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Arjuna Arjuna ARJUNA 49 ARJUNA Siva and get the great weapon called Pasupata from has relegated me to the second place". Thereupon him. On the orders of Indrahe will kill Nivatakavacas. Drona went and saw Ekalavya in the forest. Ekalavya, Hearing the above prophecy the Devas played ecstatic in all devotion stood up and saluted the guru. And said ! if thou music and flowers were showered from the sky. The the guru as follows : "Oh Ekalavya Saptarsis, Prajapatis and other sages arrayed themselves art my disciple give me the daksina (fee) due to the in the sky. Thus, all animate and inanimate objects guru, and I desire to get the thumb ofyour right hand as celebrated the birth of Arjuna. my fee". At once Ekalavya cut his thumb and gave it to 5) Naming. Sages from the top of the Satasrriga Drona. Henceforth Arjuna became Drona's unequalled mountain came together to perform the christening disciple. (M.B., Adi Parva, Chapter 132). ceremony of Arjuna. While the various enumerating 9) Arjuna got Brahmatirastra. When once Drona and names of Arjuna, it is said in the Virata Parva that his disciples were bathing in the river Gariga, a whale Krsna was the name Pandu to his son. Adi gave (M.B., caught hold of the leg of the guru. The combined Parva, 123, Verse Chapter 20). efforts of the disciples failed to extricate the leg from Childhood. The Pandavas their childhood at 6) spent the grip of the whale. Ultimately Arjuna shot an arrow Hastinapura with the Kauravas. Then studied Arjuna and released the guru's leg. Greatly pleased at this the art and science of music etc. using weapons, dance, Drona imparted to Arjuna knowledge about Brahma- along with the other boys. (M.B., Adi Parva, Chapter sirastra, and Arjuna was enjoined not to use the astra 129, Verse the of Vasudeva 1). Kasyapa, high priest against men, but to use it only when confronting did for Arjuna the usual Samskaras like Upanayana Adi higher beings than men. [Bharata ( Malayalam) , (wearing of the holy thread) etc. was Arjuna taught Parva, Chapter 133]. the first lessons in Dhanurveda (Science of archery) 10) Competition in arms. When the training of the princes Rajarsi Suka. Afterwards, became the by _ Krpacarya was almost over Dhrtarastra decided to have a rehear- preceptor of the Pandavas in Dhanurveda, and it was sal of their attainments, and the scene for it also was then that Dronacarya came. There is a particular story set. The princes with bows and arrows appeared on about Dronacarya becoming the guru. (See Drona). the scene. Yudhisthira and others first exhibited their 7) Special favour of Drona. Arjuna showed very great skill in shooting arrows in the order of their seniority. interest in the science of the use of weapons. Drona, the Every scene was explained to Dhi'tarastra by Vidura master, wanted to teach Asvatthama, his son, certain and to Gandhari by Sanjaya. Duryodhana and special things, and he began sending all his disciples to Bhima clashed with each other. Asvatthama pacified fetch water. Asvatthama used to be the first to return them and them And, then Arjuna and with the water, and before the others returned Drona kept apart. Kama appeared on the scene, and the onlookers dec- began teaching Asvatthama the special lessons. Arjuna lared them to be equal in skill in archery. When came to understand this programme and he began their shooting exhibition was over, Kama who got returning with water along with Asvatthama. Then angry again rushed to the stage. Arjuna also got the guru began teaching the special things to both ready. Arjuna challenged Kama's eligibility on the Asvatthama and Arjuna. Drona instructed the cook ground that he was low-born and not a Ksatriya. At not to serve Arjuna food in the darkness. While once Duryodhana proclaimed him as the King of Aiiga. Arjuna was once taking his food, wind blew out the Though this pacified the scene, this competition in burning lamp, and Arjuna alone continued eating. archery served much to make the Kauravas and the Because of constant practice Arjuna was quite sure Pandavas the bitterest of enemies. (M.B., Adi Parva, about the position of the hand and the mouth in Chapters, 136, 137). the process of eating, and Arjuna surmised from this 1 1 to the . that archery also could be practised in darkness. He ) Arjuna's gurudakfina (Offering of fee preceptor) At the starting of training the princes Drona told them: began practising them. The guru came to know of it, "I have one in mind, and you must do it for and witnessing Arjuna's performance praised Arjuna as thing me when have the course of a unique archer. (Bharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 132). you completed training. silent at 8 cut. All the disciples except Arjuna kept this, but ) Ekalavya's finger was Ekalavya, son of Hiranya- to fulfil the wish at the dhanus, King of the Nisadas (a tribe of hunters, forest- Arjuna promised guru's time men) approached Drona to learn the science of the proper use of weapons. Drona, the Brahmin, refused the prayer The training was over, and it was time for gurudaksina. of this to be before prince of the forest tribe. Ekalavya, after pros- Drona asked brought bound him Drupada, trating at the feet of Drona returned to the woods, King of Pancala. (For Drona's enmity towards Dru- made an image of Drona with earth and meditating pada see Drupada) . Thereupon the Pandavas marched upon it as guru began practising the use of weapons. to Pancala, and in a fierce battle Arjuna defeated The Kauravas and the Pandavas went hunting in the Drupada. Though Bhima tried to kill Drupada Arjuna forest. Seeing there Ekalavya with his matted hair and did not permit it, but took him bound to Drona. clad in deer skin the hunting dogs began barking at This ended Drona's hatred towards Drupada, who him. Ekalavya shot into the mouth of the dog seven now gifted half his kingdom to Drona. Drona was arrows at one and the same moment. With the arrows very much pleased with Arjuna for the above act, thrust in the mouth the dogs ran back to the Pandavas, and advised him to fight even him (Drona) if the and they found out the culprit, Ekalavya, who claimed latter opposed him (Arjuna) . To this Arjuna replied himself to be a disciple of Drona. Grief-stricken at this 'Yes'. (M.B., Adi Parva, Chapter 139, Verse 14) . With claim Arjuna hurried up to Drona and said: "You had this promise to fight even the guru in case the guru pronounced me to be your foremost disciple without an attacked him Arjuna became the most reputed archer equal. But, today Ekalavya, another disciple of yours in Bharata..
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