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Arjuna had one eye closed, the other focusing on the tiny dot he’d made on the tree. Other people won’t even be able to see it if they stood right next to the tree.
But Arjuna was not ‘other people’. He was the world’s greatest archer, according to his teacher Drona, who’d promised to make him just that.
He let the arrow lose. The dot was struck.
Satisfied with himself, Arjuna lowered his bow, putting it away nearby, wondering what he could do next.
That was one thing he liked about staying in Dwarika. He could actually do what he wanted, at his own pace.
He loved his brothers, his mother, Pitamah, his Guru, and his uncle and aunt, but in Hastinapur, there were those cousins of his to deal with.
Not to mention, Duryodhana’s best friend Karna.
Because of them, Hastinapur did not feel like home anymore. All the things he and his brothers had to do, to stay alive, and even be allowed to live.
He hoped his brothers were faring well without him, because Duryodhana, uncle Shakuni and Karna would no doubt cook up more schemes to try and kill them, or just disregard his elder brother Yudhisthira’s authority as the Crown Prince.
It would be so much better if they came here, as well as his mother.
No one expected anything of him here. There was no need to be formal, like a Prince, and there was no need to watch his every step, in fear of his cousins.
Here, he could practice his archery, his dance, and his singing, and improve any areas in which he lacked, all at his own pace, without any pressure or expectation on him to behave in a certain way.
Plus, the toxic elements of Hastinapur being absent here truly helped.
It seemed as if being sent alongside Subhadra to guard her from the Demon Kalyavan was a boon in disguise.
The greatest boon was of course, finally getting to meet Madhav, the one everyone spoke of so reverently, with love in their voice.
Even before meeting him, Partha was nothing if not mesmerized by hearing tales of his exploits from everyone, especially Subhadra.
And now, after meeting him, Arjuna had to say- the tales fell short of describing his ingenuity. Kalyavan could not be damaged by weapons, so Krishna had led him to a cave, where a retired King-turned-sanyasi had been meditating for a long time.
Kalyavan had kicked him awake, thinking him to be Krishna, and the Yogic energy had reduced Kalyavan to ashes.
That was not something he would have thought of, and no other warrior would ever think of such a strategy either.
Madhav was something else entirely, defying usual expectations. And Partha was happy. Happy to be in Dwarika, where Madhav was.
“Partha.”
Arjuna turned to see Madhav walking to him, wearing his usual smile. It just made Arjuna think that Madhav had an exact idea of what was going to transpire, and it would all work out exactly in the way he wanted to.
“Greetings, Madhav.” Arjuna folded his hands, Krishna folding his own.
“What are you thinking?” Krishna inquired, Arjuna just smiling in return.
“I think I like staying here, in Dwarika”, Arjuna said in reply, looking at where his arrow was stuck in the tree. “I can do what I want, what I like, improve myself where I might lack, and better my skills, all at my own pace, without Duryodhana or Karna nearby.”
This was what freedom truly felt like, he knew now.
“Not being near those who want you dead or suppressed, yes, that can be quite motivating, I believe”, Krishna said with a shrug and smile.
“You were wanted dead by your own uncle for years, how did you deal with it, Madhav?” Arjuna asked him out of curiosity.
“Me? I thought nothing of it”, Krishna said, just shaking his head, seemingly confused as to why Arjuna would even be bothered by something like that. “I simply lived freely, grazing the cows, playing with my brother and my friends, and stealing the butter. I only thought about it when I was fighting a Demon he sent to kill me, and when I eventually had to kill him.”
“So, you are saying I should think nothing of it?” Arjuna asked.
“No, I am not saying that”, Krishna said, putting a hand to his friend’s shoulder. “But you should not make that the only thing you think of. Duryodhana, his brothers, uncle Shakuni and Karna will want you and your brothers dead or suppressed for as long as they breathe. But just because of that, you should not stop yourself from doing what you like and what you need to do, Partha. For as long as you live, there will be people, who want what is best for you.” Madhav did not even need to say that he was one of Partha’s well-wishers. Perhaps even his greatest one. “And there will be some, who will want to bring you down. If you keep thinking about those who want to bring you down, all you are doing is handing them their victory.”
“You speak true, Madhav”, Arjuna noted, sharing a smile with him. “Being here…with you, I truly realize that.”
This place, being with Madhav, it granted him real freedom of his mind, and he felt at peace.
Looking into Partha’s eyes, Madhav told him. “It should not just be at a place, my friend. It should be in here”, he pointed at Arjuna’s head, “only with a calm state of mind, where you feel free from expectations, and what others might think, will you be able to do what is truly needed. Whether it is as a prince, or a warrior, focus on the task at hand, and it shall be done. That, my friend, is true freedom.”
Arjuna listened to what Madhav said, processing it in his mind. True freedom, where his mind felt at peace no matter what he did, and focused on his task, without giving thought to the toxic elements.
He could do that, right? If Madhav told him this, that meant he was capable of doing just that.
There would be a time to think of surviving the schemes of the Kauravas, but it was not now.
“I thank you for your gracious advice, Madhav”, Arjuna said, folding his hands again, Krishna just smiling at him and nodding. “But, if you do not mind, I wish to stay here as long as I am not needed back in Hastinapur.”
“Feel free, Partha. You can stay for as long as you like”, Krishna assured him as he walked off. “Besides, I think Subhadra wants you to stay too.”
The two chuckled at that, while Arjuna decided it was time to talk to Subhadra, as she wanted him to teach her a more refined form of dancing than what she used to.
He had the freedom of mind and the peace he always desired here. And taking Madhav’s words to heart, he would stay free in this manner even when he was back in Hastinapur.
Madhav truly knew how to defy usual expectations.