Jai Sriman Narayana !!
The great epic Mahabharath was composed by
Maharishi Veda Vyasa/Krishna Dwaipayana, son of Sage Parasara and Sathyavati, a
woman from fishermen clan. Mahabharath describes the legend of Bharatha
Dynasty. It was written in 18 Parva such as Adhi Parva,
Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virada Parva, Udhyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona
Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva, Soupthika Parva, Stri Parva, Shanthi Parva,
Anushasana Parva, Ashwamedha Parva, Ashramavasika Parva, Musala Parva,
Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohana Parva and each Parva has divided into
many Upaparva and has chapters in detail. Adhi Parva depicts
the life of King Dushyantha and his wife Shakunthala and their son Sarvadhamanan,
who was famously known as Bharatha, a righteous ruler of Bharatha Empior.
Lord Brahma created deities, Sages and
Prajapathis. It was the beginning of the growth of human race from the
sixty daughters of Daksha Prajapathi. Pururavass, Yayathi,
Puru, Dushyantha, Bharatha, Shanthanu were born in the family of
Dithi, one of the daughters of Daksha Prajapathi.
King Janamejaya, son of King Pareekshit conducted
a grand Yagna to please serpent Gods. There were a huge number of Rishis
& Sages were present in the magnificent Yagna, Maharishi Veda Vyasa along
with his disciple Rishi Vaishampayana and Sage Ugrasrava Sauti was also amongst
them. Rishi Vaishampayana narrated the stories of Kuru Dynasty to
King Janamejaya at the time of Naga Yagna. Later, this anecdote was
described to the Sages and Rishis assembled in Naimisharanya by Sage Sauti, son
of Sage Romaharshana/Lomaharshana, disciple of Maharishi Veda Vyasa.
Rishi Vaishampayana narrates the greatness of
Dronacharya praised by Bhishma Pithamaha. Dronacharya, son of Sage
Bharadhwaja was offered with invaluable riches and settled in
Hasthinapura An enormous hermitage was constructed out of the city,
with all the facilities to teach and practice the Astra & Shastra Vidya and
to accommodate the grand children of Bhishma. Dronacharya ordered the
children of Pandu & Drutharashtra to prostrate before him and addressed
‘Oh! Sinless children from the clan of Kuru, I have a long cherished
desire in my heart, I wish you all should promise me and collectively work to
fulfill my particular desire after attaining immense knowledge in the Astra
& Sastra from me’. The Kauravas remained silent after listening to
the strange command from Dronacharya, but Arjuna enthusiastically stated that
he will sincerely work for the fulfillment of the desire of his Acharya and
promised to Dronacharya, it brought tears of joy and he affectionately embraced
Arjuna. Later, the children of King Pandu were immersed in the study of
powerful as well as divine weapons. In the meantime, there were many
disciples from the different Kingdom and neighboring cities were assembled to
learn the science of weapons from the celebrated Dronacharya.
Dronacharya’s disciples were Vrishnis, Brahmins
and princes from various neighboring countries and Karna, son of Radha from
Sootha clan. Karna was always resentful towards Arjun for his
excellence in the performance of archery. The Pandavas were often
ill-treated and humiliated by the Kauravas and Karna. Arjuna outshined
everyone with his devotion and dedication to Dronacharya and thorough knowledge
in the science of arms, hard work and with his powerful arms. In a short
period of time, Arjuna proved himself as the most intelligent and resourceful
disciple in the science of archery, it elevated the confidence in Dronacharya
and affirmed that no one in the Universe would surpass Arjuna in the art of
archery.
The disciples in the hermitage of Dronacharya
were allocated to fetch water from the pond. Dronacharya purposefully
handed his disciples with a narrow mouthed vessels to bring water that would
consume fair time of their studies, except Ashwathama, son of Dronacharya was
offered with a wide mouthed vessel that would ease his work and provide fair
time to learn. In this way, Ashwathama attained intricate
knowledge in the study of armaments from his father. Arjuna came to know
about this practice, he has the knowledge of Varunastra, with this he finished
his work at ease and present before Acharya along with Ashwathama. In a
short period of time, Arjuna, the most intelligent son of Prutha was
excelled in Astra & Sastra was become favorite disciple of Dronacharya and
was equally capable as Ashwathama. Seeing Arjuna’s dedication and
devotion to his studies, Dronacharya furtively ordered his assistants not
to serve food to Arjuna in the darkness. Once, Arjuna was having
food in the light of earthen lamp, due to the sudden wind the lamp went off
Arjuna continued, his hand naturally moved to his mouth, from this act
Arjuna learnt the power of practice and decided to perform the practice of
archery in the night hours as well. Dronacharya who was fast asleep in
the hours of darkness realized the sound of bow of Arjuna, he rushed to his
feet and embraced Arjuna, declared that there will be no one in the Universe to
conquer Arjuna in the science of Archery. Arjuna learnt profound
knowledge in Satra Vidya settling on Chariot, Horse, and Elephant and other
great techniques of war field, he learnt fighting with Sword, Maze, Spear and
various weapons from Dronacharya.
Princes from neighboring countries poured to the
hermitage of Dronacharya to learn Astra & Sastra Vidya after listening to
the prominence of him. There was Ekalavya, born in the clan of hunters;
son of Nishada King Hiranyadhanuss was also one amongst them. Ekalavya
had high reverence to Dronacharya and mentally worshipped him as his
Acharya. Dronacharya who had profound knowledge in Dharma Sastra alarmed
at the proficiency of Ekalavya and his brilliance in the science of
archery. Dronacharya worried and thought that the intelligence of
Ekalavya should not rise above the superior clan of Kurus. Dronacharya
refused to accept Ekalavya as his disciple. Ekalavya gravely prostrated
before Dronacharya and returned to woodland. Ekalavya constructed an idol
of Dronacharya with the raw sand and prostrated before him, worshipped the idol
as his Acharya and started learning lessons of archery. Thus, Ekalavya
devoted all his energy and time in practicing lessons of archery before the
idol of Dronacharya. Ekalavya’s dedication and devotion towards his
Master Dronacharya and determination shaped him as a brilliant archer.
Once, Dronacharya took Pandavas and Kauravas into
woodland for a hunting expedition. An assistant from the hermitage
carried necessary items and a dog with him. All the disciples were
occupied in their search for prey, the dog wandered through the lands and
reached at the place of Ekalavya and it started barking endlessly
after witnessing Ekalavya who was dark complexioned, attired in black and
mucky clothes and a shunt in forehead. Ekalavya was annoyed and shot
seven arrows at the mouth of the dog in order to stop its howl, dog rushed to
Pandavas with shriek. All the children looked at the dog and were
surprised at the performance of shot of arrow. They felt ashamed of their
knowledge in archery; they highly praised the tactics of the unknown person and
his brilliance in this subject. They all set out on the search of the talented
archer. Shortly, Pandavas reached the place of Ekalavya where
he was incessantly releasing arrows from his bow. Pandavas enquired
Ekalavya about his place of existence, he graciously replied to them as the son
of Nishada King Hiranyadhanuss and disciple of Dronacharya. Pandavas and
Kauravas returned to the hermitage of Dronacharya and informed to their Acharya
about the enthralling archery performance of Ekalavya. Later, Arjuna met
Dronacharya in solitude and passionately enquired how Ekalavya succeeded him?
Dronacharya engrossed in various thoughts, further he took Arjuna to the
woodlands the place where Eklavya lived. They found Ekalavya in a mucky
clothes, shunt on forehead and he was continuously releasing arrows.
Ekalavya respectfully approached Dronacharya and prostrated before him and
introduced him as the disciple of him. Dronacharya shot a question to him
‘Oh ! Warrior, if you are my disciple, provides my tuition fees/Dakshina right
now.” Ekalavya was extremely pleased to hear the command of Dronacharya.
Ekalavya enthusiastically moved forward and addressed Dronacharya ‘Oh ! Master
of Vedas, what shall I provide you as Dakshina?’ and announced that there
is nothing on Earth which is unfeasible to provide him as Dakshina.
Dronacharya declared that if Ekalavya was sincerely wished to provide Dakshina,
he should cut his right hand thumb and offer it as Dakshina. Ekalavya was
least affected by the demand of Dronacharya, he sincerely followed the
instructions of his Master and offered his right hand thumb as Dakshina.
Soon, Ekalavya realized the fact that he had lost all the efficiency in the
archery. Consequently Arjuna got rid of the poison of covetousness from
the above incident.
Duryodhana and Bhima had constant conflict due to
their envious nature towards each other. Ashwathama outshined everyone
with the complex knowledge in the Sastra Vidya. Nakula and Sahadeva
excelled in the knowledge of sword fight and Yudhishtira outclassed in chariot
fight. Arjuna established his supremacy over all the weapons with
his profound knowledge, hard work, and proper utilization of available weapons,
prowess and determination. Arjuna was the most celebrated amongst
warriors and his fame spread all over the world. He selflessly served his
Master Dronacharya, praised him Athiratha (who is capable to fight against
60,000 warriors at a time). The children of Drutharashtra envied at the
immense prowess of Bhima and Arjuna’s proficiency in numerous weapons.
One day Dronacharya called out all the disciples immediately
after their practice, conducted a test in order to identify their ability in
the usage of armaments. They dutifully assembled under a tree to follow
the instructions of Acharya. Dronacharya installed a wooden idol of bird
on a tree, ordered them to be ready with their bow and arrow and stand in line,
each disciple will have a single chance to cut off the head of the wooden idol
of bird installed on the tree. Dronacharya, born in the clan of Maharishi
Angirass, ordered Yudhishtira to come forward and cut off the head of the bird
at his instruction. Dronacharya enquired Yudhishtira what was that he
witnessed; he sincerely replied that he had observed tree, himself, his
brothers and the bird. Dronacharya was annoyed at the reply of
Yudhishtira and ordered him to stand away. Dronacharya called out for
Duryodhana and his brothers, Bhima, princes from neighboring countries and the
question was repeated and surprisingly the answers were same like Yudhistira.
