Hi!!! Today's story is about Duryodhana's five golden arrows, and how he gave them to the Pandavas. This story takes place during the Mahabharata War, on the tenth night. Let's go…
The Mahabharata took place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, and went on for eighteen days. During the first ten days of the War, the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava Army was the revered and respected Bheeshma Pitamah, the grand-uncle of the Pandavas and Kauravas. His half-brother, the late Vichitravirya, was Dhritarashtra's father.
Despite his (VERY) old age, Bheeshma was a ferocious fighter who slaughtered the Pandavas' petty army. They were no match for him. He killed a great number of innocent soldiers.
However, Duryodhana, the first Kaurava brother, was unhappy. He had noticed that Bheeshma didn't intend to kill the five Pandavas. Duryodhana thought that Bheeshma was biased to the Pandavas' side. Duryodhana was well aware of Bheeshma's affection towards the Pandavas and was upset. Even though Bheeshma was fighting for the Kauravas, Duryodhana thought that he was assisting the Pandavas.
One night, unable to let things be, Duryodhana approached his grand-uncle," Grand-uncle, you are a fine fighter and an amazing combatant. But, I am ashamed of you. You say that you fight for us, whereas you don't kill any of the Pandavas. What is this?! What is this, I say?! You are the disciple of the great Parashurama!! Yet, you haven't killed even one Pandava!!" Bheeshma sighed. He replied to Duryodhana," I am hurt by what you say, Putra. You know that I am loyal to whoever sits on the throne of Hastinapur!! I serve your father, therefore I serve you." Duryodhana still wasn't convinced.
Bheeshma took Duryodhana to his chambers. When they got there, Duryodhana covered his eyes. There was a massive light shining from Bheeshma's room!! When he recovered from the shock, Duryodhana ran to see the source of the light. He saw that there was a small bundle, with five gleaming, glistening, golden arrows lying in it. Bheeshma picked it up and showed it to Duryodhana," I have crafted these arrows for one purpose and one purpose only. To kill the Pandavas. If I were to use them in battle, they are sure to hit their target. One arrow, one Pandava." Duryodhana was ecstatic!! He had never seen these amazing arrows!! But, he still remained minutely sceptical. He thought, " Hmm… What if he gives them to the Pandavas?" Duryodhana pulled the arrows from his grand-uncle's hands," Grand-uncle, please let me keep them tonight." Bheeshma shook his head in disagreement," No, Putra. I cannot give them to you," but, Duryodhana was persistent. "Please, Grand-uncle. Let me take these arrows to my chambers."
They argued continuously, but Bheeshma finally gave in. He handed the Golden Arrows to Duryodhana.
Soon, Krishna got news of the Golden Arrows through a spy. He told Krishna, "My Liege, Duryodhana has some Golden Arrows made by Pitamah. What do we do?!" Krishna ran to Arjuna and narrated what had happened. Seeing Arjuna's worried face, Krishna asked, "Do you remember the encounter with the Gandharvas during your exile?"
Once, Duryodhana had brought his friends over to camp near the Pandavas' hut. He wanted to keep an eye on them.
One morning, while Duryodhana had gone to abuse the Pandavas, he got into a heated argument with some Gandharvas (nature men). Soon, they got into a huge bout, which ended in Duryodhana's loss. He was easily defeated by the Gandharvas, who tied him to a tree and started making fun of him.
Yudhistira saw what was happening and called his brothers, Arjuna and Bheema, to him. "Save our cousin," he said. Bheema refused, "I shall not help that scoundrel!!! He is the one who gave us this exile, this austere life!!! DO YOU THINK I SHOULD HELP HIM?!?!?!?!?!" But, Arjuna rescued his cousin.
Duryodhana was ashamed of his erratic behaviour. He felt that it was his duty to give Arjuna something in return. He asked him," O cousin, I am obliged to give you something. Anything you wish for, I shall give you. What would you like?" Arjuna stared at Duryodhana and muttered," I am only here for Yudhistira. I don't want anything." But, Duryodhana pleaded Arjuna.
Arjuna finally said," Okay!! Let us keep this on hold. But, you can't say no to whatever I ask for," Duryodhana smiled and said," Fine, Arjuna. You have my word."
Krishna reminded Arjuna of Duryodhana's promise. "Ooooohhhh!!!! Now I understand!! You want me to go to the Kaurava camp and ask Duryodhana to give me the arrows, right?!" Krishna nodded his head and sent Arjuna on his golden chariot, all the way to the Kaurava camp.
After exchanging greetings, Duryodhana called Arjuna into his tent.
After a few minutes, Arjuna reminded him, "Do you remember the promise you had made to me when I fought off those Gandharvas?!" Duryodhana nodded his head. "Well, I'd like those five arrows that Pitamah gave you." Duryodhana was shocked!! He hadn't a clue that Arjuna would ask for this!! But, it was his duty. He couldn't break his promise. Sighing, he handed over the arrows to Arjuna and asked him, " Tell me, who advised you to take the five arrows?!" Arjuna smiled and walked to his chariot," You already know who it was. It was Krishna." Arjuna sped off on his chariot, back to his camp, where his brothers awaited him with anxiety. Duryodhana helplessly watched as Arjuna took away the precious arrows.
The next morning, Bheeshma asked Duryodhana about the arrows. Duryodhana narrated the entire story to his grand-uncle. slapping his head, Bheeshma proclaimed," O Duryodhana!!! Those five arrows could have wiped out the Pandavas!!!! You gave them the arrows instead!!! Why, Putra? Why?!?! You have just handed victory over to the Pandavas."
Thus, Arjuna earned the Five Golden Arrows and decimated the Kaurava Army with them.
Thanks for reading The Five Golden Arrows!!!! Please type your email in the bo above the followers and click the blue button to receive emails about my posts!!!!!!
The Mahabharata took place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, and went on for eighteen days. During the first ten days of the War, the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava Army was the revered and respected Bheeshma Pitamah, the grand-uncle of the Pandavas and Kauravas. His half-brother, the late Vichitravirya, was Dhritarashtra's father.
Despite his (VERY) old age, Bheeshma was a ferocious fighter who slaughtered the Pandavas' petty army. They were no match for him. He killed a great number of innocent soldiers.
However, Duryodhana, the first Kaurava brother, was unhappy. He had noticed that Bheeshma didn't intend to kill the five Pandavas. Duryodhana thought that Bheeshma was biased to the Pandavas' side. Duryodhana was well aware of Bheeshma's affection towards the Pandavas and was upset. Even though Bheeshma was fighting for the Kauravas, Duryodhana thought that he was assisting the Pandavas.
One night, unable to let things be, Duryodhana approached his grand-uncle," Grand-uncle, you are a fine fighter and an amazing combatant. But, I am ashamed of you. You say that you fight for us, whereas you don't kill any of the Pandavas. What is this?! What is this, I say?! You are the disciple of the great Parashurama!! Yet, you haven't killed even one Pandava!!" Bheeshma sighed. He replied to Duryodhana," I am hurt by what you say, Putra. You know that I am loyal to whoever sits on the throne of Hastinapur!! I serve your father, therefore I serve you." Duryodhana still wasn't convinced.
Bheeshma took Duryodhana to his chambers. When they got there, Duryodhana covered his eyes. There was a massive light shining from Bheeshma's room!! When he recovered from the shock, Duryodhana ran to see the source of the light. He saw that there was a small bundle, with five gleaming, glistening, golden arrows lying in it. Bheeshma picked it up and showed it to Duryodhana," I have crafted these arrows for one purpose and one purpose only. To kill the Pandavas. If I were to use them in battle, they are sure to hit their target. One arrow, one Pandava." Duryodhana was ecstatic!! He had never seen these amazing arrows!! But, he still remained minutely sceptical. He thought, " Hmm… What if he gives them to the Pandavas?" Duryodhana pulled the arrows from his grand-uncle's hands," Grand-uncle, please let me keep them tonight." Bheeshma shook his head in disagreement," No, Putra. I cannot give them to you," but, Duryodhana was persistent. "Please, Grand-uncle. Let me take these arrows to my chambers."
They argued continuously, but Bheeshma finally gave in. He handed the Golden Arrows to Duryodhana.
Soon, Krishna got news of the Golden Arrows through a spy. He told Krishna, "My Liege, Duryodhana has some Golden Arrows made by Pitamah. What do we do?!" Krishna ran to Arjuna and narrated what had happened. Seeing Arjuna's worried face, Krishna asked, "Do you remember the encounter with the Gandharvas during your exile?"
Once, Duryodhana had brought his friends over to camp near the Pandavas' hut. He wanted to keep an eye on them.
One morning, while Duryodhana had gone to abuse the Pandavas, he got into a heated argument with some Gandharvas (nature men). Soon, they got into a huge bout, which ended in Duryodhana's loss. He was easily defeated by the Gandharvas, who tied him to a tree and started making fun of him.
Yudhistira saw what was happening and called his brothers, Arjuna and Bheema, to him. "Save our cousin," he said. Bheema refused, "I shall not help that scoundrel!!! He is the one who gave us this exile, this austere life!!! DO YOU THINK I SHOULD HELP HIM?!?!?!?!?!" But, Arjuna rescued his cousin.
Duryodhana was ashamed of his erratic behaviour. He felt that it was his duty to give Arjuna something in return. He asked him," O cousin, I am obliged to give you something. Anything you wish for, I shall give you. What would you like?" Arjuna stared at Duryodhana and muttered," I am only here for Yudhistira. I don't want anything." But, Duryodhana pleaded Arjuna.
Arjuna finally said," Okay!! Let us keep this on hold. But, you can't say no to whatever I ask for," Duryodhana smiled and said," Fine, Arjuna. You have my word."
Krishna reminded Arjuna of Duryodhana's promise. "Ooooohhhh!!!! Now I understand!! You want me to go to the Kaurava camp and ask Duryodhana to give me the arrows, right?!" Krishna nodded his head and sent Arjuna on his golden chariot, all the way to the Kaurava camp.
After exchanging greetings, Duryodhana called Arjuna into his tent.
After a few minutes, Arjuna reminded him, "Do you remember the promise you had made to me when I fought off those Gandharvas?!" Duryodhana nodded his head. "Well, I'd like those five arrows that Pitamah gave you." Duryodhana was shocked!! He hadn't a clue that Arjuna would ask for this!! But, it was his duty. He couldn't break his promise. Sighing, he handed over the arrows to Arjuna and asked him, " Tell me, who advised you to take the five arrows?!" Arjuna smiled and walked to his chariot," You already know who it was. It was Krishna." Arjuna sped off on his chariot, back to his camp, where his brothers awaited him with anxiety. Duryodhana helplessly watched as Arjuna took away the precious arrows.
The next morning, Bheeshma asked Duryodhana about the arrows. Duryodhana narrated the entire story to his grand-uncle. slapping his head, Bheeshma proclaimed," O Duryodhana!!! Those five arrows could have wiped out the Pandavas!!!! You gave them the arrows instead!!! Why, Putra? Why?!?! You have just handed victory over to the Pandavas."
Thus, Arjuna earned the Five Golden Arrows and decimated the Kaurava Army with them.
Thanks for reading The Five Golden Arrows!!!! Please type your email in the bo above the followers and click the blue button to receive emails about my posts!!!!!!
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