The Archery Contest
“When skill meets pride, a new rivalry is born.”
Story Summary
Hastinapura gathers for the public display of skills—a celebration of Drona's teaching. Arjuna steps into the arena and demonstrates mastery that leaves the kingdom breathless: splitting arrows mid-air, hitting targets in darkness, turning impossible shots into poetry. Just as acclaim reaches its peak, a stranger enters—Karna, radiant as the sun, carrying a bow that matches Arjuna's. He challenges the prince directly, his skill undeniable. But when questions of lineage arise, Arjuna refuses to fight someone of unknown birth. The crowd's mood shifts from admiration to awkward silence. Then Duryodhana steps forward, declaring Karna worthy and crowning him King of Anga on the spot. In that moment, a grateful warrior finds a patron, and a rivalry that will shape an empire begins—one forged not in the gurukul, but in the public eye, where dignity and caste collide.