Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part A

The Promise to Drona was one story that really stood out to me throughout this weeks reading. Drona had taken these princes as his students one day and called for them to gather together and lay down. Drona promised these princes that he would teach them to become strong warriors and learn how to bear arms. He had a special plan for these men. At the sound of this declaration, the princes all became silent in unison. Although one of them, Arjuna, the third eldest Pandavas, swore that he would accomplish this goal set before them. Drona instantly favored Arjuna from this moment on, as he saw all the pontetial Arjuna held and the warrior he would become. Drona and Arjuna had a special bond because of this, and they never wavered from each other's side. Arjuna was set to master the arms he would soon to learn. Princes from all around came to see the famous Drona, master of arms and teacher to men. All of the Kurus and Pandavas were his pupils, and these princes were set to be strong warriors. Karna soon came along and he was very different from the rest. He was rumored to be the adopted son of another royal member of the court. His true birth blood was unknown to everyone though. Karna and Arjuna soon became enemies within their training, always pitted against each other. Karna befriended Duryodhana and his brothers though, not the Pandavas. Arjuna took every opportunity he could to learn and master every skill they were taught, so he could be better than the others. Arjuna was eating one night and found out that even in the dark he could eat without a problem. So he also started training at night and when Drona found him so, he embraced the student fully realizing all the potential this young prince had inside of him.

Source: Mahabharata by Sister Nivedita


(Drona: wikipedia)