Comparison of the character of Arjuna in ''the purpose'' and Mahabharata

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Name: - Yesha Bhatt M.

Course: - M.A. English

Semester: - 1

Batch: - 2015-2017

Enrolment no:- PG15101003

Submitted to: - Smt. S.B.Gardi Dept. of English MKBU

Email id: - yeshab68@gmail.com

Paper no: - 4 Indian writing in English

Topic: - Comparison of the character of Arjuna in “The purpose” and Mahabharata

v      Comparison of the character Arjun:-

·      Introduction:-

Arjuna is a character of Mahabharata, a son of king Pandu, and he is a brother of Dharmraj Yudhishthira, Bhima, Sahdeva, and Nakula, one of five Pandawas. T.P. Kailasam has written this play “The Purpose” is a part of Mahabharata. Mahabharata is an Indian epic with the story of a family of Kaurawas and Pandawas, with the themes of love, war, intrigues, relationships, family, good v/s evil and struggle of an Avatar of God with his own relatives.

In this play T.P.Kailasm has taken very limited characters and explained the importance of war and a good purpose. T.P.Kailasm has depicted two characters at center, Eklavya and Arjun. Both the characters has presented very differently than in Mahabharata. The setting of the play is in the childhood of Pandawas, when they were studying in the ashram of guru Drona.

Ø Arjuna:-

Arjun is a very powerful character of Mahabharata, and known as a great archer in the history. He has a powerful sight to view his goal perfectly, and proved that not any archer is better than

him. In Mahabharata he has depicted as the central character at one or the other way. Arjun is a son of king Pandu and a friend of Lord Krishna. He has marched against his own relatives and cousins in Dharmyuddh.

In T.P.kailasam’s The Purpose writer has presented the childhood of Pandawas with their nature and the time of Satyug, that how intrigues were taking place in that time. Guru Drona did not teach archery to Eklavya just because Arjun wanted to be a great Archer. Arjun has all the abilities but lack of confidence, but his position has played a vital role of gaining good atmosphere for learning and a great teacher to teach. Arjun got more attention by his listener’s role in Bhagvad Geeta, and it is a philosophical conversation between Arjun and Krishna.

Ø  Comparison of Arjun in Mahabharata and The Purpose:-

·      As an Archer:-

Arjun was a master of archery that has been said with the good example, once guru Drona was practicing archery with the students who were Kaurawas and Pandawas. After putting a bird on a tree, and told them to target it, Guru Drona has asked every student that what they could see at front of you, all the students have given different answer like tree, bird, fruit, and sky etc. But Arjuna was only the student who said that he was only able to see the eye of a bird. He was a very good archer he has a good command on archery than all his other brothers.

Even in the swayamvar of Draupadi, he has won her and her father’s heart with his art of archery. In the swayamvar of Draupadi, He has to target his aim, the eye of a fish without watching it directly but with the reflection of it in water. And fish was continuously moving. It was very difficult to target it but Arjuna was the best archer. He has done it in a single try.

While in T.P.Kailasam’s The Purpose, Kailasam has shown that how Arjuna has learnt the art of archery. From childhood Arjuna went to ashram for learning. The journey of his learning and his weakness are there. Arjuna’s desire of being great archer of the world has depicted by Kailasam, as Arjuna himself says to his Taataaji Bheeshma that,

“It is my personal ambition to be the most famous archer of all time!”

His ambition of being a great archer leads him towards his aim only rather than any other aspects. While Eklavya came into the ashram of guru Drona to learn an art of archery, and wished to became a great archer guru Drona has denied him to teach, just because he has promised Arjuna. As an archer Arjuna has proved his self perfectly, and further in the Kurukshetra he has shown his mastery very well.

·      As a Learner:-

Kailasam in his “The Purpose” has shown Arjuna as a learner, that how he has faced such kind of problems in his training of archery, and how he dedicated toward his goal of become a good archer. Arjuna gives his best in learning, but though he seems very dull student. Guru Drona has very disappointed with his way of learning, he told this to Bheeshma also,

Bheeshma: (casting a look at the fore and mid grounds) how are your pupils...Learning?

Drona: M’ yes; S’steadily...but...S’slowly...

Drona has expressed his disappointment towards his students. As a learner Arjuna used to forget instructions to him by his Guru and not able to concentrate properly on learning. After receiving a progress report of his prices, Bheeshma went to Arjuna and convince him to concentrate properly, and has given him a Purpose that why he should concentrate, that he have to fight for his land.

When Eklavya enters in the play, guru Drona is giving training to the pupils, and in that scene, we come to know that Arjuna is continuously distracts from his way.

Drona: As you are now shooting, Partha, you are holding your body stiff; toe to neck, stiff... inert... as IRON! Whilst most of the time it must be pliant... supple as STEEL!

(Arjuna tries with but indifferent success; Drona watches him with an annoyed look on his face)

No, Partha, you are not righted yet! Let me go over it all once again in detail!

Then Drona explains all the things again in detailed, this shows inability of Arjuna, who has known as a great archer further.

It cannot be said that he was a bad student, because in the next scene Kailasam has presented the concentration power of Arjuna, that how he is only able to see his target without distracting.

Drona: Now, tell me, Partha, how big is the tree that your target is swung from?

Arjuna: Tree? I see no tree! I only see a black spot... the centre of my target.

Drona: Does the clash of swords from your far side disturb you at all?

Arjuna: Clash? I hear no clash I only hear the voice... your voice...

And finally Drona is happy to see the CONCENTRATION IN Arjuna. Thus the great archer of world has started his journey. 

·      As a Person:-

Arjuna in Mahabharata has shown as a very honest and brave person. In Kurukshetra there is fight between him and his all cousins, relatives and his family, he dropped down his sword, but then Krishna has convinced him to fight, and he fought and won. Though he had regret for his entire life that he has killed his family.

While in The Purpose Arjuna has shown in some different aspects, with some anti-hero elements like he has depicted as selfish, aggressive, not so good student, and not follows the instructions of his guru. When guru Drona has admired the concentration power of Arjun, he replied in quit prideful manner,

Drona: Now that you have mastered the correct movements in archery and also proved your ability to concentrate, i am more hopeful of making a useful archer of you than I ever was!

Arjuna: “Useful Archer”? Why, Gurujee, I want to become the greatest archer in the world!

His statement of being a great archer has proved that he has not any interest in being useful to the world; he is learning an art of archery just because of his,

“Personal Purpose”

He has not ant desire to save the life of others and help people by his archery but he wants to won every battle, and wanted to known as The Greatest Archer in the world. He has presented as,

 “Self-Centered”

Arjuna has not any purpose for mankind, thus he has his self first. He does not want any other person to be as good as him.

·        Conclusion:-

T.P. Kailasam has presented a question that,

“Which purpose is more important?”

Þ First who wants to fight for nature, for the protection of animal

Þ Second who wants to be famous and only protacts his own kingdom

 With the help of two mythological characters, there is a question of self centeredness is more important or to take world and nature at center. One can say that both are right at their own perspective. It’s not bad to think about own self and having a desire to become great, especially he has that ability. But the problem with Arjuna is that he ‘only’ wanted to become a great, and not allowing other person to be in that field. His pride was only defect in him. While Eklavya wanted to become a great archer just because to save animal’s life and live happily in forest, he didn’t want to become great. He was just trying for peace, and Arjuna’s purpose was just because of his own peace.

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