Chapter : 4 (ARJUNA IS A TREASURE OF TALENTS)

Every human being is born with unique talents. As we have seen, these talents or

gunas come from one or more of the Devatas—the supreme powers that govern

the human body and mind. Devatas are more clearly forces of Nature, including

human nature. Courage, valour, purity and persistence are some of the gunas or

aspects of human nature. These gunas are also force multipliers. They spread far and wide by natural processes, like the fragrance of a flower or the flow of a

river. They are Nature's supreme qualities that manifest in the human form.

When they came of age, the Pandava brothers came to be known for their

unique qualities. Their fame spread far and wide—beyond their forest home. The

one whose complexion was bright, like glittering gold, whose nose was sharp as

an eagle's, whose eyes were large and reflective and whose face was broad—

was Yudhishtira. The one who walked like an infuriated elephant, whose

booming voice and burning coal-like eyes made the heart beat faster, whose

shoulders were broad as a shield, and whose arms were long and thick—was

Bhima. That tall, handsome, dark-complexioned youth whose shoulders were

like those of a lion, whose movements were as swift as a cheetah's, and whose

eyes were large and expansive like lotus-leaves—was Arjuna. Highly skilled in

the use of both his hands, Arjuna was also known as Sabyasachi. Nakula was

tall, slim and handsome and believed that none was his equal in good looks.

Sahadeva was soft-spoken, patient and had a passion for animals and astrology.

Each one of the five brothers was adept in using a specific weapon. While the

eldest of the Pandavas, Yudhishtira, was skilled in the use of a spear, the second

brother Bhima was a master of the mace. Arjuna, the third Pandava was

incomparable in his mastery of the bow and arrow. Nakula and Sahadeva were

skilled in throwing knives and the use of the sword respectively. Yet, Arjuna

outshone his brothers by virtue of his talent and his temperament.

Chapter : 4.5 (HERO = TALENT + TEMPERAMENT)

Heroes are self-made. A person becomes a hero not just by what he is, but also

by what he identifies with. Mere talent is insufficient. In order to undertake the

hero's journey, what is needed is great temperament. The hero's temperament is

determined by how he reacts to a situation. Someone who is identified with a

pleasing situation will react favourably to it. Likewise, someone else who finds a

certain situation unpleasant will react negatively towards it. A hero's

temperament is characterized by adaptability and the persistence of attention and

intensity.

Yudhishtira, Arjuna's elder brother had great moral intelligence. However, he

was rigid in his temperament, addicted to gambling and loved the easy life. Once

he took up a position, it was difficult to get Yudhishtira to change. He lost a

whole kingdom and gambled away his wealth and wife in a battle of dice. Bhima

was gifted with a powerful body. However, he was easily distracted. Bhima's

teacher Dronacharya wanted him to stick to the mace as his weapon. However, Bhima was not satisfied being a one-weapon man. He tried his hands at many

things. He was also a glutton. Very often his stomach ruled his head. Bhima's

Kaurava cousins Duryodhana and Dushasana knew that Bhima was irritable

and quick-tempered. They would get Bhima to react to their provocations at will.

His temperament got Bhima into trouble quite often. Arjuna, however, was not

just hugely talented but also temperamentally much stronger than his brothers.

He would start the day with the worship of his gurus. Then, he would persist in

his practice of archery until his broad shoulders and fingers screamed in pain.

Arjuna learnt to treat his enemies with both force and forgiveness. He knew

forgiveness was a way of reclaiming mental composure. Arjuna forgave his

teacher Drona when he appeared to be partial to his own son during lessons.

Chapter : 4.75 (HOW ARJUNA PAYS DRONA'S TEACHING FEE)

The Pandavas and the Kauravas were becoming accomplished in wielding

weapons under Dronacharya's guidance. One day, Drona decided the time had

come when he could demand his gurudakshina, his teaching fees. Assembling his

students together, Drona said, 'Seize Drupada, the King of Panchala in battle

and bring him unto me, alive. That shall be my most desirable fee.' The young

students were excited by the challenge and said in unison, 'So be it!'

They speedily mounted their chariots, and stormed out to bestow upon their

guru the fee he had demanded. Those lions among men laid siege to the capital

city of the great Drupada, Kampilya. Duryodhana and Karna, the mighty

Yuyutsu, Dushasana, Vikarna, Jalasandha and Sulochana – these and many

other Kshatriya princes all wanted to outdo each other to become the foremost

fighter of the attack. The princes, riding in chariots and following the cavalry,

entered Drupada's capital. They rode into the capital and scattered Drupada's

cows by force. Cow theft, gau-haran, was the greatest provocation to a king, as

cows were considered one's real wealth. When Drupada came out to protect his

precious cows against the invaders, the Kaurava army attacked him with a

shower of arrows and a war cry. The King of Panchala, Drupada and his

brothers were not easy to subdue. They counter-attacked the Kauravas with

great ferocity.

Arjuna, beholding the pomp and pride displayed by the Panchala king,

addressed his teacher Drona, and said, 'We shall exert ourselves only after the

Kauravas have tried their best. Drupada can never be taken on the field of battle

by any of these cousins of mine.' Having said this, the son of Kunti waited

outside the town at a mile's distance from it, surrounded by his brothers. Then, Arjuna brought his four brothers into a huddle and whispered, 'We will not

directly attack Drupada and his army like the Kauravas are doing. We will wait

for him to tire out after a long fight. Only then can we capture him alive as our

guru wants us to.' Arjuna's strategy made sense to the Pandavas, although

Bhima was itching to fling himself straight into battle.

Meanwhile, Drupada and his army were putting up a great fight. They rushed

forward and dispersed the Kaurava princes. Both Duryodhana and Karna

became frightened as the citizens of Panchala began to throw various missiles

including kitchen utensils at them. The Kauravas broke ranks and fled towards

the Pandavas, who were waiting on the outskirts of the city.

It was now Arjuna's turn to capture the tired King of Panchala. He saluted

Drona and stepped onto his chariot. He advised Yudhishtira to refrain from the

fight. He then appointed Nakula and Sahadeva as the protectors of his chariot

wheels. Bhima, mace in hand, rushed forward and led the charge. Even as

Bhima was bringing down the enemies' elephants with blows from his mace,

Arjuna covered the King of Panchala in a shower of arrows. There was such a

remarkable lightness of motion in the movement of Arjuna's arms that it was

difficult for anyone to detect an interval between his fixing the arrows on the

bowstring and letting them off. Standing in the middle of the battlefield with

perfect fearlessness, Arjuna seized Drupada as an eagle seizes a huge fish after

agitating the waters of the ocean. Bhima then tied him up with a thick rope. The

Pandavas then put Drupada on their chariot and brought him before Drona.

Drona looked at the lowered eyes of the humbled Drupada as he said, 'My

students will let you go only after you part with half your kingdom.' Drupada

had no choice but to agree. Drona then looked at Arjuna with the kind of pride

that a successful coach reserves for a student who has performed brilliantly.

Duryodhana went green with envy seeing how Arjuna had outclassed everyone

else. Drona drew Arjuna towards him and gave him a long and heartfelt hug.