✓ Narottam Arjun: Soul of the Sage

t w o - p r a d a r s h a n

The morning light entered the house, beaming brightly. Arjun smiled and felt the warmth of the sun. It was his daily routine to sit outside for sometime at sunrise. 

"Dhananjay," His mother called, he smiled at her, "maa," He bent down to take her blessing. 

He made a mental note to tell his parents about him being Indraprasth Naresh Arjun, but that could wait for some time. 

He had something else to do at present, "Maa, give me blessing that I emerge victorious today,"

"Victory? For what?"

"Maa, today is Kala Pradarshan of the disciples of Guru Dron, and I have promised Ashwatthama that I would meet him only after I have defeated them all. Today I would fight them and meet my friend," Arjun explained. 

Arjun was confident in the teachings of Mahadev and his skills and the excitement to meet his friend was another incentive to win. But neither of these could ease a mother's heart. 

"Fight? The students of Dronacharya?" 

"Maa, I am the student of Mahadev and this fear in you doesn't suits. Trust me," He said, and she did trust him. 

After all, she trusted him more than her own life. 

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Arjun sat near the citizens on a row at front, he was excited to see his friend. He didn't bother wearing an armour, after all how hard could it be to defeat the students of Dron. 

His eyes fell on the place where royals were sitting, and Krishna along them. He smiled seeing his friend, and Krishna smiled in return. 

The teacher of Kuru Clan, Guru Krip was starting with the Pradarshan and Arjun didn't lay any attention to any of it. Rather he scanned the area and was trying to see Ashwatthama, but his friend was nowhere in the view. 

Every shout of people, every word of Dron, everything turned deaf. He impatiently looked around, and waited. 

And he was still waiting after one prahar when he heard, "......... And he is not only my best student, but also the best Archer in the whole Aryavart," Dron was speaking with pride. 

He looked at Krishna who had a disapproving face, and that was all he needed. Arjun jumped down and shouted, "I disagree, he may be your best but not the best among all," Arjun's loud voice shook the arena. 

Kripacharya turned to him, "Who are you young man? And if Karn is not the best then who is?"

"I am Dhanajay, and I do not know who is best, but I know that there are many warriors who are better than Kumar Karn," Arjun boldly replied. 

"Is it, then who are those?" Dron asked, mocking him. 

"There can be many who have the potential to defeat your student," Arjun replied. 

Dron looked at Arjun with anger, "Is it? There is no one better than Karn, he is the best among men."

"Is it Mahoday?" Krip interrupted, "Then why are you speaking for others, if you think that someone is better than Karn, the son of Lord Surya, then fight and defeat him," He added. 

"As you say Kul Guru," Arjun said, he turned to Karn and spoke, "O Son of Kunti, I challenge you for a duel,"

"Wait- you must first introduce yourself, to fight a Kshatriya, you must be a King, a Prince or Kshatriya," Dron said, "Who are you?"

"Kshatriya? Who asks the flower of what race it is before offering it to Gods? It's fragrance and beauty is it's introduction.

Who asks the river of its purity? It's water is the proof of it's piousness."