Arjuna and his concentration power

The kids these days are very intelligent and are multi-skilled. Last week we heard a story about Guru-Shishya relationship. This week, we can listen to a story which portrays the characteristic of an ideal student.



Acharya Drona was the Guru for Princes' of Hastinapur. Both Gauravas and Pandavas were learning under his tutelage. One day, he wanted to test the archery skills of his students and hence called all of them. He hung a wooden bird on an apple tree in a garden. He instructed all of them to stand on a line and asked them to aim for the bird's eye. After few seconds, he called them one by one near him and while they aim for the bird's eye, he asked what they could see.



First came Bishma and he told that he could see a tree full of apples and a bird hanging on one of its brances. Drona asked him to go aside saying that his aim is not perfect.



Then came Dharma and he told that he could see many real birds in the apple tree but he aims to shoot the wooden bird hanging on one branch. Drona was disappointed and asked him to go aside mentioning his aim is also not perfect.



Then came Duryodhana and he told that he could see a colourful wooden bird with long wings and sharp beak, hanging on a tree. Disappointed Drona told that his aim is also not perfect and asked him to step down.



Finally came Arjuna, who is a favourite student of Dronacharya. He is favourite student because of his exemplary skills, concentration and devotion towards his Guru. He told that he could see only the eye of the wooden bird. Dronacharya was happy and asked him "What else do you see Arjuna?". He replied "I could see only the wooden bird's eye Guruji". Dronacharya patted him and told that his aim is absolutely perfect and asked him to shoot it.
The arrow from Arjuna's bow went straight and pierced the wooden bird's eye. All other students were disappointed for not letting them to shoot it. Dronacharya later called all his students and explained that in this world, there are many things would interests us, but while aiming for something, our complete focus should only be on that. Only when our aim is focused, we could achieve it. Arjuna could see only the bird's eye and not even the bird, so I was sure that he could shoot it.

Similarly in our lives, we might get drawn towards many things and gets distracted, but only if our efforts and aim is focused we will be able to achieve it.

As a responsible parent it is our duty to channelize our children's skills and make it focused which enables a bright future for them.



Tamil poet Barathiyar used to emphasize this in many of his songs.

oli padaitha kanninai va va va

urudhi konda nenjinai va va va

kani padaitha mozhiyinai va va va (2)

kadumai konda tholinai va va va

thelivu petra mathiyinai va va va

sirumai kondu ponguvai va va va

elimai kandiranguvai va va va

yeru pol nadayinai va va va

elaya barathathinai va va va

ezhilila balathinal va va va

oli ezhantha naatile nindrerum uthaya gnajiroppave va va va

kalai ezhantha naatile mun pole

kalai sirakka vanthanai va va va

vilayum manbu yavayum kaththan pol

vizhi ilal vilakave va va va


You can listen to the M.S Subbulakshmi's soul rising rendition here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsW_35hwVuE



Story taken from my 5th standard English Book