Arjun’s eagerness to know more and to excel
more in archery knew no bound. As a part of it, he came to know about the intricacies of the divyastras. Guru Dronacharya had told him about the
enormous powers the divyastras were vested with. He was told he would be required
to develop his mind-power to be able to master these. Thereafter, in accordance
with Dronacharya’s instructions he began to practice in extreme earnest.
On another day, when he found his Guru
alone, Arjun humbly asked about the secrets of the Brahma Astra:
‘Revered Gurudev! I have heard Brahm Astra is the most powerful category
of all weapons – the most potent amongst the Dvyastras. That there is nothing that can counter it, not even
other types of Divyastras. And that
there are only very few warriors living in this planet, who are master in
handling this – like you, Pitamaha Bhisma and Rishi Parashuram the guru of both
you and the Pitamaha’
‘You have heard right! Yes, it is the most
powerful category amongst all weapons. It is the one that has the power of Lord Brahma, the creator of this
universe. There are of course two more categories of weapons which are equally
potent – Pahupat Astra which is
vested with the power of Lord Shiva and Vaishnav
Astra which carries the power of Lord Vishnu. All these three categories of
weapons are immensely dangerous. Each can annihilate the whole universe- I mean
the entire creation, not merely the world. I’m conversant with Brahma Astra but not the other two.
Pitamaha Bhisma is adept at both Brahma Astra
and Vaishnav Astra. Such a person
would be extremely rare who has mastery over all the three. By that I mean Brahma Astra, Vaishnav Astra and Pashupat
Astra’ – Dronacharya spoke to his devoted disciple who was listening
intently.
‘Sire, I beg of you to teach me the Brahma Astra. I’m prepared to undergo
any length of practice, meditation, or any other suffering that you ask of me
to learn this, which I consider is the ultimate achievement for all great
archers’ – Arjun made a fervent plea.
‘Son
Arjun. Don’t get impatient. I
would of course teach those amongst you who would prove themselves worthy of
this great weapon. But listen to some conditions. If you are left with same
earnest after you hear me out, you would pass the first test’- Dronacharya
said.
‘Tell me Gurudev. Here I sit beneath your
feet eager to listen’ – replied Arjun.
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