Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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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, provide 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.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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