Character of Arjuna v/s Eklavya

STUDY: M.A SEM: 1.

SUBJECT: Paper no.4 A: Indian Writing in English.

TOPIC: character of Arjuna v/s Eklavya

ROLL NUMBER: 32

GUIDED BY: Heenaba Zala

 Department of English, Maharaja krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University.

Topic: character of Arjuna v/s Eklavya

Introduction:

                

                        Mahabharata originally written in Sanskrit language. It is written by Maharshi ved vyas. After some times it is translated in to other languages. Mahabharata is one of the biggest epic in Sanskrit literature. In the first two books of the Mahabharata we learn the background of the Bharatas leading up to the conflict between the five sons of pandu and their cousins the kauravas. This story is told by the ved vyas. He is a son of Shantanu and Satyavati. Satyavati was second wife of Shantanu, his first wife was ganga, and her son was Devarata is better known by his later name Bhishma. Because of Shantanu’s promise to satyavati that her son became king of Hastinapura Bhishma makes his vow, guaranteeing that neither he nor a son of his will challenge the claim to the throne. After some years one of Bhishm’s half brother’s dies in battle and the other becomes old enough to marry. On behalf of his half brother, Bhishma abducts three sisters and fights off all their suitors. This two princess are now queen of devdutt, but unfortunately he was died very soon. The young princess must be given children but who can father them? That time Satyavati invites ved vyas he is her first son, and he gives son but during this ambalika close her eyes so that child was born blind and ambika will be pale-skinned. The blind son is called dhritarashtra, the pale one is pandu. vyas has a third son vidura by a handmadein.  

                             Because of all this situations Bhishma feels depression after it all responsibility of hastinapura’s is on Bhishma, so he has to do work for Hastinapura. After the birth of pandavas and kauravas he thinks that after his death they take the responsibility of Hastinapura.

This is the introduction of Mahabharata. T.P kailasam

 Write the play “The purpose” in this play he express his views about the character of Arjuna and Eklavya. According to him let’s see Character of Arjuna.

Arjuna:

Arjuna was one of the five pandava brothers of the

 Mahabharata epic. Arjuna’s mother was Kunti and his father was Pandu. He is a prince of hastinapura, and he has four brothers Yudhishthir, Bheem , Nakul and Sahdev. In Mahabharata Arjuna was like this: He was known for his steadfastness and single mindedness in pursuing his goals. He was instrumental in winning Draupadi in a contest for himself and his brothers as their joint wife. He also married shubhadra the sister of Krishna and balram and kept his friendship with them for ever. Lord Krishna became his mentor and guide for the rest of his life.

                  

          In T.P kailasam’s play Arjuna was a small boy who goes in to Guru Drona’s Ashram for learning archery with pandavas and cousion brother’s kauravas. Guru Dronacharya was best teacher of archery. Bhishma knows that so he sent his grand children to learn archery from him. In the Mahabharata Arjuna was fast learner archery and he is favorite student of guru dronacharya, And in T.P kailasam’s play he was a slow learner but favorite student of Guru dronacharya. Guru dronacharya gives promise to him that he became best archer in the world.

          T.P kailasam’s play starts with Arjuna practicing with bow, his target swug by a tree-branch. That time sahdev comes and tell gurujee with this dialogue:

          Sahdev:

      “(With a wry face) Gurujee!

                                                 I cannot use this bow!

     It is too big for me! I c a n n o t even lift it!”

That time guru Dronacharya doesn’t like that and he replies him that:

                            

Guru Dronacharya:

“(feigning astonishment)

Bow too big for you?

 But my little man,

You seem to forget you are a

kshatriya! Why, no bow in the

World is really too big for a Kshariya – not only to lift, but to bend, string and shoot with!

          With this dialogues we can says that Guru Dronacharya was orthodox minded person. He is strictly believed in cast system. He is believed that Kshatriyas are upper class people so they have to learn archery and bow is not too much big for Kshatriya. 

                   Drona:

                            

                             “Same thing”? By no means! For,

                              if it is the bow that is too big for

you, no one can make that Bow

smaller; but if it is YOU that is

ot big enough and strong enough

to lift and use that bow… you can

make yourself big enough and

strong enough… can you not?

          After all this things Bhishma was come their and meet Guru Dronacharya to know about his grand children, after this meeting Bhishma meets arjuna and talk to him about archery and his responsibilities with this dialogues:

                   Bhishma:

                             “ Blessing, my bdding bow man! But you will

 never bloom into a better until you better the bearing of your body whist at bowcraft! How

long have you been at it to day?

All the morn?”

                  

                   Arjuna:

                             “ Perhaps Taataajee, I am not strong

enough yet to practice longer

without tiring! I am sure I’ll do

better and better each day!”

          Arjauna’s these words in the play express him a very over confident person in this play, but in Mahabharata he was a really confident and powerful student during that time. Bhishma replied him:

                  

                   Bhishma:

                            

                             “No you will not! AT least not

 While you lay the brunt of your

Work on just your arms! That’s

What wearies you so soon!”

          After Bhishma and Arjuna’s conversation story begins with the character Of Eklavya. He was a Nishada boy who wants to learn archery from Guru Dronacharya, because once he listen it from his mother that if you want to became best archer so Guru Dronacharya was best teacher for it.

That’s why Eklavya come to Guru Drona’s asharam and request him to acsept him as a student for archery, But as usual we see earlier that Guru Dronacharya was very orthodox mind he taught archery only pandavas and kauravas, so he deny him to taught archery.

          After it Arjuna insults him and he thinks that he is a dominant person, and he has proud of his Cast that he is a Kshatriya boy so he has right to insult him. In the Mahabharata Arjuna never insult him but T.P kailasam try to high light Eklavya so He presents Arjuna in this look. After this situation Eklavya leave ashram and he decided that he create a statue of Guru Dronacharya and learn archery from this and he do it and he successfully learn archery.

          Some years later, during the time of pandava’s learning Nakul and Sahdev face problem in jungle because of some wild animals that time Eklavya help him and save their life with his self learning of archery. When Arjuna saw him that time He can’t trust himself that Eklavya do this?? But he thanks to him because he save his brother’s life.

Eklavya:

                Eklavya is the main character of T.P.kailasam’s play “The purpose”. It is taken in to the Mahabharata, In to Mahabharata he is not powerful character, but in this play he is powerful character drawn by T.P. kailasam. He was a Nishada boy. Once he was talk with his mother about archery that he wants to become best archer in the world, that time his mother told him that Guru Dronacharya was the best teacher for archery if he accept you as a student so you became best archer. That time he decided that he learn archery from Guru Dronacharya. He takes permission from his parents after it he go to meet Guru Dronacharya and try to convince him to taught him archery, but guru Dronacharya deny him because he is a teacher of pandavas and kauravas. He tells him that I am a teacher of prince so I can’t teach you.  

                   When Eklavya enter in to ashram he expresses his feelings with these words:

                   Eklavya:

“(Looking all around him) This DOES Look like the place Mother spoke of: “A wide vast grassy play ground with bejeweled and beautifully dressed handsome young princes at bow sword and mace exercises… being taught their lessons by a tall and noble looking Brahamana” is how SHE described it! And it all fits in every bit!

                  

                   Eklavya:

“Of course, this MUST BE THE GREAT DRONACHARYA! Who else could in a few moments and with a few words turn a novice into a good archer! That boy, Paartha, looks a skilful archer already! Why, I am better myself for listening to him and following his words!

HOW EASY HE MAKES IT ALL! YES, THE SWINGING OF ONE’S BODY DOES HELP THE ARM AND TIRES IT LESS!!

One can shoot almost a whole day without tiring! Hark! The great man speaks! I must not miss a word!

          During all this situations Eklavya was not noticed by any one he just share his feelings with his own self. He tries to prepare himself because now he was going to present himself to Guru Dronacharya. Guru Dronacharya trained Arjuna for archery that time Eklavya reached their and talk with himself about Arjuna and Guru Dronacharya’s conversation.

                   Eklavya:

“A whole-hearted willingness on the part of the guru to teach his pupil”

                   Eklavya:

“Will you kindly help me become the greatest archer in the word, sir?

                   Dronacharya:

“(Startles at the question; the palpable naivety of the boy amuses him) what? A rival to Paartha (Laughs outright) it seems to me that every boy on earth wants to become the greatest archer in the world!!!

          When Guru Dronacharya denies him that time Eklavya tries to convince him with this counter argument.

                   Eklavya:

“Forgive me, sir, but I think I know what you are afraid of! You are afraid, sir, that because I am a Nishada, I want to hurt innocent people for plunder and kill innocent creatures for my food … with the archery that you may teach me! But believe me, Sir ever since father was killed, Mother and I live in a lone forest and though it is full of birds, deer and fawns… we live only upon grains, milk and fruit!”

          During this conversation Eklavya expresses his views on nature, His purpose that why he wants to learn archery? And about his cast that his cast’s peoples are not killed the innocent creature for their food, that time Guru Dronacharya give him answer that he is not thinking abut it but he thinks about his cast and you are a small boy and your dedication to it. During this situation Arjuna practices of his archery but he makes mistake in it so Eklavya point it out so Arjuna comes to talk to him about it. 

          That time this conversation converted in to fight between Eklavya and Arjuna. Arjuna insults him in this play. Arjuna has ego for his cast and he thinks that he has right to learn archery, Only Kshatriya can learn archery so he badly insult Eklavya.

                   Eklavya:

“Well then, if you really do know what there is to be proud of in being Arya that there is not in being a Nishada… tell me!... I am a nishaada and you are an Arya; And yet I am as strong as you; I can become as great an archer  as you ever can- if your Guru wills it; and I have all that I want in my beautiful forest as you have all you want in this big city of your!.. Tell me how you are any better than I for being an Arya?

                   Arjuna:

“You may be all this and even perhaps become as good as I in archery – if Gurujee takes you on as his pupil! And yet, after all is said and done…  

AN ARYA is AN ARYA! And a NISHAADA is only a LOW-BORN NISHAADA!

          After it Eklavya leaves and decide to create a statue of GURU DRONACHARYA and he do it with the inspiration of this statue he starts his learning and he become successful in it, after some years when Nakul and Sahdev face problem in jungle because of some wild animals that time Eklavya help him and save their life with his self learning of archery. When Arjuna saw him that time He can’t trust himself that Eklavya help his brother, but he thankful to Eklavya for his noble work. That time Guru Dronacharya come and ask Eklavya that how he learn it so Eklavya told him that just because of you I got it and he tell him whole story that how he create statue and how he practice with it.

         

          After this situation Guru Dronacharya afraid of him because he gives promise to Arjuna that he made him best archer in the world but when Arjuna saw that Eklavya was best comparisons of him so he tell his Gurujee about it and Eklavya don’t tolerate it so he wants to shut up the mouth of Arjuna so he gives guru Dakshina to Guru Dronacharya His right thumb. He Know that without Right thumb He can’t became best archer but because of his Gurujee he compromise with his life’s biggest intention.

Comparison between Arjuna & Eklavya:

                When we compare this two characters that time we have to play “The purpose” with “Mahabharata” because this characters are taken in to Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata Arjuna was more powerful than Eklavya.

He was fast learner in the Mahabharata, because of it Eklavya’s character is not get high light in the Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata Arjuna was not insult Eklavya but T.P kailasam wants to high lights Eklavya’s character so he expresses like Arjuna insults Eklavya. In the Mahabharata Guru Dronacharya take the Guru Dakshina from Eklavya with intrigue but in the play T.P kailasam try to present antagonist as Arjuna. When Eklavya saw that Arjuna complaints to Dronacharya about his better archery so he wants to shut his mouth and because of it he compromise his intention of life and he give his right thumb to Guru Dronacharya as a Guru Dakshina. So at the end we can say that Eklavya was better than Arjuna.

                   Arjuna never understands the situation of Eklavya because what he saws it is picturised by Bheeshma and Guru Dronacharya. He just knows about his cast and his cast’s power and his responsibility for it, that’s why he don’t know the reality of life. He is not wrong in his position but he is not trying to saw reality of life. The play “The purpose” this title says about its story that purpose means intention. In the play Eklavya wants to learn archery behind it his purpose is that he wants to save innocent creature, and Arjuna’s purpose was war because he was a prince and after some years he became king so he has to do it. So this is the purpose of Eklavya and Arjuna. Their intention and their purpose are different so that’s why we can say that as a Nishaada boy Eklavya was best because he thinks about creatures and animals not about his personal intentions, and another side Arjuna was prince and he became king after some years he thinks about his personal intentions.

Conclusion:

                At the end we can say that Eklavya was best archer in the world and he was better than Arjuna because he was a Nishaada boy so Guru Dronacharya deny him to taught him archery after all it he self learn it and goes all credit to his Gurujee. And when he saw that Arjuna complaints his Gurujee about his better archery that time he compromise with his life and he shut up the mouth of Arjuna, and gives his right thumb. So we can say that Eklavya was better than Arjuna. After he lost his thumb he feels very depressed and expresses his feelings with these words:

“WILL YOU ALL PLEASE LEAVE ME TO MY OWNSELF?”

“YOU KNOW, IT WILL NEVER BE FAREWELL BETWEEN US, GURUJEE.”

“GODS! MY FAWNS IN DISTRESS! AND I TOO HELPLESS MYSELF TO HELP THEM! J J J