Karna, My Son: Chapter 12

The formal education of the Pandavas and Kauravas under Drona’s tutelage was declared over. Drona said he would organize a tournament to display the princes’ skills.

It was an occasion that all the citizens of Hastinapur had been eagerly waiting for. And not just the citizens, even the blind king Dhritarashtra had been excited like a child. He announced that a big show would be organized the like of which Hastinapur had never seen. Preparations for the event started months in advance.

Vast tracts of land had been cleared for the purpose and special amenities were made for the stay and entertainment of spectators. Huge tents gleaming with flags, festoons and flowers and furnished with wells and decorative springs were erected for royal guests. People from far-flung places started converging in large numbers on the capital to witness the splendorous spectacle.

On the appointed day, King Dhritarashtra and the royal ladies in rustling silks walked into the pavilion to the accompaniment of music, and all the spectators watched the scene in awe and admiration. Then came Drona in white robes and performed ritualistic worship of the gods at the specially constructed altar.

Vidura described all the events in their minutest detail to the sightless king. Queen Gandhari sat next to the King, listening intently to the narration.

The princes made grand entries into the amphitheatre on horses and elephants. Every prince was welcome with thunderous applause, and every time they displayed their prowess in the use of various weapons, the applause would rise to a crescendo. The spectators gaped with wonder at the agility, grace and deftness of the princes in the use of swords and maces, and the unerring precision of their arrows.

Bheema and Duryodhana displayed their wrestling skills. Next, they fought with their maces. They were so consumed by their rivalry that they clashed like two infuriated elephants, and had to be constantly restrained.

There was a great uproar from the cheering spectators who went berserk with the entry of Arjuna, the most beloved of princes. Arjuna delighted the audience with his incredible and unsurpassed feats in archery. He could create crackling fire, gushing water, gusty wind, mysterious mountain and dark and dense clouds with the Agneya, Varuna, Vayavya, Parvatya and the Parjanya weapons. Using the Antardhana weapon, he could then make these illusionary matters disappear as well.