how to use them when the appropriate time comes. Arjuna was also very keen on his part to learn all whatever Guru Dhronaachaarya taught him. He was more than happy that he doesn’t need to learn it all by himself from now on!
As days passed by, one day as the kids were returning home after a grueling day of exercises, they saw a dog which was coming towards them. The dog’s mouth was stitched with seven arrows and it was grimacing in pain. Upon seeing the dog, the kids were surprised. Arjuna was equally surprised as well! He had obtained a certificate from Guru Dhronaachaarya that he is the best to handle the bow and arrow, but he was surprised to see someone else is also there who is equally or more an expert in handling the bow and arrow! He straightaway went to the dog and checked how the arrows were stitched! They were stitched in exact precision wherein the dog was alive, as well as it can consume food without any problem! This proved that a great expert was at work!
Now who was this expert? Where did he come from? What was his background? Let us wait till the next episode to witness a detailed accord on this interesting person! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 