Ajuna (meaning ‘one who is pure and unsullied’) was the third of five sons of Queen Kunti. Arjuna had immense liking for the sport of archery. He practised this art with great concentration and perseverance. Soon he became the best archer in his land. His teacher (referred to as Gurudev) was very pleased with Arjuna and showed preference toward him. This caused the two older brothers to display a natural adolescence jealousy towards Arjuna. One day the older brothers openly criticised Gurudev for the preferential attention he gave to Arjuna, telling him that they were no less skilled in archery than Arjuna. In response to their criticism, their teacher arranged a test to decide the best archer amongst them. Accordingly, a wooden bird was put on a branch of a distant tree. It was partly hidden by the foliage. A prominent artificial eye was painted on the wooden bird. Gurudev called his three students together and said, ‘Look my dear students, a bird is sitting on that far off tree. You have to shoot your arrow through its eye. Are you ready?’ Everyone nodded. First the eldest brother was invited to demonstrate his skill. He stretched his bow-string and was about to release the arrow when Gurudev asked him a question. ‘O eldest son of Queen Kunti, may I know what is visible to you at this point of time?’ The eldest son replied innocently, ‘Why, O Gurudev, I am seeing you, the tree, people around me, and the bird!’ Gurudev said, ‘Take aim and shoot’. The eldest son took aim, held his bow steady, and shot — and completely missed the bird. Gurudev then invited the second son to demonstrate his skill. Like his elder brother he stretched his bow-string and was about to release the arrow when Gurudev asked him a question. ‘O second son of Queen Kunti, may I know what is visible to you at this point of time?’ Sensing that Gurudev was seeking a response that was directly related to the target, the second son quickly replied, ‘O Gurudev, I am seeing the sky, the tree, and the bird!’ Gurudev said, ‘Take aim and shoot’. The second son took aim, held his bow steady, and shot. Like his elder brother, he completely missed the bird. Then it was Arjuna’s turn. He readied himself, his bow and arrow in perfect graceful harmony, when the Guru asked him, ‘O Arjuna, will you tell me what is being observed by you?’ And Arjuna replied, ‘Sir, at this point of time only the eye of the bird is visible to me.’ When asked by Gurudev whether he was able to see the bird, the tree, and people around, Arjuna replied in the negative maintaining that he saw the eye of the bird and only the eye of the bird. Gurudev said, ‘Take aim and shoot’. Arjuna stretched his bow-string, took aim, and shot… and hit the bird in the centre of the eye! Gurudev said, ‘Well done, Arjuna’. He then explained to the others how Arjuna’s immense focus and concentration, and correct approach towards the art of archery gave him the winning edge, and it was for that reason that he regarded Arjuna as his best student. ~ Mahabharatha
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