Storytelling Week 7: Arjuna Adventures

In the royal city Hastinapura there are some issues involving the Pandavas. The Pandavas were assumed died but recently Duryodhana found them alive.

Duryodhana is an important leader in the royal city of Hastinapura and he does not appreciate the Pandavas even though the majority of the leaders in Hastinapura want Duryodhana to be allies with them. While Duryodhana tries to come to his senses to ally with Pandavas, the son of Indra, Arjuna has a plan to sneak into Drapupadi’s room.

Arjuna tries to sneak into the daughter of Drupadas room, which is one of the leaders in the royal city. He is meet by one Yudhishthira one of allies of the Pandavas.

Yudhishthira says,” What do you think you are doing here”.

Arjuna is shocked by seeing Yudhishthira and frantically runs out of the room. Yudhishthira tells the King Shantanu what he has seen.

King Shantanu talks to Arjuna and says.” You have to leave. You have disobeyed the laws of the kingdom”.

Arjuna replies,” I cannot believe you are doing this to me.”  He then begins to go into exile and leaves the kingdom.

Arjuna does not know this yet but his life will change forever while being in exile. He is about to experience life changing events. He is about to go through varies adventures, which consist of saving peoples life, getting married, and getting the help of his father’s enemy.

Arjuna thinking to himself is confused about what is he going to do now all alone in the forest of Khandava. That is when all of a sudden the water-nymph Ulupi takes him underwater.

Arjuna is stunned and says,” What are you doing, why are you doing this to me”.

Ulupi says,” I am taking you underwater to celebrate our marriage”.

Arjuna replies,” This is an honor to me, I will accept your proposal”.

While married to Ulupi he encountered a lot of drama and he has no idea what he is about to face by marrying Ulupi. At the same time he receives a blessing from her to protect himself and everyone he comes into contact with. While in the forest Arjuna is able to defeat an alligator, which was Ulupi until Arjuna was able to free her. While Ulupi is sleeping he has a dream about his father’s enemy Agni. The dream is about Agni telling him to set fire to the forest by the bow of Gandiva and the arrows from the sea god Varuna.

Arjuna wakes up and sees the bow next to him and says,” Am I still in my dream or is this really happening. I must proceed to set fire to the forest by using the bow and arrows. Agni is here to help me”.

Arjuna goes to the forest like he said and begins to set fire to the forest.

Arjuna sets fire to the forest and says,” I have done what you have asked of me”. But then his father Indra comes to the rescue.

Indra shocks Arjuna by saying.” What have you done to the forest my son”.

Arjuna says,” I had to do this father”.

Indra then saves the day by pouring down rain to stop the fire.

Indra tell his son,” I am here to save you as well, please come with me”.

Arjuna says.” Okay father, I have missed you.”

Author’s Note: The Adventures of Prince Arjuna starts of in the royal city called Hastinapura, where Duryodhana learns that the Pandavas are still alive and are still alive. This was good for King Drupada because those are his allies but for Duryodhana he was not so keen about the Pandavas. Bhishma, son of King Shantanu, Ganga, and the uncle of King Dhritarashtra wanted Duryodhana to make peace with the Pandavas, which happened to be his cousins. King Dhritarashtra made a decision to give the Pandavas half the kingdom where they can build their own city called Indraprastha. Arjuna then appears in the story and the author starts off by telling us that he enters the unbidden room of Draupadis. It happens to be that Yudhisthira is there and he has to go into exile. While in excite the water-nymph Ulupi takes him to the underwater kingdom and they marry. Thanks to Ulupi’s blessing he is able to defeat an alligator. Arjuna then proceeds to rescue Ulupi’s sisters named Varga, Saurabheyi, Samichi, Vudvuda, and Lata. Arjuna then sees the fire-god Agni in a dream and he tells him to burn down the forest and destroy all of the nagas that are under protection by the god Indra. Arjuna is the son of Indra but Arjuna thinks Agni can help him and he gives him the bow of Gandiva and arrows from the Sea god Varuna to set fire to the Khandava forest. As the forest burns Indra arrives and pours down rain to save the day.

Arjuna's Adventures

The Adventures of Arjuna. Mahabharata. C.A. Kinclaid. 1921. Link