SUCCESS PRINCIPLES
FROM
MAHABHARAT
How many of us understand that the most successful man
in Mahabharat was Arjuna?
Lord Krishna was not the focus in Mahabharat. He was the
focus in Bhagavat. He was the hero there. Not in Mahabharat.
Lord Krishna knew himself as God, and acted as God. So,
his successes are not Human. They are Divine. Lord Krishna’s will gets done by
the Prakruti or Nature, any way. Prakruthi has no other way than to abide by
the Masters’ sanklapa or wish.
Among others, the most successful character in
Mahabharat was, in my opinion, undoubtedly ARJUNA, the middle one among the
Pandavas. I am not saying, he was the most knowledgeable person, or most
Dharmic Person, or the most generous person. These honours, no doubt, go to
some others.
The Most knowledgeable person was the BHISHMA. The most
Dharmic person, was YUDHISHTIR (OR DHARMA RAJA). The most generous person was
Karna. But, I can’t say, they were the most successful persons. They were not.
Arjuna pips them to the Post – for this Honour.
How did he achieve his successes? And what were his
successes? If a manual on success is ever to be written, it has to be a
treatise on the Life and achievements of Arjuna. There is not a single success
principle on earth, that Arjuna did not follow, either consciously or
unconsciously.
1. I am omitting his Birth, because of the boon from Lord
Indra. Arjuna did not use this connection much. It was in fact Indra who was
proud of him and used his valour for his own success later. Indra became a
proud father of a valorous son.
2. As a child, when Pandavas and Kauravas were once eating
their dinner – when, lights went off due to air. Arjuna was one who continued
his dinner in darkness – and was thinking very creatively on what he was doing.
“If I can eat in Darkness, can I not practice archery in darkness?”, he was
deeply in thought. And, he never entertained a doubt that he could do that. He went
out after dinner – and started practicing at Night. He became the Best archer
of his time very soon, using such success principles. He could see in darkness
and shoot his arrows in that darkness with precision. He could hear sounds and
shoot the sound-producing substance or animal in darkness. Soon, darkness
became a friend for this great archer. Was this not creativity thinking at its very
best? Do you know any Olympic champion of archery of TODAY who practices like Arjuna?
3. He was the one and only archer, who practiced shooting
arrows with both hands, with equal skill – for which reason, he was called
savyasachi. Do we have one single archer, who practices this way – today?
4. He was the Darling of his Great Grandfather, Bhishma. He
learnt a lot of the art of fighting from his Great grandfather. He also learnt
lot of Dharmas from him. From Birth to death, he loved his grandsire
wholeheartedly and was also loved by him just as equally – despite the fact,
that both of them had to stand on OPPOSITE SIDES, in the war later.
5. He was the Darling of his Guru Dronacharya also. Drona
loved this disciple so much more than even his own son, Aswatthaama. Drona
taught much more about Archery and Astras (Celestial weapons) to Arjuna, than
to his own son. Arjuna’s Guru Bhakthi was also unparalleled. Whatever the Guru
says- he would comply with immediately.
6. When Guru Drona wanted to test the Pandavas and Kauravas
in their archery skills – Arjuna topped the list, and bet all others, not
merely by his Archery skill, but by his
Mastery of the SUCCESS PRINCIPLES, of all time. His focus on his aim – was so intense that
nothing in the universe could divert his attention from his aim, and from the
object of his focus. When, he was asked to hit the bird’s eye – his eyes saw
only the bird’s eye – and nothing else – not even the bird’s head – just its
eye. This focus on the Goal continued all through his life – right till the
end. Do we today have archers or any one in any other branch of life with such
focus today? Arjuna is the Role Model for Goal focus – from those days to
today.
7. There was one incident, in which Ekalavya, a tribal boy,
who practiced Archery keeping Drona’s Image as Guru, displayed exceptional
archery skills – which made Arjuna ask Drona a question. Master, you promised
to make me the Best Archer in the world. But, here is Ekalavya, who claims to
be your disciple and you have taught him more skills than you taught me. Arjuna’s intention here
was to learn more than Ekalavya. That’s all. But Drona, in this one instance,
comes out in poor light. He takes Ekalavua’s thumb as Guru Dakshina, depriving
him from progressing further in Archery. The Beauty of Mahabharat is – that it
does not cover up the faults of even great masters. Mahabharat is like Gandhiji’s
“My search for Truth” in which he reveals all his negative thoughts and
negative actions too – which is what makes him the Mahatma. I don’t know any
other person in the world who projected himself so honestly. Mahabharat is in
that genre. Drona was the greatest teacher of Martial Arts. Yet, he stooped to
the level of depriving his disciple in absentia, the opportunity to prosper.
Vyasa and all others knew that Drona would never be appreciated and would never
be excused for this Great fault by any one. But, certainly, this fault cannot
be attributed to Arjuna – who was asking – Teach me more.
8. When his disciples completed their coaching – Drona seeks
Guru Dakshina. The Dakshina was – to capture King Drupada alive and bring
before him. Drupada had humiliated him and he wanted to retaliate for it. He
wanted these warrior disciples of his – to complete this retribution. All of
them go and fail in the Mission. It was Arjuna (aided to some extent by Bhima)
who could succeed in capturing King Drupada, tie him and bring him before his
Guru. This incident is a big revelation of the character of Arjuna. Unlike what
Pakistan or Afghan terrorists do with captured war prisoners, Arjuna treated
his war prisoner so well, that Drupada developed a huge inner desire to have
Arjuna as his SON IN LAW. He didn’t have a daughter yet ! But, he did great
Tapasya (austerities) later and secured a boon from the God – to get a son who
would kill Drona and get a daughter who
would marry Arjuna. I call it the mastery of all time success principles, on
the part of Arjuna.
9. Eventually, only he succeeded in the Archery test in
Draupadi’s Swayamwar (choosing of the husband) – to the exclusion of all
warriors – but, as per his mother’s wish, all Pandavas married her. But, of
course, not once did they find any marital discard because of this marriage.
10.
Draupadi served all
her 5 husbands equally well. Of that, there was no doubt. And yet, she too had
a slightly greater LOVE for Arjuna,
which comes out clearly, when the Pandavas were to ascend to the Heavens at the end of Mahabharat. She might be
wrong or right. But, it indicates, that Arjuna was more successful in all his
relationships than all his brothers.
11.
Talking of relationships,
Arjuna’s best relationship was with Lord Krishna. By all accounts, Arjuna loved
him as his friend, philosopher and Guide. Krishna was his soul-mate. He sought
and abided by his counseling always.
12.
When Duryodhana and
Arjuna came simultaneously – to seek Krishna’s backing in the war on their
side, Duryodhana, out of Ego, sat near the head of Krishna, while Arjuna sat at
the feet of Krishna. Arjuna was a clear winner in this itself. When Lord Krishna
got up and asked each of them to choose between 2 options (i) – 10000 warriors
equal to himself full armed and actually assisting in war and (ii) Krishna alone, without using any arms
and without battling; Arjuna without an iota of doubt in his mind chose Lord
Krishna. Duryodhana went happily with 10000 armed Yadava warriors. Given the
slightest opportunity, Arjuna would choose to be on the side of the righteous.
13.
He loved Krishna –
and no war was more important to him than Krishna’s company and advice for him. His confidence was confirmed in Bhagavad Gita’s last sloka. “where
the Yogeswara, the Lord Krishna stands, where Arjuna with his bow stands, there,
success is certain” – says the Gita’s closing sloka. Gita doesn’t talk of
Bhishma, Yudhistira, Karna, Drona or any other warrior. It was just Arjuna, who
was eulogized, that too, for his success
principles. Choosing the company of the divine grace itself was a sure shot
principle of Success. Don’t we agree?
14.
In the war, Bhishma,
the invincible warrior, lets the Pandavas know the secret to his life (or
death) - because of his love for none
other than Arjuna. Arjuna fells him with his arrows using his advice – but shows
all his respect, by bringing the holy waters of Ganges from below the earth
with his arrows to quench the thirst of his Grandsire.
15.
The whole of Gita
comes because of Arjuna’s unfailing love for his Grand sire and for his Great Guru.
Krishna does not find fault with that and understands this humane nature of
Arjuna. The Greatest Advice from Lord Krishna in the form of Gita - to all
human Beings - comes out of Krishna’s own love for Arjuna.
16.
Arjuna’s Greatest
success lies in the Gita. The questions he asks are all yours and mine too. They
epitomize the problems that all of us face in life. The answers from Lord
Krishna were as much to Arjuna as they are to you and me.
17.
I can go on and on
mentioning a hundred more events from Arjuna’s illustrious life. But, suffice
it to say – Arjuna was valorous, focused, devoted, unfailing in his relationships,
unfailing in leading people, and unfailing in planning and ensuring success of
his and Pandavas’ future life.
18.
Mahabharat is the
Book of Success Principles. There is none other like it.
=Yours
Sd/-
(V.Vijayamohan)
