Arjuna Bird Eye Test

Dadi: "Beta Guddu, when you are doing your homework, what do you think about?"

Guddu: "Umm... sometimes my homework, sometimes the cartoon I want to watch, sometimes what snack I will have..."

Dadi: "Ha! That is exactly what most people do. But let me tell you about a young prince who showed everyone what true focus really means."

Guddu: "Who, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Arjuna, when he was still a student learning archery from the great Guru Dronacharya. Now, Drona was the most skilled teacher of warfare, and he taught all the Pandava and Kaurava princes together."

Guddu: "Did they all learn the same things?"

Dadi: "They did, but not everyone learned equally well. Some princes, like Duryodhana, accused Drona of favoring Arjuna over the others. "You always praise Arjuna," they complained. "You ignore the rest of us!""

Guddu: "Was that true?"

Dadi: "Drona decided to show them exactly why Arjuna was special. He placed a wooden bird on a tree branch and called all his students together. "Today," he said, "each of you will try to hit the eye of that bird. But first, tell me what you see.""

Guddu: "What a simple question!"

Dadi: "Ah, but the answers were very revealing. Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, said, "I see the tree, its strong trunk, and the branches supporting the bird." Bhima said, "I see the swaying branches and the bird perched on them.""

Guddu: "They described everything!"

Dadi: "Exactly. Nakula noticed the sunlight filtering through leaves and creating patterns on the bird. Sahadeva pointed out the sky behind the tree and the drifting clouds. Duryodhana focused on the bird's feathers and posture."

Guddu: "What about Karna?"

Dadi: "Karna, who was not a prince but a great warrior nonetheless, claimed he could see everything - the tree, the branches, the bird, even the movement of the leaves in the wind. Very impressive, no?"

Guddu: "I think so!"

Dadi: "But Drona asked each of them to put down their bows and step aside. None of them were allowed to shoot. The students were confused. What was wrong with their answers?"

Guddu: "Then it was Arjuna's turn?"

Dadi: "Yes. Drona asked, "Arjuna, do you see the bird, the tree, and myself standing here?""

Guddu: "What did Arjuna say?"

Dadi: "Arjuna said simply, "I see only the bird. I cannot see the tree. I cannot see you, Gurudev.""

Guddu: "He could not see his own teacher standing right there?"

Dadi: "His focus was so complete that everything else had disappeared from his awareness. But Drona was not satisfied yet. "If you see the bird, describe it to me.""

Guddu: "That should be easy!"

Dadi: "Arjuna replied, "I see only the head of the bird. Not its body.""

Guddu: "Just the head?"

Dadi: "Just the head. Because the target was the eye, and the eye is on the head. Why would he waste attention on the body, the feathers, the feet? They were not his target."

Guddu: "Oh! I understand now!"

Dadi: "Drona's hair stood on end with delight. "Shoot!" he commanded. Arjuna released his arrow instantly, and it struck precisely - the head of the bird fell to the ground."

Guddu: "He hit exactly where he was looking!"

Dadi: "Drona embraced Arjuna and declared, "This is why he is my finest student. The others looked at everything except their goal. Arjuna looked only at his goal.""

Guddu: "That is amazing focus!"

Dadi: "And because of this extraordinary ability, Drona taught Arjuna something he taught no one else - a divine weapon called the Brahmasira. But with it came a warning."

Guddu: "What warning?"

Dadi: "Drona said, "You must never use this weapon against any human enemy. If you do, its power is so terrible that it might burn the entire universe." Even great power comes with great responsibility."

Guddu: "What does this teach us, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Think about it, beta. When you do your homework while thinking about cartoons and snacks, how well do you do?"

Guddu: "Not very well..."

Dadi: "But when you sit down and think only about the problem in front of you, eliminating all distractions?"

Guddu: "I finish faster and make fewer mistakes!"

Dadi: "That is the lesson. True success comes from complete concentration. Whether you are studying for an exam, playing a sport, or learning a new skill - see only your target. Let everything else fade away. The tree is not your goal. The branches are not your goal. The feathers are not your goal. The eye is your goal. Focus on that alone."

Guddu: "I will try to be like Arjuna, Dadi!"

Dadi: "Good, beta. Start small - when you sit to study, study only. When you play, play only. When you eat, eat only. Build your focus like a muscle, and one day you too will hit your targets perfectly, just like the great Arjuna."

Guddu: "Can we practice archery too, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Ha! Let us start with finishing your mathematics homework with full concentration first. That is your wooden bird for today!"