Focus🎯


Dronācharya taught all Kuru princes to the best of his abilities. Bhima & Duryodhana became expert in wielding mace & they were envious of one another. Nakul & Sahadev were highly skilled in sword, Yudhisthira a superlative chariot warrior & Asvattāma in accomplished use of various weapons, but it was Arjun who outshone everybody else. He was an Atirathi (one who is capable of simultaneously fighting 60000 ordinary warriors) & thus his fame soon spread around the world


However, when wicked sons of Dhritrāshtra witnessed incomparable strength of Bhima & unrivaled expertise of Arjun, their hearts became more & more inflamed with jealousy


When Dronācharya had almost completed their training, he assembled all his students to test their comparative proficiency. He placed an artificial bird at the top of a tall tree & ordered his pupils one after another to cut off his head. Yudhisthira was first & as he picked up his bow & arrow, Drona asked-Do you see the bird on top of the tree? Yes, I do, said Yudhis. Aside from the bird, can you see the tree, me or your brothers? Yudhis said-I see the tree, you & my brothers as well

 

Dronācharya repeated the question several times & Yudhisthira gave same answer & was asked to stand aside. Then Drona asked each of the other princes (including ones from other kingdoms) the same question & everyone said the same as Yudhis did. Drona reproached them all & asked them to stand aside


After so many princes had thus failed the test, Drona smilingly called Arjun. After Arjun picked up his bow & placed his arrow upon bowstring & was carefully taking aim, Drona asked the same question-Are you able to see the bird at the top of the tree?


Arjuna replied–Yes, I do

Drona said-Aside from the bird, can you see the tree, your brothers & me?

Arjun said-I can only see the bird, I do not see the tree or you, what to speak of my brothers

Drona asked-pls describe the bird to me

Arjuna replied-Actually I don’t see the entire bird because I’m concentrating only on its head


When Drona heard this, hairs on his body stood on ends with great wonder & delight. When he ordered Arjun to release the arrow, it struck off bird’s head & it fell on ground. Drona went & embraced Arjuna with great satisfaction. He considered Drupada as good as finished now


Arjuna’s reply is reflective of his abilities to streamline all his focus towards the goal & avoid all distractions. In life there are so many irrelevant things that consume our energy, but we should put chaos aside & concentrate on things that matter. Our mind nowadays is continuously fed by stimuli that is impulsive or self-destructive but if we feed it with constructive & reflective stimuli of our wisdom texts like Bhagvad Gita & other scriptures & meditate on mantras to elevate our consciousness, the result is phenomenal


This together with Abhyasa, daily practice will make us strong to concentrate on higher principles both in material & spiritual realms


Thoughts? #gameoflife

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