Converting opportunity into Victory - the Arjuna way.
Opportunity is a gift. Victory is an achievement.
Turning opportunity into victory is the hallmark of a successful warrior. Doing it consistently is the hallmark of a genius.
“ … but I never got the opportunity!” is the usual claim of sore losers.
Here’s a list of opportunities given to many warriors – but turned into triumph by Arjun.
1] Promise to Drona: On accepting his pupils, Drona expressed a wish for the future and waited for their reply. However, his pupils remained silent. Except for Arjuna, who “vowed to accomplish it WHATEVER IT WAS.”
Amazingly, Arjuna did not ask if the task was possible or impossible. He displayed total self-confidence and determination even at such a tender age. He promised to complete Drona’s wish even before Drona began his teaching.
2] Vows are not empty words, they need to be completed. Arjun didn't merely make tall promises, he also fulfilled them. When the time came to give Drona’s Gurudakshina, his pupils marched forth.
Confident of his own prowess, Arjun allowed the Kuru cousins with their best friend to try a hand at capturing Drupada. He knew they were incompetent for the task. When they failed miserably, Arjuna stepped in with his 3 brothers. He battled & captured Drupada as Gurudakshina.
3] The Gurukul housed numerous pupils apart from Kuru princes. Drona taught them all impartially, but Arjun learnt better, quicker and deeper than his fellow students. {‘indeed although the INSTRUCTIONS the preceptor gave was the SAME in the case of ALL, yet in lightness and skill Arjuna became the foremost of all his fellow-pupils.’}
4] Although Drona had high praise for Arjuna’s skills, yet Ashwatthama remained his soft spot. Fuelled by fatherly love, Drona wished to impart superior weapons to his own son. Since all the students stayed in Gurukul premises, Drona invented ideas to get them out of the way and thus gain extra time to teach Ashwatthama.
The same trick was tried on all pupils, but only Arjun understood Drona’s motive behind the trick. His response was characteristic. Did he complain to Bhishm about Drona’s blatant partiality? Did he cry to Yudhishthir about ‘unfair tactics’? Did he turn bitter towards Drona? None of the above.
Arjun saw opportunity even in adversity. Wise Arjun understood that ‘Theory is useless unless put into practice’. He used Varunastra to fill his waterpot and returned in time. He thus foiled Drona’s attempts to keep him behind Ashwatthama in astra-vidya.
5] The wooden bird eye test, too, was offered to each & everyone of Drona’s. As we know, only ONE student succeeded. Yet again.
{Drona desirous of testing the COMPARATIVE EXCELLENCE OF ALL HIS PUPILS collected them all together. Drona said unto them, 'Take up your bows quickly and stand here aiming at that bird on the tree. I shall give each of you a turn, one by one.'}
6] Arjun was the only one (apart from Ashwatthama) who got Brahmasira weapon. He did not demand this weapon as a birthright. He did not beg for it as alms. Arjun EARNED the Brahmasira weapon.This is how -
{Drona accompanied by ALL of his pupils, went to the bank of the Ganga. When Drona had plunged into the stream, a strong alligator seized him by the thigh. Drona in a seeming hurry asked his pupils to rescue him. While the OTHER PUPILS STOOD CONFOUNDED, Vibhatsu (Arjuna) struck the monster with five sharp arrows to save his preceptor.}
7] Draupadi swayamvar: Dressed as a Brahmin, Arjun had little hopes of participating. He would not be permitted to try before all the invited kings got their chance to win Draupadi. The suitors tried … the suitors failed. In the end, only Arjun succeeded in the feat which nobody else could.
8] Ghoshyatra: Once again, all Kaurava warriors plus their dear friend got the chance to battle Gandharvas. It was a huge opportunity to showcase their skills, to display their talent to Hastinapur elders, to prove they could survive without Pandava cousins’ help. What did they do with this opportunity?
They were all beaten black & blue by Gandharvas. Some warriors stayed behind & got imprisoned; others abandoned the fighters & fled for life.
Yet again, Arjuna & 3 brothers had to come for rescue. It was Arjuna who defeated Gandharva maya with his missiles.
Strength, skill and dexterity are, of course, much needed for victories. Yet, these events highlight Arjuna’s many endearing qualities too i.e., His word of honor, his self confidence, his razor sharp reflexes, his chivalry, his devoted love for the preceptor, his ability to carve a pathway out of hurdles and his determination not to blame destiny as an excuse.
All the above moments were opportunities waiting to be discovered. Yet, ungrateful losers will ignore the fact that they got first chance at glory.
It still required Arjuna to kickstart the conversion of opportunity into victory.
- याज्ञसेनी
Opportunity is a gift. Victory is an achievement.
Turning opportunity into victory is the hallmark of a successful warrior. Doing it consistently is the hallmark of a genius.
“ … but I never got the opportunity!” is the usual claim of sore losers.
Here’s a list of opportunities given to many warriors – but turned into triumph by Arjun.
1] Promise to Drona: On accepting his pupils, Drona expressed a wish for the future and waited for their reply. However, his pupils remained silent. Except for Arjuna, who “vowed to accomplish it WHATEVER IT WAS.”
Amazingly, Arjuna did not ask if the task was possible or impossible. He displayed total self-confidence and determination even at such a tender age. He promised to complete Drona’s wish even before Drona began his teaching.
2] Vows are not empty words, they need to be completed. Arjun didn't merely make tall promises, he also fulfilled them. When the time came to give Drona’s Gurudakshina, his pupils marched forth.
Confident of his own prowess, Arjun allowed the Kuru cousins with their best friend to try a hand at capturing Drupada. He knew they were incompetent for the task. When they failed miserably, Arjuna stepped in with his 3 brothers. He battled & captured Drupada as Gurudakshina.
3] The Gurukul housed numerous pupils apart from Kuru princes. Drona taught them all impartially, but Arjun learnt better, quicker and deeper than his fellow students. {‘indeed although the INSTRUCTIONS the preceptor gave was the SAME in the case of ALL, yet in lightness and skill Arjuna became the foremost of all his fellow-pupils.’}
4] Although Drona had high praise for Arjuna’s skills, yet Ashwatthama remained his soft spot. Fuelled by fatherly love, Drona wished to impart superior weapons to his own son. Since all the students stayed in Gurukul premises, Drona invented ideas to get them out of the way and thus gain extra time to teach Ashwatthama.
The same trick was tried on all pupils, but only Arjun understood Drona’s motive behind the trick. His response was characteristic. Did he complain to Bhishm about Drona’s blatant partiality? Did he cry to Yudhishthir about ‘unfair tactics’? Did he turn bitter towards Drona? None of the above.
Arjun saw opportunity even in adversity. Wise Arjun understood that ‘Theory is useless unless put into practice’. He used Varunastra to fill his waterpot and returned in time. He thus foiled Drona’s attempts to keep him behind Ashwatthama in astra-vidya.
5] The wooden bird eye test, too, was offered to each & everyone of Drona’s. As we know, only ONE student succeeded. Yet again.
{Drona desirous of testing the COMPARATIVE EXCELLENCE OF ALL HIS PUPILS collected them all together. Drona said unto them, 'Take up your bows quickly and stand here aiming at that bird on the tree. I shall give each of you a turn, one by one.'}
6] Arjun was the only one (apart from Ashwatthama) who got Brahmasira weapon. He did not demand this weapon as a birthright. He did not beg for it as alms. Arjun EARNED the Brahmasira weapon.This is how -
{Drona accompanied by ALL of his pupils, went to the bank of the Ganga. When Drona had plunged into the stream, a strong alligator seized him by the thigh. Drona in a seeming hurry asked his pupils to rescue him. While the OTHER PUPILS STOOD CONFOUNDED, Vibhatsu (Arjuna) struck the monster with five sharp arrows to save his preceptor.}
7] Draupadi swayamvar: Dressed as a Brahmin, Arjun had little hopes of participating. He would not be permitted to try before all the invited kings got their chance to win Draupadi. The suitors tried … the suitors failed. In the end, only Arjun succeeded in the feat which nobody else could.
8] Ghoshyatra: Once again, all Kaurava warriors plus their dear friend got the chance to battle Gandharvas. It was a huge opportunity to showcase their skills, to display their talent to Hastinapur elders, to prove they could survive without Pandava cousins’ help. What did they do with this opportunity?
They were all beaten black & blue by Gandharvas. Some warriors stayed behind & got imprisoned; others abandoned the fighters & fled for life.
Yet again, Arjuna & 3 brothers had to come for rescue. It was Arjuna who defeated Gandharva maya with his missiles.
Strength, skill and dexterity are, of course, much needed for victories. Yet, these events highlight Arjuna’s many endearing qualities too i.e., His word of honor, his self confidence, his razor sharp reflexes, his chivalry, his devoted love for the preceptor, his ability to carve a pathway out of hurdles and his determination not to blame destiny as an excuse.
All the above moments were opportunities waiting to be discovered. Yet, ungrateful losers will ignore the fact that they got first chance at glory.
It still required Arjuna to kickstart the conversion of opportunity into victory.
- याज्ञसेनी
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