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Concentration |
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When Pandavas and the Kauravas were learning archery from Dronacharya, one day the Acharya arranged a demonstration of test shooting by all his disciples. The parents, visitors and lovers of archery all gathered to see how the princes were progressing. Dronacharya placed a wooden bird in the branches of a tree which was half a mile away. The visitors were sitting on either side and the pupils were standing in one line facing the tree on which the bird was kept. In front of the pupils a line was drawn and a bow and an arrow were lying by the side of the line. The pupils were eagerly looking at the teacher to know what the test was going to be. They were itching to show off their skill.
Then the teacher came forward and explained. "Listen, princess. On the yonder tree, see a wooden bird on the left branch. You have to stand upon this line in front of you and shoot the head of the bird with this bow and arrow. Are you ready?" All of them nodded their heads. "Good," the teacher said, "first, let Dharmaraja come forward and shoot."
Dharmaraja stood upon the line, took up the bow and arrow and aimed. "Sir, may I shoot?" he asked Acharya. Acharya scrutinised the position in which Dharmaraja was standing holding the bow. "Dharmaraja, can you see me?" Dharmaraja nodded his head and said, "Yes, teacher, I see you clearly." Dronacharya smiled and said softly, "Dharmaraja, put down the bow and go back. You can't hit the bird." Dharmaraja flushed with shame. He put down the bow and went back to his place.
Then it was Bhimasena's turn. He came forward, lifted up the bow and aimed. Dronacharya asked, "Bhima, can you see the visitors on either side?" Bhima said "Yes, Sir, I can see them all though not very clearly." Dronacharya shook his head. "Bhima, go back. You can't shoot the bird." Bhimasena was puzzled. Yet an order was an order. So he put down the bow and walked back.
Next to him Duryodhana was standing. He came forward and took up the bow. He aimed at the bird and then turned towards Acharya and asked, "Acharya, may I shoot?" Acharya shook his head and said, "Don't, it will be a waste. Go back to your place." Duryodhana's face became red with indignation. He put down the bow and angrily walked back.
One by one all the princes came forward and prepared to shoot. The Acharya would ask a question, listen to the answer and send them back. Every one was surprised and started mumbling. "The Acharya is very stiff. He is not satisfied with any one at all. Will there be a single one who can please him?"
Last, it was Arjuna's turn to aim. He came forwards, stood upon the line and fixed up the arrow. Dronacharya keenly observed how Arjuna was aiming. He asked, "Arjuna, are you ready to shoot?"
"Yes, Sir, I am ready." replied Arjuna.
"Arjuna, do you see me?"
"No, Sir."
"Do you see your brothers and the visitors?"
"No, Sir."
"Do you see the yonder tree and the branch on which the bird is kept?"
"No, Sir."
Dronacharya smiled happily. "Arjuna, do you see the bird?"
"No, Sir."
The visitors and the princes were all surprised. If Arjuna did not see the bird, how can he ever hit it? But Acharya's smile widened. He asked eagerly:
"Arjuna, what do you see?"
Arjuna replied, "Acharya, I see the head of the bird which has to be shot."
Dronacharya nodded his head appreciatively and said, "Good, Arjuna, shoot."
Arjuna pulled the string of the bow very hard until it touched his ear and shot. The bow shot forward in a straight flight without wavering and hit the head of the bird. There was a thunderous applause from the visitors. Then all the princes knew how much of concentration is needed in order to learn or do a thing properly.
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