Arjuna, the Mighty Archer

    By Storybird

    Arjuna, the Mighty Archer cover image

    21 Jun, 2023

    Once upon a time in the ancient kingdom of Hastinapura, there lived a mighty warrior named Arjuna. Arjuna was one of the five Pandava brothers, who were the heroes of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata.

    Arjuna was a skilled archer and was known for his unwavering focus and determination. He was also the favored student of the great teacher Dronacharya, who taught the princes the art of warfare.

    During one of their lessons, Dronacharya set a challenge for all his students to shoot the eye of a bird on a distant tree. While the other princes failed to focus on the target, Arjuna was the only one who could see nothing but the eye of the bird. He shot the arrow with precision, showcasing his unparalleled aiming skills.

    The fame of Arjuna's prowess spread far and wide. One day, he heard about a celestial bow named Gandiva which was in the possession of the god of fire, Agni. Arjuna wanted to possess this powerful weapon to become unstoppable in battle.

    Agni, impressed by Arjuna's determination, agreed to give him the Gandiva bow if he fulfilled a certain task. Arjuna needed to assist Agni in burning down the Khandava forest, home to the divine serpent, Takshaka. The demigod Indra had sworn to protect the forest, but Agni wanted to consume it to regain his strength.

    Arjuna agreed to Agni's condition and set out to burn down the Khandava forest with the help of his friend and ally, Lord Krishna. Together, they managed to subdue all the creatures and demigods trying to stop them, including Indra.

    As promised, Agni presented Arjuna with the Gandiva bow, along with a pair of inexhaustible quivers and a celestial chariot. Arjuna thanked Agni for the divine gifts and realized he was now one of the greatest warriors in the world.

    One day, Arjuna met a beautiful woman named Ulupi, who was actually a Naga princess. She was captivated by his charm and skills. They fell in love and got married, strengthening the bond between the Nagas and the Pandavas.

    Arjuna's fame continued to grow, and the number of powerful enemies he made increased as well. One such enemy was the great warrior Jayadratha. He was married to Duryodhana's sister and harbored a deep resentment towards the Pandavas.

    During the great Kurukshetra War, Jayadratha played a crucial role in the death of Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu. Enraged and heartbroken, Arjuna vowed to avenge the death of his son by killing Jayadratha before the sun set the next day.

    Jayadratha hid himself behind the vast Kaurava army, hoping to survive the day. Arjuna, accompanied by Lord Krishna as his charioteer, fought through the massive army, causing havoc and destruction among their ranks.

    As the sun began to set, the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana, celebrated in the belief that Jayadratha was safe. However, Lord Krishna used his divine powers to momentarily create an illusion of a sunset.

    Thinking that the sun had indeed set, Jayadratha came out of hiding to celebrate his apparent victory. But in that moment, Lord Krishna lifted the illusion, revealing the sun was still shining. Arjuna quickly seized the opportunity and shot an arrow straight through Jayadratha's neck, fulfilling his vow.

    During another crucial battle in the Kurukshetra War, Arjuna faced a challenging situation. His revered grandfather, Bhishma, was fighting on the side of the Kauravas. Arjuna had to face him in battle but was hesitant to do so due to their familial bond.

    Lord Krishna, sensing Arjuna's turmoil, revealed his true form as the supreme God Vishnu and delivered the Bhagavad Gita, a profound philosophical teaching, to Arjuna. This teaching gave Arjuna the strength and wisdom to overcome his hesitations and continue the battle.

    Under Krishna's guidance, Arjuna devised a plan to neutralize Bhishma without killing him. They placed the warrior Shikhandi, who was a woman in a previous life, in front of Arjuna. Bhishma, bound by his vow not to attack a woman, lowered his weapons. Arjuna then shot numerous arrows at Bhishma, rendering him immobile on a bed of arrows.

    When the righteous prince Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandava brothers, was appointed as the commander-in-chief of their army, a celestial weapon, the Anjalika, appeared in his quiver. Yudhishthira presented the weapon to Arjuna, recognizing his unmatched archery skills and trustworthiness.

    Arjuna went on to use the Anjalika weapon to defeat Duryodhana's brother, Dushasana, who had insulted their wife, Draupadi, in a public assembly. The weapon not only avenged Draupadi's humiliation but also struck fear into the hearts of their enemies.

    In the final days of the war, Arjuna faced the fierce warrior Karna, who was his half-brother, though they were unaware of their relationship. Karna was a loyal friend of Duryodhana and one of the strongest challengers to the Pandavas.

    The two warriors engaged in an intense battle, with both displaying extraordinary skill and bravery. In a decisive moment, Karna's chariot wheel got stuck in the mud, leaving him at a disadvantage. Despite this, Arjuna hesitated to attack an unarmed enemy.

    Lord Krishna reminded Arjuna of the injustices done to him and his brothers and urged him to fulfill his duty as a warrior. With a heavy heart, Arjuna released the Anjalika weapon, killing Karna and securing the victory for the Pandavas.

    After the war, Arjuna discovered that Karna was actually the eldest Pandava, born to their mother Kunti before her marriage to their father. Saddened by this revelation, Arjuna lamented the tragedy of the fratricidal war which had caused so much suffering.

    In the aftermath of the war, Yudhishthira was crowned king, and the Pandavas began to rebuild the kingdom. Arjuna continued to serve his brothers, dedicating his life to upholding righteousness and justice, as taught by Lord Krishna.

    Years later, the Pandavas decided to renounce their worldly possessions and embark on their final journey to the Himalayas, seeking spiritual enlightenment. Arjuna, along with his brothers, began the long trek, leaving behind their kingdom and legacy.

    As they ascended the Himalayas, the Pandavas began to tire, and one by one, they fell. Arjuna was the penultimate to fall, succumbing to exhaustion, but still determined to continue the journey. Only Yudhishthira, the embodiment of righteousness, reached the summit, symbolizing the ultimate triumph of virtue over adversity.

    Arjuna's story, filled with courage, duty, and devotion, remains an inspiration to this day. His unwavering determination and adherence to righteousness, even in the face of personal tragedy and loss, exemplify the virtues that make him one of the greatest heroes in Indian mythology.

    Arjuna, the Mighty Archer