Arjuna’s Focus

One day, Drona, wanting to test the skills of all his students after they had completed their training, gathered them together. Before doing so, he had placed an artificial bird on the top of a nearby tree, which would serve as the target. With everyone gathered, Drona instructed, “Grab your bows, aim at the bird perched on the tree, and upon my command, shoot to sever its head.

Drona first called Yudhishthira and said, “Aim at the bird, and be ready to shoot when I say so.” Yudhishthira took up his bow and aimed. Drona then asked, “Do you see the bird in the tree?” Yudhishthira replied, “Yes, I see it.” Drona followed up with, “What do you see now? Do you see the tree, me, or your brothers?” Yudhishthira answered, “I see the tree, myself, my brothers, and the bird.”

Drona, displeased with Yudhishthira’s response, told him to step aside, saying, “You are not ready to hit the target.” He then repeated the same test with Duryodhana, Bhima, and the other students, including princes from other kingdoms. However, they all gave similar answers: “We see the tree, you, our friends, and the bird.” Frustrated with their responses, Drona instructed each of them to stand aside.

When everyone else had failed, Drona, smiling, called Arjuna and said, “You must hit the target. Focus on it, and be ready to shoot when I give the order. Stand here with your bow and arrow for a moment.” Arjuna, with his bow drawn, aimed at the bird as instructed. Drona repeated his question to him, “Do you see the bird, tree, and me?”

Arjuna replied, “I see only the bird, not the tree or you.” Pleased with Arjuna’s focus, Drona asked again, “If you see the bird, describe it to me.” Arjuna answered, “I see only the head of the bird, nothing else.”

Hearing this, joy filled Drona. His hair stood on end from delight. He then told Arjuna, “Shoot.” Instantly, Arjuna released his arrow, swiftly cutting off the bird’s head and bringing it to the ground. Drona, overjoyed with Arjuna’s skill, embraced him and thought that with Arjuna by his side, defeating Drupada in battle was as good as done.

Lessons from this incidence

The story of Drona’s test of his students, particularly Arjuna, teaches several important lessons:

Focus and Concentration – Arjuna’s ability to focus solely on the bird, blocking out all distractions, emphasizes the importance of undivided attention when pursuing a goal. Success often requires concentrating on the task at hand without being distracted by external factors.

Clarity of Vision – Arjuna’s precise vision, seeing only the head of the bird, shows that having a clear and specific goal is essential for achieving success. Ambiguity and scattered focus can lead to failure, as seen in the responses of the other students.

Dedication and Discipline – Arjuna’s dedication to mastering his skills, honed through years of practice, is evident in his ability to succeed where others faltered. Success is often the result of consistent effort and discipline.

Selective Attention – The story highlights the importance of selective attention — focusing on what’s important and ignoring irrelevant details. Arjuna succeeded because he focused on the target while their surroundings distracted others.

Mentorship and Guidance – Drona’s role as a teacher shows the value of guidance and instruction. A good mentor challenges their students, pushes them to their limits, and recognizes their potential.

Distractions can hinder progress – The other students’ inability to focus because of distractions (seeing the tree, Drona, and their brothers) hindered their progress and led to failure.

A good student-teacher relationship is crucial – The story highlights the importance of a good student-teacher relationship, as Drona’s guidance and Arjuna’s dedication led to exceptional results.

These lessons emphasize the importance of focus, precision, skill development, and the ability to perform under pressure – qualities that are valuable not just in archery or warfare, but in many aspects of life and various professional fields.

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Drona appointed as teacher for the Kuru Princes

Drona had been living in Kripa’s house for some time when, one day, the princes of Hastinapura went outside the city to play with a ball. During their game, the ball dropped down a well. The princes tried hard to get it out, but failed. Feeling shame and worry, they were at a loss. At that moment, they saw a Brahmana nearby, who was dark-skinned, thin, and had just finished his prayers.

This Brahmana was actually Drona. Seeing their struggle, Drona smiled and said, “Shame on your warrior skills! You can’t even get the ball out of a well. If you promise me a meal, I’ll get the ball and also this ring that I’m about to drop in the well.” He then threw his ring into the well.

Yudhishthira, one of the princes, told Drona, “We can give you more than a meal, something that will last your whole life!” Drona, smiling, replied, “I will use these blades of grass as weapons and form a chain to pull up the ball.” He then performed the feat exactly as he said, much to the amazement of the princes.

The princes, astonished, asked him to bring up the ring too. Drona used a bow and arrow to pierce the ring and brought it up from the well, handing it to them. The princes, impressed, inquired his identity and how they might assist.

Drona told them to go to Bhishma and describe what they had seen. Bhishma recognized Drona’s skills and brought him to the court, welcoming him warmly. Drona explained how he had trained with a great sage, made a friend in King Drupada, and was promised part of the kingdom, but Drupada later humiliated him.

Drona, insulted and angry, had come to Hastinapura looking for students to train. Bhishma, pleased, asked Drona to train the Kuru princes, offering him wealth, respect, and authority in their kingdom.

Important Lessons

Skill and knowledge are valuable – Drona’s expertise in weaponry and his ability to solve problems creatively demonstrate the power of knowledge and skill. These attributes can open doors and create opportunities.

Humility and pride – The princes’ inability to retrieve the ball shows that even those born into privilege may lack practical skills. This contrasts with Drona’s humble appearance but great abilities, teaching us not to judge by appearances.

The importance of demonstration – Drona doesn’t just claim he can help; he proves his worth through action. This shows the value of practical demonstration over mere words.

Resourcefulness – Drona’s use of grass blades as weapons illustrates the importance of creativity and making do with what’s available.

The power of reputation – Bhishma’s immediate recognition of Drona’s skills based on the princes’ description shows how a strong reputation can precede someone.

The impact of past relationships – Drona’s history with Drupada highlights how past interactions and broken promises can shape a person’s future actions and motivations.

Seeking opportunities – Drona’s decision to come to Hastinapura in search of students shows the importance of actively seeking opportunities rather than waiting passively.

The complexity of human nature – Drona’s story reveals his multifaceted character – skilled yet vengeful, humble yet proud of his abilities.

Importance of Keeping Promises – Drona’s grudge against King Drupada stems from a broken promise. This emphasizes the importance of keeping one’s word and the consequences of betrayal.

These lessons touch on themes of skill, humility, demonstration, resourcefulness, reputation, relationships, opportunity-seeking, education, human complexity, and the far-reaching effects of our actions and decisions.

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Poisoning of Bhima

Seeing Bhima’s strength, Duryodhana, the eldest son of Dhritarashtra, hated him. Duryodhana, who was mean and unfair, wanted to harm Bhima out of jealousy. He thought, “No one can match Bhima in power. I must find a way to kill him secretly. Bhima can fight all of us at once, so I’ll throw him into the river when he’s asleep. Then, I’ll imprison his brothers Yudhishthira and Arjuna and rule as king without interference.” Duryodhana kept looking for a chance to hurt Bhima. Eventually, Duryodhana built a beautiful palace by the Ganga River for playing in the water. He filled it with food and entertainment. Once everything was ready, Duryodhana invited the Pandavas to join him at the river to have fun. Yudhishthira agreed, and all the brothers set out together, riding elephants and chariots.

At the river, they enjoyed the palace, admiring the beautiful walls, paintings, and fountains. The garden had ponds filled with lotus flowers, and the air was full of fragrance. The Pandavas and Kauravas played together, eating and having fun. But Duryodhana had secretly mixed poison into Bhima’s food. Acting friendly, he gave Bhima a lot of the poisoned food, hoping to kill him. After eating, they all played in the water. Later, feeling tired, Bhima lay down to rest. Weakened by the poison, he soon lost consciousness. Duryodhana then tied him up with creepers and threw him into the Ganga. Bhima sank deep into the river and ended up in the kingdom of the Nagas (serpent beings). The Nagas, who had poisonous fangs, bit him many times, but their venom neutralized the poison in his body.

When Bhima woke up, he broke free of his bonds and fought the Nagas. Some of them fled and told their king, Vasuki, about Bhima. Vasuki, seeing that Bhima was related to one of his own (Aryaka, Bhima’s great-grandfather), welcomed him warmly. Vasuki rewarded Bhima by letting him drink a special nectar that gave him the strength of a thousand elephants. Bhima drank eight jars of the nectar, becoming incredibly strong. The Nagas treated him well and gave him a place to rest. After eight days, Bhima returned to the surface, stronger than ever, and ran home to his mother and brothers. They were all overjoyed to see him and embraced him.

Bhima told his brothers about Duryodhana’s plot, but Yudhishthira warned him not to tell anyone else. Increased caution toward Duryodhana marked their actions henceforth. Although Duryodhana tried poisoning Bhima again, Bhima survived thanks to Yuyutsu, who warned them of the danger. Duryodhana continued to plot against the Pandavas, but they stayed cautious, following the wise advice of Vidura.

Lessons from this story

Jealousy and Hatred Lead to Harmful Actions – Duryodhana’s jealousy of Bhima’s strength led him to plot against Bhima, showing how negative emotions can drive people to commit wrongful acts. It reminds us to control jealousy and avoid harming others out of envy.

Strength of Character and Endurance – Despite being poisoned and attacked, Bhima survived and grew even stronger. This shows the power of resilience and inner strength in overcoming challenges.

Caution and Wisdom – Yudhishthira’s advice on keeping Duryodhana’s plot secret reflects the importance of caution and wisdom when dealing with deceitful people. Staying alert and strategic helps protect against harm.

The Importance of Allies – Yuyutsu’s warning to the Pandavas and Vidura’s guidance helped them stay safe. This highlights the value of having trustworthy friends and advisors who support and protect us.

Evil Does Not Prevail – Despite Duryodhana’s repeated attempts to harm Bhima, his plans fail, showing that virtue, strength, and vigilance often doom evil actions to failure.

Appearances can be deceiving – Duryodhana’s outward friendliness masked his true intentions. This teaches us to be cautious and not always take things at face value.

Adversity can strengthen you – Bhima’s near-death experience ultimately strengthened him, both physically and in character. This illustrates how challenges can lead to growth and improvement.

Karma or poetic justice – The poison intended to harm Bhima ended up leading to his increased strength, showing how negative actions can sometimes backfire on the perpetrator.

These lessons encourage us to be mindful of our actions, build inner strength, value loyalty, and approach challenges with wisdom.

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Evolution of Societal Norms

Long ago, women did not live confined to their homes or depend on their husbands or families. They were free to do what they wanted, and they did not remain loyal to just one husband. However, prevailing norms excused such actions. Even now, animals follow this same practice, without jealousy or restriction. Great sages have approved of this way of life, and it is still followed by the people of Northern Kurus. It is an ancient tradition. However, the current custom of women staying with only one husband for life is more recent. Let me explain how and why it started.

A great sage, Uddalaka, had a son, Swetaketu; a wise and learned ascetic. One day, in front of Swetaketu’s father, a Brahmana grabbed Swetaketu’s mother by the hand and said, ‘Come with me.’ Seeing this, Swetaketu became furious. But his father told him, Don’t be angry, my son. This is how things have always been. Men do not get jealous in such matters, while women enjoy their freedom. However, Swetaketu did not agree with this practice. In anger, he established the current rule requiring women’s fidelity to one husband. From then on, it became a sin for women to stray from their husbands, and any woman who did so would be guilty of harming her future children. Similarly, a man who disrespects a faithful wife, who has followed the vow of purity since childhood, would be equally sinful.

Since Swetaketu established this practice, it has become the rule for humans, but not for other beings like animals. People consider a woman sinful if she refuses her husband’s command to bear children.

Lessons from the story of Swetaketu

The passage teaches several lessons about how social and moral customs develop over time, and how what was once accepted in one era can change because of new perspectives or societal needs.

Customs are Subject to Change – In ancient times, women had more freedom and were not confined to a single husband, which was accepted and not considered sinful. This shows that societal norms can be fluid and dependent on the values of the time.

Culture can define moral standards – What was once permissible and viewed as virtuous (women’s freedom in relationships) was altered by the moral standards introduced later by Swetaketu, showing that cultural shifts rather than universal principles often shaped moral judgments.

The Role of Individual Influence in Society – Swetaketu’s personal reaction to the old custom led to a significant change in societal norms. This highlights how individual leaders or thinkers can influence and redefine societal practices based on their own beliefs.

Obligations in Relationships – The shift toward women being expected to remain loyal to one husband reflects the growing importance of commitment and duty within marriage, suggesting that societal stability and family structure became more central over time.

Human and Animal Behaviour Differences – The text draws a distinction between humans and animals, where animals continue to follow the old custom without jealousy. This implies that humans, guided by reason and moral judgment, impose more rigid rules on behaviour than nature does.

Evolution of Gender Roles – The passage illustrates how gender roles and expectations can shift dramatically. Stricter rules about fidelity, which reshaped women’s roles within marriage and society, replaced the older tradition of female independence.
These lessons show how society constructs traditions, morality, and gender roles, and how individual decisions or changing values can reform them over time.

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Four debts and six types of Sons

On a certain new moon day, a group of great Rishis (sages) gathered together with strict vows, intending to see Brahman (the supreme being). Pandu, seeing them preparing to leave, asked, “Where are we going?” The Rishis replied, “Today, there will be a meeting in Brahman’s realm with gods, sages, and ancestors. We are going there to witness the Self-created.”

Hearing this, Pandu sprang up, wanting to go with the Rishis to heaven. He took his two wives with him and followed the Rishis towards the north from the mountain of a hundred peaks. But the sages stopped him and said, ‘On our journey north, we have seen many regions high on the mountain that are impossible for regular people to reach. We have seen the retreats of gods, Gandharvas, and Apsaras with beautiful palaces filled with heavenly music, the gardens of Kuber, and the banks of mighty rivers. There are also regions covered in eternal snow where no plants or animals live, and where the rain falls so heavily that no one can survive. Even the birds are unable to fly there; only the air and wise sages can traverse that space. How will your wives, who aren’t used to hardship, climb those difficult heights? They might suffer. So, please don’t come with us.’

Pandu responded, ‘It is said that a man without sons cannot enter heaven. I don’t have a son, and it pains me greatly. Without a son, I can’t repay the debt I owe to my ancestors. If I die without a son, my ancestors will also suffer. Every person is born with four debts: to their ancestors, gods, sages, and fellow men. We must repay these debts to achieve salvation. We repay the gods through sacrifices, the sages through study and meditation, the ancestors by having children and performing funeral rites, and other people by living a good, honest life. I have fulfilled my duties to the gods, sages, and men, but not to my ancestors. Without a son, my duty to them remains unpaid. Just as I was born from my father’s line through the efforts of a sage, should my wives also bear children from someone else to repay this debt?’

The Rishis said, ‘O noble king, there is a blessed future for you. Your offspring will thrive, blessed by fortune, mirroring divine favor. We can see it clearly with our powers. Therefore, follow the path of destiny and act. Wise men who make careful decisions always achieve excellent results. Go ahead, O king, and do what you must, to have accomplished and virtuous children.’

Hearing the Rishis’ words, Pandu remembered he had lost his ability to have children because of the curse placed on him by the deer. He pondered, then called his wife, Kunti, to him privately. He told her, ‘At this difficult time, you must strive to have children. The wise say that a son brings virtue and fame in all three worlds. Without a son, sacrifices, charity, and ascetic practices don’t bring true spiritual merit. Knowing this, I understand that without a son, I will not attain true happiness in the afterlife. Because of my past sins, I lost the ability to have children because of the deer’s curse.

There are six types of sons who inherit and six who do not. I will tell you about them. First is, son born from the husband and wife; second is a son born from the wife with the help of a noble person; third is a son born for payment; the fourth is a son born after the husband’s death; the fifth is a son born before marriage, and the sixth is a son born from an unfaithful wife. Then, there are sons who are adopted, bought, self-given, born to a wife who is already pregnant, born from a brother, and born from a wife of a lower caste. If there is no son of a higher category, the mother may wish for a son of a lower category. In difficult times, men turn to their brothers for offspring. It is said that if a man cannot have children, another may help to fulfil the duty of producing offspring. Sons are the highest source of religious merit. So, Kunti, since I cannot father children, I ask you to have children with someone who is my equal or superior.’

Lessons from this story

The importance of offspring in ancient Indian culture – The story emphasizes the cultural and spiritual significance of having children, particularly sons, in fulfilling one’s duties to ancestors.

Concept of debts – The passage introduces the idea of four debts that every person is born with – to ancestors, gods, sages, and fellow humans. This highlights the interconnectedness of individuals with their society and spiritual world.

Different paths to fulfilling duties – Pandu’s dilemma and the solutions proposed show that there can be alternative ways to fulfil one’s duties when conventional methods are not possible.

Adapting to circumstances – The story illustrates the importance of finding solutions and adapting when faced with difficult situations, as Pandu does when confronted with his inability to have children.

The concept of karma and its effects – Pandu’s predicament because of his past actions (killing the deer) demonstrates the belief in karmic consequences.

Spiritual insight of sages – The Rishis’ ability to foresee Pandu’s future children highlights the respected role of spiritual leaders and their perceived wisdom.

Hierarchy in types of offspring – The detailed categorization of different sons reveals the complex social structures and considerations around lineage and inheritance in ancient Indian society.

Balancing personal desires with societal expectations – Pandu’s struggle to fulfil his duty to have offspring while respecting his curse shows the tension between individual circumstances and societal norms.

The role of destiny and human effort – The Rishis encourages Pandu to act, suggesting a balance between accepting fate and taking initiative to shape one’s future.

Openness to unconventional solutions – Pandu’s suggestion for Kunti to have children with someone else shows a willingness to consider unconventional solutions to uphold dharma (duty).

The multifaceted nature of virtue – The story suggests that virtue is not just about personal conduct, but also about fulfilling one’s duties to family, ancestors, and society.

Seeking Guidance – Throughout the story, Pandu listens to the advice of the wise Rishis, demonstrating the importance of seeking counsel from knowledgeable and experienced individuals when faced with tough decisions.

These lessons provide insight into the moral, social, and spiritual values of ancient Indian society, while also offering perspectives on how to navigate complex ethical dilemmas.

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